The Plot Against Jesus^(A)

26 When Jesus had finished saying all these things,^(B) he said to his disciples, ² “As you know, the Passover^(C) is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled^(D) in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,^{(E) 4} and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.^{(F) 5} “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot^(G) among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(H)(I)

⁶ While Jesus was in Bethany^(J) in the home of Simon the Leper, ⁷ a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

⁸ When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. ⁹ “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹ The poor you will always have with you,^[a](K) but you will not always have me. ¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.^{(L) 13} Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus^(M)

¹⁴ Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot^(N)—went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver.^{(O) 16} From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Last Supper^(P)(Q)(R)

¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(S) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”^(T)

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time^(U) is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”^(V)

²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.^{(W) 24} The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.^(X) But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him,^(Y) said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”^(Z)

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it^(AA) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took a cup,^(AB) and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the^[b] covenant,^(AC) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(AD) 29} I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you^(AE) in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(AF)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(AG)

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me,^(AH) for it is written:

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”^(AJ)

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”^(AK)

³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you,^(AL) I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Gethsemane^(AM)

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee^(AN) along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow^(AO) to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”^(AP)

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup^(AQ) be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”^(AR)

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me^(AS) for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^(AT) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”^(AU)

⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour^(AV) has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested^(AW)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas,^(AX) one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!”^(AY) and kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[d](AZ)

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword,^(BA) drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.^(BB)

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.^{(BC) 53} Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?^{(BD) 54} But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(BE) that say it must happen in this way?”

⁵⁵ In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching,^(BF) and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”^(BG) Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin^(BH)

⁵⁷ Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas^(BI) the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.^(BJ) He entered and sat down with the guards^(BK) to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^(BL) were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. ⁶⁰ But they did not find any, though many false witnesses^(BM) came forward.

Finally two^(BN) came forward ⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”^(BO)

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.^(BP)

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath^(BQ) by the living God:^(BR) Tell us if you are the Messiah,^(BS) the Son of God.”^(BT)

⁶⁴ “You have said so,”^(BU) Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One^(BV) and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[e](BW)

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes^(BX) and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,”^(BY) they answered.

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.^(BZ) Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”^(CA)

Peter Disowns Jesus^(CB)

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”^(CC) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Absalom’s Conspiracy

15 In the course of time,^(A) Absalom provided himself with a chariot^(B) and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. ² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.^(C) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” ³ Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.”^{(D) 4} And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land!^(E) Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

⁵ Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. ⁶ Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts^(F) of the people of Israel.

⁷ At the end of four^[a] years, Absalom said to the king, “Let me go to Hebron and fulfill a vow I made to the Lord. ⁸ While your servant was living at Geshur^(G) in Aram, I made this vow:^(H) ‘If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the Lord in Hebron.^[b]’”

⁹ The king said to him, “Go in peace.” So he went to Hebron.

¹⁰ Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets,^(I) then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’” ¹¹ Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. ¹² While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel^(J) the Gilonite, David’s counselor,^(K) to come from Giloh,^(L) his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.^(M)

David Flees

¹³ A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

¹⁴ Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, “Come! We must flee,^(N) or none of us will escape from Absalom.^(O) We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword.”

¹⁵ The king’s officials answered him, “Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses.”

¹⁶ The king set out, with his entire household following him; but he left ten concubines^(P) to take care of the palace. ¹⁷ So the king set out, with all the people following him, and they halted at the edge of the city. ¹⁸ All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites^(Q) and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king.

¹⁹ The king said to Ittai^(R) the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,^(S) an exile from your homeland. ²⁰ You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander^(T) about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”^[c](U)

²¹ But Ittai replied to the king, “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”^(V)

²² David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

²³ The whole countryside wept aloud^(W) as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,^(X) and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

²⁴ Zadok^(Y) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(Z) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(AA) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(AB) again. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(AC)”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(AD) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(AE) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸ I will wait at the fords^(AF) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁰ But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping^(AG) as he went; his head^(AH) was covered and he was barefoot. All the people with him covered their heads too and were weeping as they went up. ³¹ Now David had been told, “Ahithophel^(AI) is among the conspirators with Absalom.” So David prayed, “Lord, turn Ahithophel’s counsel into foolishness.”

³² When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai^(AJ) the Arkite^(AK) was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust^(AL) on his head. ³³ David said to him, “If you go with me, you will be a burden^(AM) to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, ‘Your Majesty, I will be your servant; I was your father’s servant in the past, but now I will be your servant,’^(AN) then you can help me by frustrating^(AO) Ahithophel’s advice. ³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.^{(AP) 36} Their two sons, Ahimaaz^(AQ) son of Zadok and Jonathan^(AR) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

³⁷ So Hushai,^(AS) David’s confidant, arrived at Jerusalem as Absalom^(AT) was entering the city.