Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus^(A)

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,^{(B) 2} and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,^(C) for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan^(D) entered Judas, called Iscariot,^(E) one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard^(F) and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money.^{(G) 6} He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper^{(H)(I)(J)(K)(L)}

⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.^{(M) 8} Jesus sent Peter and John,^(N) saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

¹⁰ He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, ¹¹ and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹² He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³ They left and found things just as Jesus had told them.^(O) So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles^(P) reclined at the table.^{(Q) 15} And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.^{(R) 16} For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”^(S)

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,^(T) and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant^(U) in my blood, which is poured out for you.^{[a] 21} But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.^{(V) 22} The Son of Man^(W) will go as it has been decreed.^(X) But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.^{(Y) 25} Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,^(Z) and the one who rules like the one who serves.^{(AA) 27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.^{(AB) 28} You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom,^(AC) just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom^(AD) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(AE)

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked^(AF) to sift all of you as wheat.^{(AG) 32} But I have prayed for you,^(AH) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”^(AI)

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”^(AJ)

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,^(AK) did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’^[b];^(AL) and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives^(AM)

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual^(AN) to the Mount of Olives,^(AO) and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”^{(AP) 41} He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down^(AQ) and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup^(AR) from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”^{(AS) 43} An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.^{(AT) 44} And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.^[c]

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”^(AU)

Jesus Arrested^(AV)

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”^{(AW) 50} And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,^(AX) and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts,^(AY) and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour^(AZ)—when darkness reigns.”^(BA)

Peter Disowns Jesus^(BB)

⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.^(BC) Peter followed at a distance.^{(BD) 55} And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”^(BE)

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord^(BF) turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”^{(BG) 62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus^(BH)

⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to him.^(BI)

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod^(BJ)(BK)(BL)

⁶⁶ At daybreak the council^(BM) of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,^(BN) and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷ “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I asked you, you would not answer.^{(BO) 69} But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”^(BP)

⁷⁰ They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”^(BQ)

He replied, “You say that I am.”^(BR)

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.^{(BS) 2} And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.^(BT) He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar^(BU) and claims to be Messiah, a king.”^(BV)

³ So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

⁴ Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”^(BW)

⁵ But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee^(BX) and has come all the way here.”

⁶ On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.^{(BY) 7} When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(BZ) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.^(CA) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. ⁹ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.^{(CB) 10} The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,^(CC) they sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends^(CD)—before this they had been enemies.

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.^{(CE) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him^(CF) and then release him.” ^[17] [d]

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”^{(CG) 19} (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”^(CH)

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(CI)

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(CJ) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(CK) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(CL) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(CM) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(CN) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(CP)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(CQ) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(CR) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[f](CS) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(CT)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(CU) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(CV)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(CW) They offered him wine vinegar^{(CX) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(CY) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(CZ)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(DA)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(DB)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[g]”^(DC)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(DD)

The Death of Jesus^(DE)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,^{(DF) 45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple^(DG) was torn in two.^{(DH) 46} Jesus called out with a loud voice,^(DI) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[h](DJ) When he had said this, he breathed his last.^(DK)

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God^(DL) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts^(DM) and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,^(DN) stood at a distance,^(DO) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus^(DP)

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.^{(DQ) 52} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day,^(DR) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee^(DS) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.^(DT) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.^(DU)

Jesus Has Risen^(DV)

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared^(DW) and went to the tomb. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.^{(DX) 4} While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning^(DY) stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:^{(DZ) 7} ‘The Son of Man^(EA) must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”^{(EB) 8} Then they remembered his words.^(EC)

⁹ When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them^(ED) who told this to the apostles.^{(EE) 11} But they did not believe^(EF) the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹² Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,^(EG) and he went away,^(EH) wondering to himself what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles^[i] from Jerusalem.^{(EI) 14} They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;^{(EJ) 16} but they were kept from recognizing him.^(EK)

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas,^(EL) asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,”^(EM) they replied. “He was a prophet,^(EN) powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers^(EO) handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; ²¹ but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.^(EP) And what is more, it is the third day^(EQ) since all this took place. ²² In addition, some of our women amazed us.^(ER) They went to the tomb early this morning ²³ but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. ²⁴ Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”^(ES)

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”^{(ET) 27} And beginning with Moses^(EU) and all the Prophets,^(EV) he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.^(EW)

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it^(EX) and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,^(EY) and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us^(EZ) while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures^(FA) to us?”

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord^(FB) has risen and has appeared to Simon.”^{(FC) 35} Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.^(FD)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”^(FE)

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.^{(FF) 38} He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;^(FG) a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.^(FH)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(FI) Everything must be fulfilled^(FJ) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(FK) the Prophets^(FL) and the Psalms.”^(FM)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer^(FN) and rise from the dead on the third day,^{(FO) 47} and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name^(FP) to all nations,^(FQ) beginning at Jerusalem.^{(FR) 48} You are witnesses^(FS) of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised;^(FT) but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,^(FU) he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.^{(FV) 52} Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple,^(FW) praising God.