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

²⁷ Then he took a cup,^(B) 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^[a] covenant,^(C) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(D) 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^(E) in my Father’s kingdom.”

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

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial^(G)

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

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

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.”^(K)

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

Gethsemane^(M)

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^(N) along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow^(O) to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”^(P)

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

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me^(S) for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^(T) 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.”^(U)

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^(V) has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

The Death of Jesus^(A)

⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness^(B) came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).^[b](C)

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,^(D) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.^(E)

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple^(F) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split^{(G) 52} and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and^[c] went into the holy city^(H) and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ When the centurion and those with him who were guarding^(I) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”^(J)

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(A) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^{(B) 12} We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^(C) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^(D) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³ If we are “out of our mind,”^(E) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^{(F) 15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(G) but for him who died for them^(H) and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(I) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(J) the new creation^(K) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^{(L) 18} All this is from God,^(M) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(N) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(O) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(P) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(Q) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(R) 21} God made him who had no sin^(S) to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(T)