New Testament in a Year
51 But[a] one of those with Jesus grabbed[b] his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest’s slave,[c] cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its place![d] For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions[e] of angels right now? 54 How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?” 55 At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw?[f] Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet[g] you did not arrest me. 56 But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house[h] the experts in the law[i] and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After[j] going in, he sat with the guards[k] to see the outcome. 59 The[l] chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally[m] two came forward 61 and declared, “This man[n] said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So[o] the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The[p] high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ,[q] the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand[r] of the Power[s] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[t] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,[u] “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now[v] you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?”[w] They[x] answered, “He is guilty and deserves[y] death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ![z] Who hit you?”[aa]
Peter’s Denials
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A[ab] slave girl[ac] came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it in front of them all:[ad] “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When[ae] he went out to the gateway, another slave girl[af] saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 After[ag] a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent[ah] gives you away!” 74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.[ai] 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.[aj]
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