1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, |
2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. |
3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. |
4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. |
5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money. |
6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. |
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. |
8 Jesus sent Peter and John, 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 upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." |
13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. |
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. |
15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. |
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." |
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 of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." |
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, 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 in my blood, which is poured out for you. |
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. |
22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, 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 Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. |
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, and the one who rules like the one who serves. |
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. |
28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. |
29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, |
30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. |
31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you1 22:31 The Greek is plural. as wheat. |
32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." |
33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." |
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, 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'2 22:37 Isaiah 53:12 ; 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 is enough," he replied. |
39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. |
40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." |
41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, |
42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." |
43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. |
44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.3 22:44 Some early manuscripts do not have verses 43 and 44. |
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." |
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?" |
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, 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, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns." |
54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. |
55 But when they 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." |
60 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. |
61 The Lord 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." |
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. |
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. |
66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. |
67 "If you are the Christ,4 22:67 Or Messiah " they said, "tell us." |
68 Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. |
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." |
70 They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am." |
71 Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips." |
