THE BOOK OF MATTHEW

 

Matthew Chapter 26

1 ¶ And it happened, that when Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,

2 You know that the feast of the passover is in two days, and the Son of man will be handed over to be crucified.

3 Then the chief priests, and scribes, and elders of the people, gathered together in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

4 And resolved to secretly arrest Jesus, and kill him.

5 But they also decided, Not to do it on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

6 ¶ Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 A woman came to him having an alabaster container of very expensive cologne, and poured it on his head, as he sat at dinner.

8 But when his disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, What is the point of this waste?

9 For this cologne could have been sold for a high price, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus perceived it, he said to them, Why are you bothering this woman? for she has done a praiseworthy thing for me.

11 For you always have the poor with you; but you will not always have me.

12 For when she poured this cologne on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 I tell you truly, Wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what this woman has done, will be told as a memorial of her.

14 ¶ Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 And said to them, What will you give me, if I deliver him to you? And they agreed with him for thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that time on he looked for an opportunity to betray him.

17 ¶ Now on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the passover?

18 And he said, Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is near; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples.

19 And the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them; and they made ready the passover.

20 Now when evening arrived, he sat down with the twelve.

21 And as they ate, he said, I tell you truly, that one of you will betray me.

22 And they were very sad, and one after another began to ask him, Lord, is it I?

23 And in answer he said, He who dips his hand in the bowl with me, will betray me.

24 The Son of man will go just as it is written about him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it would have been better for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, who was betraying him, answered saying, Surely it is not I, master? And he said to him, You have said.

26 ¶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, All of you drink of it;

28 For this is my blood, that of the new testament, which is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29 But I tell you, I will not again drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.

31 ¶ Then Jesus said to them, Tonight you will all be scattered because of me: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

32 But after I have risen again, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

33 Peter answered saying to him, Even if all men are scattered because of you, I never will be.

34 Jesus said to him, I tell you truly, That this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

35 Peter said to him, Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you. And all the other disciples said the same.

36 ¶ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here, while I go and pray over there.

37 And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

38 Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death: remain here, and keep watch with me.

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.

40 Then he returned to the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter, What, could you not watch with me for one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that you do not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 He went away again a second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.

43 And he returned and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

45 Then he returned to his disciples, and said to them, Go on sleeping, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us go: behold, my betrayer has arrived.

47 ¶ And while he yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him a large band armed with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now the betrayer gave them a signal, saying, He will be the one I kiss: seize him.

49 And going at once to Jesus, he said, Greetings, master; and kissed him.

50 And Jesus said to him, Friend, is this what you came for? Then they came, and seized Jesus, and arrested him.

51 At that, one of those who were with Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck a servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword back into its place: for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

53 Do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he would at once give me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that say it must be so?

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowd, Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me as if I were a thief? I sat with you every day teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me.

56 But all this has taken place, in fulfillment of what was written by the prophets. Then all the disciples deserted him, and fled.

57 ¶ And those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled.

58 But Peter followed him at a distance up to the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the outcome.

59 Now the chief priests, elders, and the entire Sanhedrin, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

60 But found none: yes, even though many false witnesses came, they did not find any. And finally two came forward,

61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.

62 Then the high priest stood up, and asked him, Have you nothing to say? what are these witnesses saying against you?

63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.

64 Jesus answered, It is as you say: nevertheless I am telling you, That after this you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy; why do we need any more witnesses? look, now you have heard his blasphemy.

66 What do you think? They answered saying, He is guilty of death.

67 Then they spit in his face, and hit him with fists; and others slapped him with the palms of their hands,

68 Saying, Prophesy to us, Christ, Who hit you?

69 ¶ Now Peter was sitting outside in the palace courtyard: and a servant-girl came to him, saying, You were also with Jesus of Galilee.

70 But he denied it in front of them all, saying, I do not know what you are talking about.

71 And after he went into the entry way, another servant-girl saw him, and said to those who were there, This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.

72 And again he denied it with an oath, I do not know the man.

73 And after a little while those standing nearby came to Peter, and said, Surely you are one of them; for your accent gives you away.

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, I do not know the man. And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And he went out, and wept bitterly.