Matthew 26
The Plot to Kill Jesus
When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, 2 a“You know that after two days bthe Passover is coming, and cthe Son of Man dwill be delivered up to be crucified.”
3 aThen the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in bthe palace of the high priest, whose name was cCaiaphas, 4 aand plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, alest there be an uproar among the people.”
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6 aNow when Jesus was at bBethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and agiven to the poor.” 10 But aJesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For ayou always have the poor with you, but byou will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it ato prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever athis gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told bin memory of her.”
Judas to Betray Jesus
14 aThen one of the twelve, whose name was bJudas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they apaid him bthirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity ato betray him.
The Passover with the Disciples
17 aNow on bthe first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, a‘The Teacher says, bMy time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
20 aWhen it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, ahe said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, a“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes aas it is written of him, but bwoe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! cIt would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, aRabbi?” He said to him, b“You have said so.”
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
26 aNow as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and bafter blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; cthis is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he ahad given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for athis is my bblood of the covenant, which is poured out for cmany dfor the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you ain my Father’s kingdom.”
Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial
30 aAnd when they had sung a hymn, bthey went out to cthe Mount of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will astrike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, aI will go before you to Galilee.” 33 aPeter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 aJesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, bbefore the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 aPeter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
36 aThen Jesus went with them bto a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him aPeter and bthe two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, a“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and bwatch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face aand prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let bthis cup pass from me; cnevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 aWatch and bpray that you cmay not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, ayour will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for atheir eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for athe third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, athe hour is at hand, and bthe Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 aWhile he was still speaking, bJudas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” 49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, aRabbi!” And he kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, a“Friend, bdo what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. 51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his asword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For aall who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 aDo you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me bmore than twelve clegions of angels? 54 aBut how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” 55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day aI sat in the temple bteaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But aall this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” bThen all the disciples left him and fled.
Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council
57 aThen bthose who had seized Jesus led him to cCaiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 And aPeter was following him at a distance, as far as bthe courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with cthe guards to see the end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council awere seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, athough many false witnesses came forward. At last btwo came forward 61 and said, “This man said, a‘I am able to bdestroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 aBut Jesus remained silent. bAnd the high priest said to him, c“I adjure you by dthe living God, etell us if you are fthe Christ, gthe Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, a“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on byou will see the Son of Man cseated at the right hand of Power and bcoming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest atore his robes and said, b“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, a“He deserves death.” 67 Then athey spit in his face band cstruck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you aChrist! Who is it that struck you?”
Peter Denies Jesus
69 aNow Peter was sitting outside bin the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus aof Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for ayour accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, a“Before the rooster crows, you will bdeny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.