The Plot to Kill Jesus

1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread was drawing near, which is called the Passover,

2and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus quietly, for they were afraid of the people.

3Then Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.

4He went away and discussed with the chief ³²⁸priests and officers how he might deliver Jesus up to them.

5They were glad and agreed to give him money.

6So he accepted the offer and began looking for an opportunity to deliver Jesus up to them in the absence of a crowd.

The Preparation of the Passover

7Then came the day for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9They said to him, “Where do yoʋ want us to prepare it?”

10He said to them, “Behold, when you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters

11and say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher asks yoʋ, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’

12He will then show you a large upper room that is furnished; prepare it there.”

13So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Institution of the Lord's Supper

14When the hour came, Jesus reclined at the table, and the ³²⁹twelve apostles were with him.

15He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

16For I tell you that I will certainly not eat it ³³⁰again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17Then he took ³³¹a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.

18For I tell you, ³³²I will certainly not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

20In the same way, he also took the cup after they had eaten supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

21But behold, the hand of the one who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.

22³³³The Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.”

23Then they began to discuss with one another which one of them could ever do such a thing.

The Dispute About Greatness

24A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greater.

25So Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors.

26But it must not be so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader must become like one who serves.

27For who is greater? The one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

28“You have stayed with me in my trials.

29And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me,

30so that you may eat and drink at my ³³⁴table. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of ³³⁵Israel.”

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31Then the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, so that he might sift you like wheat.

32But I have prayed for yoʋ that yoʋr faith may not fail. Once yoʋ have turned back, strengthen yoʋr brothers.”

33Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with yoʋ both to prison and to death.”

34Jesus said, “I tell yoʋ, Peter, a rooster will ³³⁶certainly not crow today ³³⁷before yoʋ have denied three times that yoʋ know me.”

Moneybag, Knapsack, and Sword

35Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you without a moneybag, knapsack, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”

36Then he said to them, “But now he who has a moneybag must take it, and likewise a knapsack. And he who does not have a sword must sell his garment and buy one.

37For I tell you that this Scripture must ³³⁸still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was numbered with the lawless.’ For what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38So they said, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” He said to them, “That is enough!”

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39Then Jesus went out and made his way to the Mount of Olives, as was his custom, and ³³⁹his disciples followed him.

40When he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw away and knelt down and prayed,

42“Father, if yoʋ are ³⁴⁰willing to take this cup away from me, do so; nevertheless, not my will, but yoʋrs be done.”

43³⁴¹Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

44Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45When he rose from prayer and came to ³⁴²the disciples, he found them sleeping because of their sorrow.

46So he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

Jesus Arrested

47While he was still speaking, behold, a crowd approached, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss ³⁴³him,

48and Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said ³⁴⁴to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”

50Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple, and the elders who had come out against him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?

53I was with you daily in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when the power of darkness reigns.”

Peter Denies Jesus

54Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the house of the high priest, and Peter was following at a distance.

55Some had kindled a fire there in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, and Peter sat down among them.

56When a servant girl saw him sitting in the light of the fire, she looked at him intently and said, “This man also was with him.”

57But Peter denied ³⁴⁵him, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”

58After a little while, someone else saw him and said, “Yoʋ also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

59After about an hour had gone by, another man kept insisting, “Truly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”

60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what yoʋ are talking about!” And immediately, while he was still speaking, ³⁴⁶a rooster crowed.

61Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him, “Before a rooster ³⁴⁷crows, yoʋ will deny me three times.”

62And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Jesus Is Mocked and Beaten

63Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody began mocking him and beating him.

64They also blindfolded him and kept ³⁴⁸striking his face, saying to him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck yoʋ?”

65And they said many other things against him, reviling him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

66When daybreak came, the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Jesus ³⁴⁹up to their Sanhedrin and said,

67“If yoʋ are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will surely not believe.

68And if I ask you a question, you will surely not answer ³⁵⁰me or release me.

69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

70So they all said, “Are yoʋ then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You yourselves say that I am.”

71Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.”