The Sanhedrin make plans

1It was two days before the Passover and the Unleavened Bread. ²⁸³The chief priests and the scribes were looking for an underhanded way to seize and kill Him.

2But they said, “Not during the feast, or the people may riot.”

An anointing in Simon's house

3Being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He was reclining at a meal, a woman came having an alabaster vase of very costly perfume of pure nard. Then she broke the vase and began to pour it over His head.

4But there were some who were expressing indignation to one another and saying: “To what purpose was this perfume wasted?

5It could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they started censuring her. ²⁸⁴

6But Jesus said: “Leave her alone! Why are you bothering her? She has done something useful to me.

7You will always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do them good; but you will not always have me.

8She did what she could. ²⁸⁵She has perfumed my body for the burying before the fact.

9Assuredly I tell you, wherever this Gospel may be proclaimed throughout the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” ²⁸⁶

Judas is hired

10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went off to the chief priests, so as to betray Him to them. ²⁸⁷

11Well upon hearing it they rejoiced and promised to give him silver coins. ²⁸⁸So he started figuring how he might conveniently betray Him.

The upper room is made ready

12Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they would sacrifice the Paschal lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare, so that you may eat the Passover?”

13So He sent two of His disciples, saying to them: “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a clay jar of water; follow him.

14Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher says, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’

15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ²⁸⁹

16So His disciples set out and came into the city and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

17When it was evening He came with the twelve.

The traitor identified

18Now as they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Assuredly I tell you, one of you who is eating with me will betray me.”

19So they began to be sorrowful and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” And another, “Surely not I?” ²⁹⁰

20He answered and said to them: “It is one of the twelve, the one dipping with me in the bowl.

21The Son of the Man is indeed going just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of the Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man not to have been born.” ²⁹¹

Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper

22As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; ²⁹²this is my body.”

23Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank it.

24And He said to them: “This is my blood, that of the new ²⁹³covenant, that is being shed for many.

25I tell you assuredly that I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” ²⁹⁴

26And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter will deny Him

27Then Jesus said to them: “All of you will be caused to stumble because of me this night, ²⁹⁵because it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ ²⁹⁶

28But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

29But Peter said to Him, “Even if all are caused to stumble, yet not I.”

30Jesus said to him, “I tell you assuredly that you, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, ²⁹⁷you will deny me three times.”

31But he insisted even more vehemently, “If I have to die with you, I will absolutely not deny you!” And all the others said the same.

The agony in Gethsemane

32Then they came to a place that was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

33But He took with Him Peter, James and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.

34And He said to them: “My soul is overwhelmed with grief, to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

35Going on a little, He fell to the ground and started praying that if it were possible the hour might pass from Him.

36And He said: “Abba (Father), all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me; yet not what I will, but what you will.”

37Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you keep watch for even one hour?

38Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

39Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.

40And when He returned He found them sleeping again, because their eyes were being weighed down; ²⁹⁸and they did not know how to answer Him.

41Then He came the third time and said to them: “You are still sleeping and resting! It is enough, the hour has come; yes, the Son of the Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42Get up, let's be going. See, my betrayer has approached.” ²⁹⁹

The betrayal and arrest

43And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and with him a considerable crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. ³⁰⁰

44Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, he it is; seize him and take him away securely.” ³⁰¹

45So upon arriving he went directly to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

46So they laid their hands on Him and secured Him.

47But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ³⁰²

48Then Jesus reacted by saying to them: “You have come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as if I were a bandit.

49I was with you daily in the temple, teaching, and you did not seize me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”

50Then they all deserted Him and ran away. ³⁰³

A curious case

51Now a certain young man had followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. The young men grabbed him,

52so leaving the linen cloth he fled from them naked. ³⁰⁴

At Caiaphas' house

53They led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.

54Well Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the operatives and warming himself at the fire.

A farcical trial

55Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus so as to kill Him, but were not finding any.

56To be sure, many were testifying falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree.

57Then some stood up and started testifying falsely against Him, saying,

58“We heard him saying: ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’ ”

59But not even then did their testimony agree. ³⁰⁵

60Then the high priest stood up in the center and questioned Jesus, saying: “Are you not going to answer? What are these testifying against you?”

61But He remained silent and answered nothing. ³⁰⁶Again the high priest questioned Him and said to Him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” ³⁰⁷

62So Jesus said: “I am, and you will see the Son of the Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of the heaven.” ³⁰⁸

63Then the high priest tore his clothes and said: “What further need do we have of witnesses?

64You heard the blasphemy! ³⁰⁹What do you think?” They all condemned Him to be deserving of death.

65Then some began to spit on Him, to cover His face, punch Him and say to Him, “Prophesy!” ³¹⁰And the operatives started slapping Him.

Peter's denials

66Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.

67And seeing Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Natsarene!”

68But Peter denied, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out into the entryway, and a rooster crowed. ³¹¹

69But that servant girl saw him again and began to say to those standing by, “This guy is one of them.”

70But again he kept denying it. Again, after a little while, those who were standing by said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them; because you really are a Galilean, and your accent agrees!” ³¹²

71Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you are speaking!”

72And for the second time a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered ³¹³the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” He broke down and started to cry.