The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 26 -

(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,

“You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,(a)

a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?

This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

The poor you will always have with you,(b) but you will not always have Me.

By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.

Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Preparing the Passover

(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,(c) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house.’”

So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.(d)

And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.

The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

This is My blood of the covenant,(e) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

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

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’(f)

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

Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

At that time Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.

“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.

So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.

Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”

Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”(g) Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts,(h) and you did not arrest Me.

But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.

But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin

(i)

were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power

(j)

and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(k)

At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.

What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered.

Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him

and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

Peter Denies Jesus

(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Footnotes

(a)26:6 Aramaic Simon the Potter or Simon the Jar Maker

(b)26:11 See Deuteronomy 15:11.

(d)26:20 BYZ and TR the Twelve

(e)26:28 BYZ and TR the new covenant

(f)26:31 Zechariah 13:7

(g)26:50 Or “Friend,” Jesus replied, “for what have you come?”

(h)26:55 Literally the temple

(i)26:59 Or the whole Council

(j)26:64 Or the right hand of the Mighty One

(k)26:64 See Psalms 110:1 and Daniel 7:13.

(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit and kill him.

But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

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

a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.

For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.

For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

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

and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Preparing the Passover

(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me.

The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for

(a)

it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,

for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (b)

But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”

He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”

He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”

He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”

Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.

But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,

and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward

and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”

The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”

But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”

Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”

Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”

After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.

Footnotes

(a)26:26 TR reads “blessed” instead of “gave thanks for”

(b)26:31 ℘ Zechariah 13:7