The Plot to Kill Jesus

1Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was drawing near. 2And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people.

3And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, who [†]belonged to the number of the twelve. 4And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. 5And they were glad and agreed to give him money. 6So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them [†]apart from the crowd.

The Passover Meal

7Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” 9And they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” 10And He said to them, “Behold, after you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. 11And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.” 13And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Lord’s Supper

14And when the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. 15And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 19And when He had taken some bread and 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.” 20And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. 21But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Me on the table. 22For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” 23And they began to argue among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.

Who Is Greatest?

24And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. 25And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ 26But not so with you; rather the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 27For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as the one who serves.

28“Now you are those who have stood by Me in My trials, 29and I grant you a kingdom, just as My Father granted one to Me, 30that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has [†]demanded to sift all of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” 33But he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” 34And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

35And He said to them, “When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Not a thing.” 36And He said to them, “But now, [†]whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and [†]whoever has no sword should sell his garment and buy one. 37For I tell you that this which is written must be [†]completed in Me, ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH TRANSGRESSORS’; for that which refers to Me has its [†]completion.” 38And they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them, “It is enough.”

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

39And He came out and went as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. 40Now when He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 42saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me, yet not My will, but Yours be done.” 43[†]Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 44And being in agony He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 45And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47While He was still speaking, behold, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was coming ahead of them, and he approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49And when those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50And one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus answered and said, “[†]Stop! No more of this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? 53While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not stretch out your hands against Me, but [†]this hour and the authority of darkness are yours.”

54Now having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest, but Peter was following at a distance. 55And after they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” 57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58A little later, another saw him and said, “You are one of them too!” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59And after about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, “Certainly this man was with Him too, for he also is a Galilean.” 60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62And he went out and cried bitterly.

63Now the men who were holding [†]Jesus in custody were mocking Him while they beat Him, 64and they blindfolded Him and were asking Him, saying, “Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?” 65And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin

66And as the day came, the [†]Sanhedrin of elders of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their [†]Sanhedrin, saying, 67“If You are the [†]Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68and if I ask a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF [†]GOD.” 70And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “You yourselves say that I am.” 71Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.”