Matthew 26

1When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He said to His disciples:

2You know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.

3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered at the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

4And they plotted how to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him.

5But they said: Not during the feast, or there may be a riot among the people.

6While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7A woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.

8When the disciples saw this, they were angry and asked: Why this waste?

9This perfume could have been sold for a great deal of money and given to the poor.

10Aware of this, Jesus said to them: Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me.

11You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what this woman has done will also be told, in memory of her.

14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

15And asked: What will you give me if I hand Him over to you? So they counted out thirty silver coins for Him.

16From then on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked: Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?

18Jesus said: Go into the city to a certain man and tell him: The Teacher says, My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.

19The disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve.

21While they were eating, He said: I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.

22They were very sad and began to ask Him, one after another: Surely you do not mean me, Lord?

23Jesus answered: The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.

24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but how terrible it will be for the one who betrays Him! It would be better for that man if he had never been born.

25Then Judas, who was going to betray Him, said: Surely you do not mean me, Rabbi? Jesus answered: You have said it yourself.

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said: Take and eat. This is my body.

27Then He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying: Drink from it, all of you.

28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them: This very night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

32But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.

33Peter answered: Even if everyone falls away because of you, I never will.

34Jesus replied: I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

35Peter said: Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you. And all the other disciples said the same.

36Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them: Sit here while I go over there and pray.

37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled.

38Then He said to them: My soul is crushed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.

39Going 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.

40Then Jesus returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Jesus said to Peter: Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?

41Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

42He went away a second time and prayed: My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.

43When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.

44So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.

45Then He returned to the disciples and said to them: Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.

47While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48The betrayer had arranged a signal with them: Whomever I kiss is the one. Arrest Him.

49Judas went straight up to Jesus and said: Greetings, Rabbi! and kissed Him.

50Jesus said to him: Friend, do what you came for. Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

51One of those with Jesus reached for his sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

53Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen this way?

55At that time Jesus said to the crowd: Am I leading a rebellion, that you come with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.

56But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would come true. Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

57Those who had arrested Jesus led Him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had gathered.

58But Peter followed Him at a distance, all the way to the courtyard of the high priest. He went in and sat with the guards to see how it would end.

59The chief priests and the whole council were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death.

60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two witnesses came forward

61And declared: This man said: I can destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.

62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus: Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?

63But Jesus remained silent. 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.

64You have said it yourself, Jesus replied. But I say to all of you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said: He has spoken against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have now heard him insult God.

66What do you think? He is worthy of death, they answered.

67Then they spit in His face and struck Him with their fists. Others slapped Him

68And said: Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?

69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came to him and said: You also were with Jesus of Galilee.

70But he denied it in front of everyone: I do not know what you are talking about.

71Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there: This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.

72He denied it again, with an oath: I do not know the man!

73After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said: Surely you are one of them, because your accent gives you away.

74Then Peter began to curse and swear: I do not know the man! At once a rooster crowed.

75Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken: Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.