1The feast of the unleavened bread, known as the Passover, was near.
2The chief priest and the teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity of destroying Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
3Now Satan took possession of Judas, who was known as Iscariot, and who belonged to the Twelve;
4and he went and discussed with the chief priests and officers in charge at the Temple the best way of betraying Jesus to them.
5They were glad of this, and agreed to pay him.
6So Judas assented, and looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them, in the absence of a crowd.
7When the day of the Festival of the unleavened bread came, on which the Passover lambs had to be killed,
8Jesus sent forward Peter and John, saying to them, “Go and make preparations for our eating the Passover.”
9“Where do you wish us to make preparations?” they asked.
10“Listen,” he answered, “when you have reached the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into whatever house he enters;
11and you will say to the owner of the house ‘The teacher says to you – Where is the room where I am to eat the Passover with my disciples?’
12The man will show you a large upstairs room, set out; there make preparations.”
13So Peter and John went on, and found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14When the time came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.
15“I have most earnestly wished,” he said, “to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16For I tell you that I will not eat it again, until it has had its fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17Then, on receiving a cup, after saying the thanksgiving, he said, “Take this and share it among you.
18For I tell you that I will not, after today, drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God has come.”
19Then Jesus took some bread, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke it and gave to them, with the words, “This is my body.
21Yet see! The hand of the man who is betraying me is beside me on the table!
22True, the Son of Man is passing, by the way ordained for him, yet alas for that man by whom he is being betrayed!”
23Then they began questioning one another which of them it could be who was going to do this.
24And a dispute arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
25Jesus, however, said, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their oppressors are styled ‘Benefactors.’
26But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves.
27Which is the greater – the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves.
28You are the men who have stood by me in my trials;
29and, just as my Father has assigned me a kingdom, I assign you places,
30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and be seated on twelve thrones as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.
31Simon! Simon! listen. Satan demanded leave to sift you all like wheat,
32but I prayed for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. And you, when you have returned to me, are to strengthen the others.”
33“Master,” said Peter, “with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death.”
34“I tell you, Peter,” replied Jesus, “the cock will not crow today until you have disowned all knowledge of me three times.”
35Then he said to them all, “When I sent you out as my messengers, without either purse, or bag, or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No; nothing,” they answered.
36“Now, however,” he said, “he who has a purse must take it and his bag as well; and he who has not must sell his cloak and buy a sword.
37For, I tell you, that passage of scripture must be fulfilled in me, which says – ‘He was counted among the godless’; indeed all that refers to me is finding its fulfillment.”
38“Master,” they exclaimed, “look, here are two swords!” “Enough!” said Jesus.
39Jesus then went out, and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, followed by his disciples.
40And, when he reached the spot, he said to them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.”
41Then he withdrew about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and began to pray.
42“Father,” he said, “if it is your pleasure, spare me this cup; only, not my will but yours be done.”
43Presently there appeared to him an angel from heaven, who strengthened him.
44And, as his anguish became intense, he prayed still more earnestly, while his sweat was like great drops of blood falling on the ground.
45Then he rose from praying, and came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow.
46“Why are you asleep?” he asked them. “Rise and pray so that you don’t fall into temptation.”
47While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared in sight, led by the man called Judas, who was one of the Twelve. Judas approached Jesus, to kiss him;
48at which Jesus said to him, “Judas, is it by a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?”
49But when those who were around Jesus saw what was going to happen, they exclaimed, “Master, should we use our swords?”
50And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear;
51at which Jesus said, “Let me at least do this”; and, touching his ear, he healed the wound.
52Then, turning to the chief priests and officers in charge at the Temple and the elders, who had come for him, he said, “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs?
53When I was with you day after day in the Temple Courts, you did not lay hands on me; but now your time has come, and the power of darkness.”
54Those who had taken Jesus prisoner took him away into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
55But, when they had lit a fire in the centre of the courtyard and had all sat down there, Peter seated himself in the middle of them.
56Presently a maidservant saw him sitting near the blaze of the fire. She looked carefully at him and said, “Why, this man was one of his companions!”
57But Peter denied it. “I do not know him,” he replied.
58A little while afterward someone else – a man – saw him and said, “Why, you are one of them!” “No,” Peter said, “I am not.”
59About an hour later another man declared positively, “This man also was certainly with him. Why, he is a Galilean!”
60But Peter said, “I do not know what you are speaking about.” Instantly, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed.
61And the Master turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the words that the Master had said to him – “Before a cock has crowed today, you will disown me three times”;
62and he went outside and wept bitterly.
63The men who held Jesus kept making sport of him and beating him.
64They blindfolded him and then questioned him. “Now play the prophet,” they said. “Who was it that struck you?”
65And they heaped many other insults on him.
66At daybreak the assembly of the elders of the people met – both the chief priests and the teachers of the Law – and took Jesus before their High Council.
67“If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us so.” “If I tell you,” replied Jesus, “you will not believe me;
68and, if I question you, you will not answer.
69But from this hour the Son of Man will be seated on the right hand of God Almighty.”
70“Are you, then, the Son of God?” they all asked. “It is true,” answered Jesus, “I am.”
71At this they exclaimed, “Why do we want any more evidence? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!”