Matthew 26

Modern

Literal

The Plot to Kill Jesus

¹When Jesus had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples,

¹And it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these words, that He said to His disciples,

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

²“You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man is delivered over to be crucified.”

³At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,

³Then the chief priests were gathered together—and the elders of the people—in the courtyard of the high priest, who is called Caiaphas,

⁴and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

⁴and they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by guile and kill Him.

⁵“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

⁵But they were saying, “Not during the feast, lest a riot might take place among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

⁶While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,^a

⁶And Jesus having been in Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper,

⁷a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

⁷a woman came to Him, having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He is reclining.

⁸When the disciples saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste?

⁸And the disciples, having seen, became indignant, saying, “For what is this waste?

⁹This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

⁹For this could have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

¹⁰Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.

¹⁰And Jesus, having known, said to them, “Why do you cause trouble to the woman? For she did a beautiful work to Me.

¹¹The poor you will always have with you,^a but you will not always have Me.

¹¹For the poor you always have with you, but not always do you have Me.

¹²By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.

¹²For she, in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, did it for My burial.

¹³Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

¹³Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be proclaimed in the whole world, that which she did will also be spoken of, for a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

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

¹⁴Then one of the Twelve, the one being called Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests,

¹⁵and 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.

¹⁵said, “What are you willing to give me, and I will betray Him to you?” And they appointed to him thirty pieces of silver.

¹⁶So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

¹⁶And from that time, he was seeking an opportunity, that he might betray Him.

Preparing the Passover

¹⁷On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,^a the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹⁷And on the first of the Unleavened, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do You desire that we should prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

¹⁸He 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.’”

¹⁸And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; at your house I will keep the Passover with My disciples.”’”

¹⁹So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

¹⁹And the disciples did as Jesus directed them and prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

²⁰When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples.^a

²⁰And evening having come, He was reclining with the twelve disciples.

²¹And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”

²¹And while they are eating, He said to them, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”

²²They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”

²²And being grieved exceedingly, they began, each one, to say to Him, “Is it I, Lord?”

²³Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me.

²³And answering, He said, “The one having dipped the hand in the bowl with Me, he will betray Me.

²⁴The 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.”

²⁴Indeed the Son of Man goes as it has been written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born—that man.”

²⁵Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

²⁵And Judas, who was betraying Him, answering, said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said.”

²⁶While 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.”

²⁶Now while they are eating, Jesus, having taken bread and having blessed it, broke it, and having given it to the disciples, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

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

²⁷And having taken a cup and having given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you.

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

²⁸For this is My blood of the covenant, being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

²⁹I 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.”

²⁹And I say to you that I shall not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it anew with you in the kingdom of My Father.”

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

³⁰And having sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

³¹Then 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.’^a

³¹Then Jesus says to them, “All of you will fall away because of Me during this night. For it has been written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³²But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³²But I, after being raised, will go before you into Galilee.”

³³Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”

³³And answering, Peter said to Him, “Even if all will fall away because of You, I never will fall away.”

³⁴“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁴Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that during this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

³⁵Peter replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples said the same thing.

³⁵Peter says to Him, “Even if it were necessary for me to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the disciples said likewise.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

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

³⁶Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He says to the disciples, “Sit here until, having gone away over there, I shall pray.”

³⁷He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

³⁷And having taken with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

³⁸Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

³⁸Then He says to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and 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.”

³⁹And having gone forward a little, He fell upon His face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You.”

⁴⁰Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.

⁴⁰And He comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping. And He says to Peter, “So, were you not able to watch with Me one hour?

⁴¹“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

⁴¹Watch and pray so that you might not enter into temptation. the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak.”

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

⁴²Again, for a second time, having gone away, He prayed, saying, “My Father, if this is not possible to pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.”

⁴³And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

⁴³And having come again, He found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

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

⁴⁴And having left them again, having gone away, He prayed for the third time, having said the same thing again.

⁴⁵Then 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.

⁴⁵Then He comes to the disciples and says to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. Behold, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

⁴⁶Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”

⁴⁶Rise up, let us go! Behold, he who is betraying Me has drawn near!”

The Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷While 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.

⁴⁷And in His still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the Twelve, came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.”

⁴⁸And the one betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I shall kiss, it is He; seize Him.”

⁴⁹Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁴⁹And having come up to Jesus immediately, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁵⁰“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”^a

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him.

⁵⁰And Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what are you come?” Then, having come, they laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

⁵¹At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵¹And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched out the hand, drew his sword, and having struck the servant of the high priest, he cut off his ear.

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

⁵²Then Jesus says to him, “Return your sword into its place; for all those having taken the sword will perish by the sword.

⁵³Are 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?

⁵³Or do you think that I am not able to call upon My Father, and He will furnish to Me presently more than twelve legions of angels?

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

⁵⁴How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

⁵⁵At 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,^a and you did not arrest Me.

⁵⁵In that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, “Did you come out with swords and clubs, as against a robber, to capture Me? Every day in the temple I was sitting teaching, and you did not seize Me.

⁵⁶But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

⁵⁶And all this has come to pass so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then the disciples, all having forsaken Him, fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

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

⁵⁷And those having seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

⁵⁸But 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.

⁵⁸And Peter was following Him from afar, even to the court of the high priest. And having entered within, he was sitting with the guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin^a were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.

⁵⁹And the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

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

Finally two came forward

⁶⁰But they did not find any, of many false witnesses having come forward. And at last, two having come forward,

⁶¹and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶¹they said, “This man has been saying, ‘I am able to demolish the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶²So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

⁶²And the high priest, having risen up, said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What do these witness against You?”

⁶³But 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.”

⁶³But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure you by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴“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^a and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^b

⁶⁴Jesus says to him, “You said it. But I say to you, from now you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming upon the clouds of heaven.”

⁶⁵At 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.

⁶⁵Then the high priest tears his garments, saying, “He blasphemed! Why do we have any more need of witnesses? Behold, now you heard the blasphemy.

⁶⁶What do you think?”

“He deserves to die,” they answered.

⁶⁶What do you think?” And answering, they said, “He is deserving of death.”

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

⁶⁷Then they spat in His face and struck Him. And others slapped Him,

⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

⁶⁸saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one having struck You?”

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁹Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

⁶⁹And Peter was sitting outside in the court, and one servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”

⁷⁰But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

⁷⁰And he denied it before all, saying, “I do not know what you say.”

⁷¹When 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.”

⁷¹And having gone out to the gateway, another saw him and says to those there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷²And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

⁷²And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

⁷³After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

⁷³And after a little while, those standing by, having come, said to Peter, “Truly you are of them also, for even your speech makes you evident.”

⁷⁴At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!”

And immediately a rooster crowed.

⁷⁴Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

⁷⁵Then 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.

⁷⁵And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, He having said, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And having gone out, he wept bitterly.