Matthew 26:40-75 ▼

40 When he went back to the disciples, he found them asleep. He told Peter, |So, you men couldn't stay awake with me for one hour, could you?

41 All of you must stay awake and pray that you won't be tempted. The spirit is indeed willing, but the body is weak.|

42 He went away a second time and prayed, |My Father, if this cup cannot go away unless I drink it, let your will be done.|

43 Then he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open.

44 After leaving them again, he went away and prayed again for the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he came back to the disciples and told them, |You might as well keep on sleeping and resting. Look! The time is near for the Son of Man to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Get up! Let's go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!|

47 Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A large crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests and elders of the people.

48 Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, |The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him.|

49 So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, |Hello, Rabbi!| and kissed him tenderly.

50 Jesus asked him, |Friend, why are you here?| Then the other men surged forward, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him.

51 Suddenly, one of the men with Jesus reached out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

52 Jesus told him, |Put your sword back in its place! Everyone who uses a sword will be killed by a sword.

53 Don't you think that I could call on my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels now?

54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say this must happen?|

55 At this point, Jesus asked the crowds, |Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? Day after day I sat teaching in the Temple, yet you didn't arrest me.

56 But all of this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.| Then all the disciples deserted Jesus and ran away.

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled.

58 Peter, however, followed him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He went inside and sat down with the servants to see how this would end.

59 Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council were looking for false testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death.

60 But they couldn't find any, even though many false witnesses had come forward. At last two men came forward

61 and stated, |This man said, 'I can destroy the sanctuary of God and rebuild it in three days.'|

62 At this, the high priest stood up and asked Jesus, |Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?|

63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest told him, |I command you by the living God to tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God!|

64 Jesus told him, |You have said so. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see 'the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power' and 'coming on the clouds of heaven.'|

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, |He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Listen! You yourselves have just heard the blasphemy!

66 What is your verdict?| They replied, |He deserves to die!|

67 Then they spit in his face and hit him. Some slapped him,

68 saying, |Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you?|

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him and said, |You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean.|

70 But he denied it in front of them all. |I don't know what you're talking about!| he exclaimed.

71 As he went out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, |This man was with Jesus from Nazareth.|

72 Again he denied it and swore with an oath, |I don't know the man!|

73 After a little while, the people who were standing there came up and told Peter, |Obviously you're also one of them, because your accent gives you away.|

74 Then he began to curse violently. |I don't know the man!| he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed.

75 Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he said, |Before a rooster crows, you'll deny me three times.| Then he went outside and cried bitterly.