1 N ow the Festival of Unleavened Bread was drawing near, which is called the Passover.

2 A nd the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to do away with, for they feared the people.

3 B ut Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.

4 A nd he went away and discussed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Him and deliver Him up to them.

5 A nd they were delighted and pledged to give him money.

6 S o he agreed, and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the throng.

7 T hen came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover had to be slain.

8 S o Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare for us the Passover meal, that we may eat it.

9 T hey said to Him, Where do You want us to prepare ?

10 H e said to them, Behold, when you have gone into the city, a man carrying an earthen jug or pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into the house which he enters,

11 A nd say to the master of the house, The Teacher asks you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?

12 A nd he will show you a large room upstairs, furnished; there make preparations.

13 A nd they went and found it as He had said to them; and they made ready the Passover.

14 A nd when the hour came, reclined at table, and the apostles with Him.

15 A nd He said to them, I have earnestly and intensely desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

16 F or I say to you, I shall eat it no more until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

17 A nd He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves;

18 F or I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the kingdom of God comes.

19 T hen He took a loaf, and when He had given thanks, He broke and gave it to them saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.

20 A nd in like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you.

21 B ut, behold, the hand of him who is now engaged in betraying Me is with Me on the table.

22 F or the Son of Man is going as it has been determined and appointed, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed and delivered up!

23 A nd they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was who was about to do this.

24 N ow an eager contention arose among them which of them was considered and reputed to be the greatest.

25 B ut Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles are deified by them and exercise lordship '> ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.

26 B ut this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.

27 F or who is the greater, the one who reclines at table (the master), or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as One Who serves.

28 A nd you are those who have remained and persevered with Me in My trials;

29 A nd as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you,

30 T hat you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 S imon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that you be given up to him, that he might sift you like grain,

32 B ut I have prayed especially for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.

33 A nd said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.

34 B ut Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, before a cock shall crow this day, you will three times deny that you know Me.

35 A nd He said to them, When I sent you out with no purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything? They answered, Nothing!

36 T hen He said to them, But now let him who has a purse take it, and also bag; and let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy a sword.

37 F or I tell you that this Scripture must yet be fulfilled in Me: And He was counted and classed among the wicked (the outlaws, the criminals); for what is written about Me has its fulfillment.

38 A nd they said, Look, Lord! Here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough.

39 A nd He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed Him.

40 A nd when He came to the place, He said to them, Pray that you may not enter into temptation.

41 A nd He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed,

42 S aying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but '> always] Yours be done.

43 A nd there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit.

44 A nd being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.

45 A nd when He got up from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from grief,

46 A nd He said to them, Why do you sleep? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.

47 A nd while He was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was going before them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him,

48 B ut Jesus said to him, Judas! Would you betray and deliver up the Son of Man with a kiss?

49 A nd when those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike with the sword?

50 A nd one of them struck the bond servant of the high priest and cut off his ear, the right one.

51 B ut Jesus said, Permit them to go so far. And He touched the little (insignificant) ear and healed him.

52 T hen Jesus said to those who had come out against Him—the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders —Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber?

53 W hen I was with you day after day in the temple '> enclosure], you did not stretch forth hands against Me. But this is your hour—and the power darkness.

54 T hen they seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance.

55 A nd when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were seated together, Peter sat among them.

56 T hen a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and gazing at him, said, This man too was with Him.

57 B ut he denied it and said, Woman, I do not know Him!

58 A nd a little later someone else saw him and said, You are one of them also. But Peter said, Man, I am not!

59 A nd when about an hour more had elapsed, still another emphatically insisted, It is the truth that this man also was with Him, for he too is a Galilean!

60 B ut Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And instantly, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.

61 A nd the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter recalled the Lord’s words, how He had told him, Before the cock crows today, you will deny Me thrice.

62 A nd he went out and wept bitterly.

63 N ow the men who had Jesus in custody treated Him with contempt and scoffed at and ridiculed Him and beat Him;

64 T hey blindfolded Him also and asked Him, Prophesy! Who is it that struck You?

65 A nd they said many other evil and slanderous and insulting words against Him, reviling Him.

66 A s soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Him into their council (the Sanhedrin), and they said,

67 I f You are the Christ (the Messiah), tell us. But He said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe (trust in, cleave to, and rely on what I say),

68 A nd if I question you, you will not answer.

69 B ut hereafter (from this time on), the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

70 A nd they all said, You are the Son of God, then? And He said to them, It is just as you say; I Am.

71 A nd they said, What further evidence do we need? For we have heard ourselves from His own mouth!