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

The time for the supper of bread without yeast was near. It was the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

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

The religious leaders and the teachers of the Law looked for a way to kill Jesus. But they were afraid of the people.

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

Then Satan came into the heart of Judas who was called Iscariot. He was one of the twelve followers.

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.

Judas went away and talked with the religious leaders and the leaders of the people. He talked about how he might hand Jesus over to them.

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

They were glad and promised to pay him money.

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

Judas promised to do this and then looked for a way to hand Jesus over when there were no people around. Getting Ready for the Special Supper

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

The day of bread without yeast came. It was the day when the lamb had to be killed and given on the altar in worship in the house of God. It was the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

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

Jesus sent Peter and John and said, “Go and get this special supper ready for us that we may eat.”

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

They said to Him, “Where do You want us to get it ready?”

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,

He answered, “See, when you go into the city, you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him into the house where he goes.

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?

Say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the room you keep for friends where I may eat this special supper with My followers?”’

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

He will take you to a large room on the second floor with everything in it. Make it ready for us.”

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

They went and found everything as Jesus had said. They got ready for the special supper. The First Lord’s Supper

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

When the time came, Jesus sat down with the twelve followers.

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

He said to them, “I have wanted very much to eat this special supper with you to remember how the Jews left Egypt. I have wanted to eat this 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.

I say to you, I will not eat this special supper again until its true meaning is completed in the holy nation 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;

Then Jesus took the cup and gave thanks. He said, “Take this and pass it to each one.

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.

I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the holy nation 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.

Then Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you. Do this to remember 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.

In the same way, after they had finished the bread, He took the cup. He said, “This cup is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for you. Jesus Tells of the One Who Will Hand Him Over

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

“See, the hand of the one who will give Me over to the leaders of the country is on the table with Me.

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!

The Son of Man will be taken this way because it has been in God’s plan. But it is bad for that man who hands Him over!”

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

They began to ask each other which of them would do this. Arguing about Who Is the Greatest

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

They started to argue among themselves about who was thought 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.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the nations show their power to the people. Those who have power over the people are given names of honor.

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.

But you will not be like that. Let the greatest among you be as the least. Let the leader be as the one who cares for others.

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.

Who is greater, the one who is eating at the table, or the one who is caring for him? Is it not the one who is eating at the table? But I am here with you as One Who cares for you. The Followers Will Be Honored

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

“You have stayed with Me through all the hard things that have come to Me.

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

As My Father has given Me a holy nation, I will give you the right

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

to eat and drink at My table in My holy nation. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve family groups of the Jewish nation.” Jesus Tells How Peter Will Lie about Him

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

The Lord said, “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has wanted to have you. He will divide you as wheat is divided from that which is no good.

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.

But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will be strong and that you will not give up. When you return, you must help to make your brothers strong.”

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

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison and to die with You!”

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.

Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today before you will say three times that you do not know Me.” The Followers Are Told of Trouble to Come

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!

Jesus said to them, “I sent you without money or bag or shoes. Did you need anything?” They said, “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.

Then He said to them, “But now whoever has a money-bag and a bag for food should take it. Whoever does not have a sword should sell his coat and buy one.

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.

I tell you, that what has been written about Me must happen. It says, ‘They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law.’ What is told about Me must happen.”

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

They said, “Lord, look, we have two swords.” He answered, “That is enough.” Jesus Prays in the Garden

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

Jesus came out of the room. Then He went to the Mount of Olives as He had been doing. The followers went with Him.

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

When He got there, He said to them, “Pray that you will not be tempted.”

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

He walked away from them about as far as a stone can be thrown. There He got down with His face on the ground and prayed.

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

He said, “Father, if it can be done, take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want.”

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

An angel from heaven came and gave Him strength.

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.

His heart was much troubled and He prayed all the more. Water ran from His face like blood and fell to the ground.

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

When Jesus got up after praying, He went back to the followers. He found them sleeping because of so much sorrow.

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

He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not be tempted.” Jesus Is Handed Over to Sinners

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,

While Jesus was speaking, Judas came walking ahead of many people. He was one of the twelve followers. He came 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?

But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you handing over 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?

Those around Jesus saw what was going to happen and asked, “Lord, should we fight with our swords?”

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

One of them hit a servant who was owned by the head religious leader and cut off his right ear.

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

Jesus said, “Stop! This is enough.” And He put His hand on his ear and healed him. Jesus Stands in Front of the Religious Leaders

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?

Jesus said to the religious leaders and the leaders of the house of God and the other leaders who came to Him, “Have you come with swords and sticks to take Me, as if I were 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.

While I was with you everyday in the house of God, you never took hold of Me. But now is the time you are to come and you have come in the dark.”

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.

Then they led Jesus away to the house of the head religious leader. Peter followed a long way behind Him. Peter Said He Did Not Know Jesus

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

They built a fire in the yard and sat down. Peter sat down with 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.

One of the servant-girls saw Peter as he sat by the fire and looked right at him. She said, “This man was with Jesus also.”

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

Peter lied 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!

After awhile another person saw him and said, “You are one of them also.” Peter said, “No, sir, 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!

About an hour later another person said the same thing, “For sure, this man was with Jesus also because he is from Galilee.”

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.

But Peter said, “Sir, I do not know what you are saying.” And at once, while he was talking, a rooster 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.

The Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered the Lord had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know Me.”

62 A nd he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter went outside and cried with a troubled heart.

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

Those who watched Jesus so He could not get away made fun of Him and beat Him.

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

They covered His eyes with a cloth and asked Him, “Tell us who hit You!”

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

They said many other bad things against Jesus.

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,

When it was morning the leaders of the people and the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law got together. They took Jesus to the court of the religious leader. 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),

“Tell us if you are the Christ.” He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe Me.

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

If I ask you something, you will not tell Me.

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

From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the All-powerful 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.

They all said, “Then are You the Son of God?” He said, “You say that I am.”

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

Then they said, “What other word do we need against Him? We have heard Him say this with His own mouth.”