1 NOW THE Festival of Unleavened Bread was drawing near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to do away with [Jesus], for they feared the people.
3 But [then] Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve [apostles]. 4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray Him and deliver Him up to them. 5 And they were delighted and pledged [themselves] to give him money. 6 So he agreed [to this], and sought an opportunity to betray Him to them [without an uprising] in the absence of the throng.
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover [lamb] had to be slain. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare for us the Passover meal, that we may eat it. 9 They said to Him, Where do You want us to prepare [it]? 10 He 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 And say to the master of the house, The Teacher asks you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover [meal] with My disciples? 12 And he will show you a large room upstairs, furnished [with carpets and with couches properly spread]; there make [your] preparations. 13 And they went and found it [just] as He had said to them; and they made ready the Passover [supper].
14 And when the hour came, [Jesus] reclined at table, and the apostles with Him. 15 And He said to them, I have earnestly and intensely desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 For I say to you, I shall eat it no more until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves; 18 For 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 Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and gave it to them saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. 20 And in like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant [ratified] in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you. 21 But, behold, the hand of him who 1 is now engaged in betraying Me is with Me on the table. 22 For 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 And they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was who was about to do this.
24 Now 2 an eager contention arose among them [as to] which of them was considered and reputed to be the greatest. 25 But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles 3 are deified by them and exercise lordship [ 3 ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers. 26 But 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 For 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 And you are those who have remained [throughout] and persevered with Me in My trials; 29 And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you [the privilege and decree], 30 That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan 5 has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain, 32 But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren. 33 And [Simon Peter] said to Him, Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death. 34 But Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, before a [single] cock shall crow this day, you will three times [utterly] deny that you know Me.
35 And He said to them, When I sent you out with no purse or [provision] bag or sandals, did you lack anything? They answered, Nothing! 36 Then He said to them, But now let him who has a purse take it, and also [his provision] bag; and let him who has no sword sell his mantle and buy a sword. 37 For 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 [has reached its end and is finally settled]. 38 And they said, Look, Lord! Here are two swords. And He said to them, It is enough.
39 And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed Him. 40 And when He came to the place, He said to them, Pray that you may not [at all] enter into temptation. 41 And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw and knelt down and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but [ 6 always] Yours be done. 43 And there appeared to Him an angel from heaven, strengthening Him in spirit. 44 And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great 7 clots of blood dropping down upon the ground. 45 And when He got up from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from grief, 46 And He said to them, Why do you sleep? Get up and pray that you may not enter [at all] into temptation.
47 And while He was still speaking, behold, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve [apostles], was going before [leading] them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, 48 But Jesus said to him, Judas! Would you betray and deliver up the Son of Man with a kiss? 49 And when those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, Lord, shall we strike with the sword? 50 And one of them struck the bond servant of the high priest and cut off his ear, the right one. 51 But Jesus said, Permit 8 them to go so far [as to seize Me]. And He touched the 9 little (insignificant) ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to those who had come out against Him--the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders [of the Sanhedrin]--Have you come out with swords and clubs as [you would] against a robber? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple [ 10 enclosure], you did not stretch forth [your] hands against Me. But this is your hour--and the power [which] darkness [gives you has its way].
54 Then they seized Him and led Him away, bringing Him into the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were seated together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and gazing [intently] at him, said, This man too was with 11 Him. 57 But he denied it and said, Woman, I do not know Him! 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, You are one of them also. But Peter said, Man, I am not! 59 And 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 But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are talking about. And instantly, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 And 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 And he went out and wept bitterly [that is, with painfully moving grief].
63 Now the men who had Jesus in custody treated Him with contempt and scoffed at and ridiculed Him and beat Him; 64 They blindfolded Him also and asked Him, Prophesy! Who is it that struck 12 You? 65 And they said many other evil and slanderous and insulting words against Him, reviling Him.
66 As 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 If 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 And if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But hereafter (from this time on), the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God. 70 And they all said, You are the Son of God, then? And He said to them, 13 It is just as you say; I AM. 71 And they said, What further evidence do we need? For we have heard [it] ourselves from His own mouth!