The Plot to Kill Jesus

1Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how, after seizing Him in secret, they might kill Him; 2for they were saying, “Not during the festival, lest there be a riot of the people.”

The Costly Perfume

3And while He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster jar of perfume of very costly pure [†]nard; and she broke the jar and poured it over His head. 4But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred [†]denarii and given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you bother her? She did a good work to Me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8She has done what she could; she anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9And truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what this woman did will also be spoken of in memory of her.”

10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests in order to [†]betray Him to them. 11And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he began seeking how to betray Him at an opportune time.

The Passover Meal

12And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when [†]the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?” 13And He sent two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him; 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 15And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; prepare for us there.” 16And the disciples went out and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

17And when it was evening He came with the twelve. 18And as they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will [†]betray Me—the one who is eating with Me.” 19They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20And He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, the one who dips with Me in the bowl. 21For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man [†]by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good [†]for that man if he had not been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

22And while they were eating, He took some bread, and [†]after a blessing, He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

26And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27And Jesus said to them, “You will all [†]fall away, because it is written, ‘I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.’ 28But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 29But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may [†]fall away, yet I will not.” 30And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” 31But Peter kept saying insistently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

32Then they came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” 33And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 34And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” 37And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39And again He went away and prayed, saying the same [†]words. 40And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41And He came the third time, and said to them, “[†]Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being [†]betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up, let us go; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

43And immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up, and with him was a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away [†]under guard.” 45And after coming, Judas, having immediately gone to Him, said, “Rabbi!” and kissed Him. 46And they laid hands on Him and seized Him. 47But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and [†]cut off his ear. 48And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me, as you would against a robber? 49Every day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me; but this has taken place in order that the Scriptures would be fulfilled.” 50And they all left Him and fled.

51And a young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52But he [†]pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.

Jesus Before His Accusers

53Then they led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes gathered together. 54And Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the [†]officers and warming himself at the [†]fire. 55Now the chief priests and the whole [†]Sanhedrin were seeking to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. 56For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. 57And some, standing up, were giving false testimony against Him, saying, 58“We ourselves heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this [†]sanctuary made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59And not even in this way was their testimony consistent. 60And the high priest stood up in their midst and questioned Jesus, saying, “You answer nothing? What are these men testifying against You?” 61But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him and said to Him, “Are You the [†]Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” 63And tearing his tunics, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65And some began to spit at Him, and [†]to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers [†]received Him with [†]slaps in the face.

Peter’s Denials

66And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he went out into the entryway.[†] 69And when the servant-girl saw him, she began once more to say to the bystanders, “This is one of them!” 70But again he was denying it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are also a Galilean.” 71But he began to [†]curse and swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” 72And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said the statement to him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” [†]And throwing himself down, he began to cry.