The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 26 -

(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

And it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these words, He said to His disciples,

“You have known that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of Man is delivered up to be crucified.”

Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, into the court of the chief priest who was called Caiaphas;

and they consulted together that they might take Jesus by guile, and kill [Him],

and they said, “Not in the celebration, that there may not be a tumult among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

And Jesus having been in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

there came to Him a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, very precious, and she poured on His head as He is reclining.

And having seen [it], His disciples were much displeased, saying, “To what purpose [is] this waste?

For this ointment could have been sold for much, and given to the poor.”

And Jesus having known, said to them, “Why do you give trouble to the woman? For a good work she worked for Me;

for you always have the poor with you, and you do not always have Me;

for she having put this ointment on My body—for My burial she did [it].

Truly I say to you, wherever this good news may be proclaimed in the whole world, what this [one] did will also be spoken of—for a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

Then one of the Twelve, who is called Judas Iscariot, having gone to the chief priests, said,

“What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?” And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver,

and from that time he was seeking a convenient season to deliver Him up.

Preparing the Passover

(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

And on the first [day] of the Unleavened [Bread] the disciples came near to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where will You [that] we may prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

And He said, “Go away into the city, to such a one, and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is near; near you I keep the Passover with My disciples”;

and the disciples did as Jesus appointed them, and prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

And evening having come, He was reclining with the Twelve,

and while they are eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will deliver Me up.”

And being grieved exceedingly, they began to say to Him, each of them, “Is it I, Lord?”

And He answering said, “He who dipped with Me the hand in the dish, he will deliver Me up;

the Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been written concerning Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is delivered up! It were good for him if that man had not been born.”

And Judas—he who delivered Him up—answering said, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said.”

And while they were eating, Jesus having taken the bread, and having blessed, broke, and was giving [it] to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat, this is My body”;

and having taken the cup, and having given thanks, He gave to them, saying, “Drink of it—all;

for this is My blood of the New Covenant, that is being poured out for many, for forgiveness of sins;

and I say to you that I may not drink from now on this produce of the vine, until that day when I may drink it with you new in the kingdom of My Father.”

And having sung a hymn, they went forth to the Mount of Olives;

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

then Jesus says to them, “All you will be stumbled at Me this night; for it has been written: I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered abroad;

but after My having risen, I will go before you to Galilee.”

And Peter answering said to Him, “Even if all will be stumbled at You, I will never be stumbled.”

Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this night, before rooster-crowing, three times you will deny Me.”

Peter says to Him, “Even if it may be necessary for me to die with You, I will not deny You”; in like manner also said all the disciples.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He says to the disciples, “Sit here, until having gone away, I will pray over there.”

And having taken Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful, and to be very heavy;

then He says to them, “Exceedingly sorrowful is My soul—to death; abide here, and watch with Me.”

And having gone forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You.”

And He comes to the disciples, and finds them sleeping, and He says to Peter, “So! You were not able to watch with Me one hour!

Watch, and pray, that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.”

Again, a second time, having gone away, He prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me except I drink it, Your will be done”;

and having come, He finds them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

And having left them, having gone away again, He prayed a third time, saying the same word;

then He comes to His disciples and says to them, “Sleep on from now on, and rest! Behold, the hour has come near, and the Son of Man is delivered up into the hands of sinners.

Rise, let us go; behold, he who is delivering Me up has come near.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

And while He is yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the Twelve came, and with him a great multitude, with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

And he who delivered Him up gave them a sign, saying, “Whomsoever I will kiss, it is He, lay hold on Him”;

and immediately, having come to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him;

and Jesus said to him, “Friend, for what are you present?” Then having come near, they laid hands on Jesus, and took hold on Him.

And behold, one of those with Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, drew his sword, and having struck the servant of the chief priest, he took off his ear.

Then Jesus says to him, “Turn back your sword to its place; for all who took the sword will perish by the sword;

do you think that I am not able now to call on My Father, and He will place beside Me more than twelve legions of messengers?

How then may the Writings be fulfilled, that thus it must happen?”

In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Did you come forth as against a robber, with swords and sticks, to take Me? Daily I was with you sitting, teaching in the temple, and you did not lay hold on Me;

but all this has come to pass, that the Writings of the prophets may be fulfilled”; then all the disciples, having left Him, fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

And those laying hold on Jesus led [Him] away to Caiaphas the chief priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together,

and Peter was following Him far off, to the court of the chief priest, and having gone in within, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.

And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, were seeking false witness against Jesus, that they might put Him to death,

and they did not find; and many false witnesses having come near, they did not find; and at last two false witnesses having come near,

said, “This One said, I am able to throw down the temple of God, and after three days to build it.”

And the chief priest having stood up, said to Him, “Nothing You answer? What do these witness against You?”

And Jesus was silent. And the chief priest answering said to Him, “I adjure You, by the living God, that You may say to us if You are the Christ—the Son of God.”

Jesus says to him, “You have said; nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of Heaven.”

Then the chief priest tore his garments, saying, “He has slandered; what need have we yet of witnesses? Behold, now you heard His slander;

what do you think?” And they answering said, “He is worthy of death.”

Then they spit in His face and punched Him, and others slapped,

saying, “Declare to us, O Christ, who he is that struck You?”

Peter Denies Jesus

(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

And Peter was sitting in the court outside, and there came near to him a certain maid, saying, “And you were with Jesus of Galilee!”

And he denied before all, saying, “I have not known what you say.”

And he having gone forth to the porch, another female saw him, and says to those there, “And this one was with Jesus of Nazareth”;

and again he denied with an oath, “I have not known the Man.”

And after a while those standing near having come, said to Peter, “Truly you also are of them, for even your speech makes you evident.”

Then he began to curse, and to swear, “I have not known the Man”; and immediately a rooster crowed,

and Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, He having said to him, “Before rooster-crowing, you will deny Me three times”; and having gone outside, he wept bitterly.

(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

When Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples,

“You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit and kill him.

But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.

For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.

For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Preparing the Passover

(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.”’”

The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

As they were eating, he said, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”

They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, “It isn’t me, is it, Lord?”

He answered, “He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me.

The Son of Man goes even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for

(a)

it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it,

for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (b)

But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”

But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”

Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go there and pray.”

He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”

He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?

Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again, a second time he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup can’t pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done.”

He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

Then he came to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Arise, let’s be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him.”

Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Jesus said to him, “Friend, why are you here?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”

In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.

But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

But Peter followed him from a distance to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death,

and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward

and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”

The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”

But Jesus stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”

Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”

Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”

After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Then he went out and wept bitterly.

Footnotes

(a)26:26 TR reads “blessed” instead of “gave thanks for”

(b)26:31 ℘ Zechariah 13:7