Matthew 26:31-56

New American Standard Bible

³¹ Then Jesus *said to them, “You will all ^[a](A)fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘^(B)I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be ^(C)scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised, ^(D)I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” ³³ But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all ^[b]fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” ³⁴ Jesus said to him, “^(E)Truly I say to you that ^(F)this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” ³⁵ Peter *said to Him, “^(G)Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.

The Garden of Gethsemane

^36 (H)Then Jesus *came with them to a place called ^[c](I)Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And He took ^(J)Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. ³⁸ Then He *said to them, “^(K)My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and ^(L)keep watch with Me.”

³⁹ And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let ^(M)this cup pass from Me; ^(N)yet not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not ^(O)keep watch with Me for one hour? ^41 (P)Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; ^(Q)the spirit is ^[d]willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup ^(R)cannot pass away unless I drink from it, ^(S)Your will be done.” ⁴³ Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵ Then He *came to the disciples and *said to them, “^[e]Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, ^(T)the hour ^[f]is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”

Jesus’ Betrayal and Arrest

^47 (U)And while He was still speaking, behold, ^(V)Judas, one of the twelve, came ^[g]accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” ⁴⁹ And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, ^(W)Rabbi!” and kissed Him. ⁵⁰ But Jesus said to him, “^(X)Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

⁵¹ And behold, ^(Y)one of those who were with Jesus ^[h]reached and drew his ^(Z)sword, and struck the ^(AA)slave of the high priest and ^[i]cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus *said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for ^(AB)all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve ^[j](AC)legions of ^(AD)angels? ⁵⁴ How then would ^(AE)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? ^(AF)Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. ⁵⁶ But all this has taken place so that ^(AG)the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.