The Plot to Kill Jesus

22 The^(A) Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(B) which is called Passover,^(C) was approaching. ² The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death,^(D) because they were afraid of the people.^(E)

³ Then^(F) Satan entered Judas,^(G) called Iscariot,^(H) who was numbered among the Twelve. ⁴ He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police^(I) how he could hand him over^(J) to them. ⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him silver.^{[a] 6} So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present.

Preparation for Passover

⁷ Then^(K) the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.^{(L) 8} Jesus sent Peter and John,^(M) saying, ‘Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.’

⁹ ‘Where do you want us to prepare it? ’ they asked him.

¹⁰ ‘Listen,’ he said to them, ‘when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. ¹¹ Tell the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks you, ‘Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples? ’ ” ¹² Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs.^(N) Make the preparations there.’

¹³ So they went and found it just as he had told them,^(O) and they prepared the Passover.

The First Lord’s Supper

¹⁴ When^(P) the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. ¹⁵ Then he said to them, ‘I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again^[b] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’^{(Q) 17} Then he took a cup,^(R) and after giving thanks,^(S) he said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘This is my body,^(T) which is given for you. Do this in remembrance^(U) of me.’

²⁰ In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant^(V) in my blood,^(W) which is poured out for you.^{[c] 21} But^(X) look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me.^{(Y) 22} For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined,^(Z) but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! ’

²³ So they began to argue^(AA) among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it.

The Dispute over Greatness

²⁴ Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.^{(AB) 25} But he said to them,^(AC) ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are themselves called^[d] “Benefactors.” ²⁶ It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest,^(AD) and whoever leads, like the one serving. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.^{(AE) 28} You are those who stood by me in my trials.^{(AF) 29} I bestow on you a kingdom,^(AG) just as my Father bestowed one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.^(AH) And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(AI)

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹ ‘Simon, Simon,^[e] look out. Satan^(AJ) has asked to sift you^[f] like wheat.^{(AK) 32} But I have prayed^(AL) for you^[g] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen^(AM) your brothers.’

³³ ‘Lord,’^(AN) he told him, ‘I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death.’

³⁴ ‘I tell you, Peter,’ he said, ‘the cock will not crow today until^[h] you deny three times that you know me.’

Be Ready for Trouble

³⁵ He also said to them, ‘When I sent you out^(AO) without money-bag, travelling bag, or sandals, did you lack anything? ’

‘Not a thing,’ they said.

³⁶ Then he said to them, ‘But now, whoever has a money-bag should take it, and also a travelling bag. And whoever doesn’t have a sword should sell his robe and buy one. ³⁷ For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me:^[i] And he was counted among the lawless.^[j](AP) Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfilment.’^(AQ)

³⁸ ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘look, here are two swords.’

‘That is enough! ’ he told them.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁹ He went out and made his way^(AR) as usual^(AS) to the Mount of Olives,^(AT) and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When he reached the place,^(AU) he told them, ‘Pray that you may not fall into temptation.’^{(AV) 41} Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray,^{(AW) 42} ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup^(AX) away from me – nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven^(AY) appeared to him, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ Being in anguish,^(AZ) he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.^{[k] 45} When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. ⁴⁶ ‘Why are you sleeping? ’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.’

Judas’s Betrayal of Jesus

⁴⁷ While^(BA) he was still speaking, suddenly a mob came, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? ’

⁴⁹ When those around him saw what was going to happen, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword? ’ ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus responded, ‘No more of this! ’ And touching his ear, he healed him. ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?^{[l] 53} Every day while I was with you in the temple,^(BB) you never laid a hand on me. But this is your hour^(BC) #– #and the dominion of darkness.’^(BD)

Peter Denies His Lord

⁵⁴ They seized him, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Meanwhile Peter^(BE) was following at a distance. ⁵⁵ They^(BF) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard^(BG) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. ⁵⁶ When a servant saw him sitting in the light, and looked closely at him, she said, ‘This man was with him too.’

⁵⁷ But he denied it: ‘Woman, I don’t know him.’

⁵⁸ After a little while, someone else saw him and said, ‘You’re one of them too.’

‘Man, I am not! ’ Peter said.

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another kept insisting, ‘This man was certainly with him, since he’s also a Galilean.’

⁶⁰ But Peter said, ‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about! ’ Immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.^(BH) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’^{(BI) 62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Jesus Mocked and Beaten

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating him.^{(BJ) 64} After blindfolding him, they kept^[m] asking, ‘Prophesy! Who was it that hit you? ’ ⁶⁵ And they were saying many other blasphemous^(BK) things to him.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

⁶⁶ When daylight came,^(BL) the elders^[n] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,^(BM) convened and brought him before their Sanhedrin.^{(BN) 67} They said,^(BO) ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’

But he said to them, ‘If I do tell you, you will not believe. ⁶⁸ And if I ask you, you will not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’^(BP)

⁷⁰ They all asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God? ’^(BQ)

And he said to them, ‘You say that I am.’^(BR)

⁷¹ ‘Why do we need any more testimony,’ they said, ‘since we’ve heard it ourselves from his mouth? ’