Matthew 26:31-56

English Standard Version

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will ^(A)strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I am raised up, ^(B)I will go before you to Galilee.” ^33 (C)Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ^34 (D)Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, ^(E)before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ^35 (F)Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

^36 (G)Then Jesus went with them ^(H)to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him ^(I)Peter and ^(J)the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, ^(K)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and ^(L)watch^[a] with me.” ³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face ^(M)and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let ^(N)this cup pass from me; ^(O)nevertheless, 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, could you not watch with me one hour? ^41 (P)Watch and ^(Q)pray that you ^(R)may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, ^(S)your will be done.” ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for ^(T)their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for ^(U)the third time, saying the same words again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.^[b] See, ^(V)the hour is at hand, and ^(W)the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

^47 (X)While he was still speaking, ^(Y)Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. ⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him.” ⁴⁹ And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, ^(Z)Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, ^(AA)“Friend, ^(AB)do what you came to do.”^[c] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. ⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his ^(AC)sword and struck the servant^[d] of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ^(AD)all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ^53 (AE)Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ^(AF)more than twelve ^(AG)legions of angels? ^54 (AH)But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ⁵⁵ At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ^(AI)I sat in the temple ^(AJ)teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶ But ^(AK)all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” ^(AL)Then all the disciples left him and fled.