Matthew 26:31-56

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Peter’s Denial Predicted

³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away^[a] because of Me, for it is written:

³² But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”^(B)

³³ Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”

³⁴ “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”^(C)

³⁵ “Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

The Prayer in the Garden

³⁶ Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,^[c](D) and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.^{(E) 38} Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow^[d] —to the point of death.^[e] Remain here and stay awake with Me.”^{(F) 39} Going a little farther,^[f] He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”^(G)

⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you^[g] stay awake with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this^[h] cannot pass^[i] unless I drink it, Your will be done.”^{(H) 43} And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.^[j]

⁴⁴ After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. ⁴⁵ Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?^[k] Look, the time is near. The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.^{(I) 46} Get up; let’s go! See, My betrayer is near.”

The Judas Kiss

⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, suddenly arrived.^(J) A large mob, with swords and clubs, was with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. ⁴⁸ His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” ⁴⁹ So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁵⁰ “Friend,”^(K) Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”^[l]

Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him. ⁵¹ At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his ear.^(L)

⁵² Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.^{(M) 53} Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions^[m] of angels?^{(N) 54} How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled^(O) that say it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,^[n] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn’t arrest Me.^{(P) 56} But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures^[o](Q) would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples^(R) deserted Him and ran away.