Matthew 26:57-75

English Standard Version

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

^57 (A)Then ^(B)those who had seized Jesus led him to ^(C)Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸ And ^(D)Peter was following him at a distance, as far as ^(E)the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ^(F)the guards to see the end. ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council^{[a] (G)}were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰ but they found none, ^(H)though many false witnesses came forward. At last ^(I)two came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This man said, ^(J)‘I am able to ^(K)destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?”^{[b] 63 (L)}But Jesus remained silent. ^(M)And the high priest said to him, ^(N)“I adjure you by ^(O)the living God, ^(P)tell us if you are ^(Q)the Christ, ^(R)the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(S)“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on ^(T)you will see the Son of Man ^(U)seated at the right hand of Power and ^(V)coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest ^(W)tore his robes and said, ^(X)“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?” They answered, ^(Y)“He deserves death.” ⁶⁷ Then ^(Z)they spit in his face ^(AA)and ^(AB)struck him. And some slapped him, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, you ^(AC)Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

^69 (AD)Now Peter was sitting outside ^(AE)in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus ^(AF)of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for ^(AG)your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ^(AH)“Before the rooster crows, you will ^(AI)deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.