Matthew 26 — English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

13What I'm about to tell you is true. What she has done will be told anywhere this good news is preached all over the world. It will be told in memory of her."

14One of the Twelve went to the chief priests. His name was Judas Iscariot.

15He asked, "What will you give me if I hand Jesus over to you?" So they counted out 30 silver coins for him.

16From then on, Judas watched for the right time to hand Jesus over to them.

17It was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The disciples came to Jesus. They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?"

18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover at your house with my disciples." ' "

19So the disciples did what Jesus had told them to do. They prepared the Passover meal.

20When evening came, Jesus was at the table with the Twelve.

21While they were eating, he said, "What I'm about to tell you is true. One of you will hand me over to my enemies."

22The disciples became very sad. One after the other, they began to say to him, "It's not I, Lord, is it?"

23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will hand me over.

24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But how terrible it will be for the one who hands over the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25Judas was the one who was going to hand him over. He said, "It's not I, Rabbi, is it?" Jesus answered, "Yes. It is you."

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."

27Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, "All of you drink from it.

28This is my blood of the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.

29Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won't drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father's kingdom."

30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Jesus told them, "This very night you will all turn away because of me. It is written that the Lord said, " 'I will strike the shepherd down. Then the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' --(Zechariah 13:7)

32But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

33Peter replied, "All the others may turn away because of you. But I never will."

34"What I'm about to tell you is true," Jesus answered. "It will happen this very night. Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don't know me."

35But Peter said, "I may have to die with you. But I will never say I don't know you." And all the other disciples said the same thing.

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him. He began to be sad and troubled.

38Then he said to them, "My soul is very sad. I feel close to death. Stay here. Keep watch with me."

39He went a little farther. Then he fell with his face to the ground. He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, take this cup of suffering away from me. But let what you want be done, not what I want."

40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.

41"Watch and pray. Then you won't fall into sin when you are tempted. The spirit is willing. But the body is weak."

42Jesus went away a second time. He prayed, "My Father, is it possible for this cup to be taken away? But if I must drink it, may what you want be done."

43Then he came back. Again he found them sleeping. They couldn't keep their eyes open.

44So he left them and went away once more. For the third time he prayed the same thing.

45Then he returned to the disciples. He said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look! The hour is near. The Son of Man is about to be handed over to sinners.

46Get up! Let us go! Here comes the one who is handing me over to them!"

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas arrived. He was one of the Twelve. A large crowd was with him. They were carrying swords and clubs. The chief priests and the elders of the people had sent them.

48Judas, who was going to hand Jesus over, had arranged a signal with them. "The one I kiss is the man," he said. "Arrest him."

49So Judas went to Jesus at once. He said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" And he kissed him.

50Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came to do." Then the men stepped forward. They grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51At that moment, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword. He pulled it out and struck the servant of the high priest with it. He cut off the servant's ear.

52"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him. "All who use the sword will die by the sword.

53Do you think I can't ask my Father for help? He would send an army of more than 70,000 angels right away.

54But then how would the Scriptures come true? They say it must happen in this way."

55At that time Jesus spoke to the crowd. "Am I leading a band of armed men against you?" he asked. "Do you have to come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courtyard teaching. And you didn't arrest me.

56But all this has happened so that the words of the prophets would come true." Then all the disciples left him and ran away.

57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest. The teachers of the law and the elders had come together there.

58Not too far away, Peter followed Jesus. He went right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see what would happen.

59The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for something to use against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death.

60But they did not find any proof, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two other witnesses came forward.

61They said, "This fellow claimed, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God. I can build it again in three days.' "

62Then the high priest stood up. He asked Jesus, "Aren't you going to answer? What are these charges that these men are bringing against you?"

63But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I command you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

64"Yes. It is just as you say," Jesus replied. "But here is what I say to all of you. In days to come, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One. You will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven."

65Then the high priest tore his clothes. He said, "He has spoken a very evil thing against God! Why do we need any more witnesses? You have heard him say this evil thing.

66What do you think?" "He must die!" they answered.

67Then they spit in his face. They hit him with their fists. Others slapped him.

68They said, "Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit you?"

69Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. A female servant came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said.

70But in front of all of them, Peter said he was not. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

71Then he went out to the gate leading into the courtyard. There another woman saw him. She said to the people, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72Again he said he was not. With an oath he said, "I don't know the man!"

73After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter. "You must be one of them," they said. "The way you talk gives you away."

74Then Peter began to call down curses on himself. He took an oath and said to them, "I don't know the man!" Right away a rooster crowed.

75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said. "The rooster will crow," Jesus had told him. "Before it does, you will say three times that you don't know me." Peter went outside. He broke down and sobbed.