Matthew 26:47–75

⁴⁷While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

⁴⁸Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” ⁴⁹Going directly to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

⁵⁰“Friend,” Jesus replied, “do what you came for.”^g

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. ⁵¹At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

⁵²“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching in the temple courts,^h and you did not arrest Me. ⁵⁶But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

⁵⁷Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. ⁵⁸But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

⁵⁹Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrinⁱ were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. ⁶⁰But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward ⁶¹and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

⁶²So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

⁶³But Jesus remained silent.

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴“You have said it yourself,” Jesus answered. “But I say to all of you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power^j and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^k

⁶⁵At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶What do you think?”

“He deserves to die,” they answered.

⁶⁷Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him ⁶⁸and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who hit You?”

⁶⁹Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

⁷⁰But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

⁷¹When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷²And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

⁷³After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!”

And immediately a rooster crowed.

⁷⁵Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.