1 Now the feast of unleavened bread which is called the passover was near.
2 The high priests and scribes were trying how to get him put to death (for they were afraid of the people),
3 and Satan entered Judas called Iscariot, a member of the twelve,
4 who went off to discuss with the high priests and commanders how he could betray him to them.
5 They were delighted and agreed to pay him for it.
6 He assented to this and sought a good opportunity for betraying him to them in the absence of the crowd.
7 Then came the day of unleavened bread when the paschal lamb had to be sacrificed.
8 So Jesus despatched Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the passover for us that we may eat it."
10 He said to them, "When you enter the city you will meet a man carrying a water-jar: follow him to the house he enters,
11 and tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks you, Where is the room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?'
12 Then he will show you a large room upstairs with couches spread; make your preparations there."
14 and when the hour came he took his place, with the apostles beside him.
15 He said to them, "I have longed eagerly to eat this passover with you before I suffer,
16 for I tell you I will never eat the passover again till the fulfilment of it in the Reign of God."
17 And he took a cup which was handed to him, gave thanks to God and said, "Take this and distribute it among yourselves,
18 for I tell you I will never drink the produce of the vine again till such time as God's Reign comes."
19 Then he took a loaf, and after thanking God he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This means my body given up for your sake; do this in memory of me."
20 So too he gave them the cup after supper, saying, "This cup means the new covenant ratified by my blood shed for your sake.
21 But the hand of my betrayer is on the table beside me!
22 The Son of man moves to his end indeed as it has been decreed, but woe to the man by whom he is betrayed!"
23 And they began to discuss among themselves which of them could possibly be going to do such a thing.
24 A quarrel also rose among them as to which of them could be considered the greatest.
25 But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles rule over them, and their authorities take the name of 'Benefactor':
26 not so with you. He who is greatest among you must be like the youngest, and he who is chief like a servant.
27 Which is the greatest, guest or servant? Is it not the guest? But I am among you as a servant.
28 It is you who have stood by me through my trials;
29 so, even as my Father has assigned me royal power,
30 I assign you the right of eating and drinking at my table in my Realm and of sitting on thrones to rule the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 Simon, Simon, Satan has claimed the right to sift you all like wheat,
32 but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail. And you in turn must be a strength to your brothers."
34 Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow to-day before you have three times denied that you know me."
35 And he said to them, "When I sent you out with neither purse nor wallet nor sandals, did you want for anything?" "No," they said, "for nothing."
36 Then he said to them, "But he who has a purse must take it now, and the same with a wallet; and he who has no sword must sell his coat and buy one.
37 For I tell you, this word of scripture must be fulfilled in me: he was classed among criminals. Yes, there is an end to all that refers to me."
39 Then he went outside and made his way to the Hill of Olives, as he was accustomed. The disciples followed him,
40 and when he reached the spot he said to them, "Pray that you may not slip into temptation."
41 He withdrew about a stone's throw and knelt in prayer,
42 saying, "Father, if it please thee, take this cup away from me. But thy will, not mine, be done."
43 [And an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him;
44 he fell into an agony and prayed with greater intensity, his sweat dropping to the ground like clots of blood.]
45 Then rising from prayer he went to the disciples, only to find them asleep from sheer sorrow.
46 He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not slip into temptation."
47 While he was still speaking, there came a mob headed by the man called Judas, one of the twelve. He approached in order to kiss Jesus,
48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas! would you betray the Son of man with a kiss?"
49 Now when the supporters of Jesus saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?"
50 And one of them did strike the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 Jesus said, "Let me do this at least," and cured him by touching his ear.
52 Then he said to the high priests and commanders of the temple and elders who had appeared to take him, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels?
53 Day after day I was beside you in the temple, and you never stretched a hand against me. But this is your hour, and the dark Power has its way."
54 Then they arrested him and led him away inside the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance
55 and sat down among some people who had lit a fire in the courtyard and were sitting round it.
56 A maidservant who noticed him sitting by the fire took a long look at him and said, "That fellow was with him too."
58 Shortly afterwards another man noticed him and said, "Why, you are one of them!" "Man," said Peter, "I am not."
59 About an hour had passed when another man insisted, "That fellow really was with him. Why, he is a Galilean!"
60 "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." Instantly, just as he was speaking, the cock crowed;
61 the Lord turned round and looked at Peter, and then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him, that 'Before cock-crow to-day you will disown me three times.'
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
63 Meantime the men who had Jesus in custody flogged him and made fun of him;
64 blindfolding him they would ask him, "Prophesy, tell us who struck you?"
65 And many another insult they uttered against him.
66 When day broke, the elders of the people all met along with the high priests and scribes, and had him brought before their Sanhedrin. They said to him,
67 "Tell us if you are the Christ." He said to them, "You will not believe me if I tell you,
68 and you will not answer me when I put a question to you.
69 But after this the Son of man will be seated at God's right hand of power."