1 And it happened when Jesus had finished all this teaching, He said to His disciples, 2 "You know that the Passover Festival will be celebrated in two more days [Note: This was the annual Jewish festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership], and the Son of man will be turned over to be crucified."
3 Then the leading priests and elders of the [Jewish] people were gathered in the courtroom of the head priest, named Caiaphas. 4 They were taking counsel together as to how they might take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. 5 But they reasoned, "We will not do it during the Festival because it might start a riot among the people."
6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany [Note: This was a small village less than two miles east of Jerusalem], in the house of Simon, the man [who probably had been healed] of an infectious skin disease, 7 a woman with an alabaster [i.e., stone] jar of very expensive perfume came to Him and poured it on His head as He reclined at the dinner table. [Note: See Matt. 23:6] 8 But when His disciples saw this they were very upset and said, "What is the reason for such waste? 9 For this perfume could have been sold for a large sum of money and given to poor people."
10 But Jesus was aware [of what they were up to], so said, "Why are you bothering this woman? For she has done a kind deed to me. 11 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me. 12 For in the act of pouring this perfume on my body she was preparing it for my burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this Gospel [message] is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done [for me] will [also] be told about, as a memorial of her [kindness to me]."
14 Then one of the twelve apostles, named Judas Iscariot, went to the leading priests 15 and said, "What would you give me if I turned Jesus over to you?" And they weighed out thirty silver coins [Note: This amount was equivalent to about five months of a farm laborer's wages, or approximately $7,000 in 1994], and promised [See Mark 14:11] to give him that much money. 16 So, from then on Judas looked for a [good] opportunity to turn Jesus over [to the Jewish leaders].
17 Now on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread [i.e., the first day of Passover week], His disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?"
18 He answered, "Go into the city [i.e., Jerusalem] to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near [i.e., to be turned over to the Jewish leaders]; I plan to observe the Passover Festival at your house with my disciples.'" 19 And the disciples did [just] as Jesus had asked them, and they made preparations for the Passover meal. 20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the dinner table with His twelve apostles. 21 As they were eating, He said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will turn me over [to the Jewish leaders]."
22 And they were extremely grieved, and each one of them began saying to Him, "Am I the one, Lord?"
23 He answered, "The one who dipped his hand with me into the [sauce] bowl is the one who will turn me over [to the Jewish leaders]. 24 The Son of man is going [to die], but it is too bad for that person through whom the Son of man is turned over [to the Jewish leaders]! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, the one who betrayed Him asked, "Am I the one, Rabbi?" Jesus answered Him, "You have said so."
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took a [small] loaf of bread, asked God's blessing on it, then broke it and gave pieces to His disciples and said, "Take some and eat it; this is [i.e., represents] my [physical] body." 27 And He took a cup [i.e., probably wine made from fresh or possibly preserved grape juice], gave thanks to God, then passed it to them, saying, "All of you, drink from it; 28 for this is [i.e., represents] my blood of the Agreement [i.e., between God and mankind], which is [to be] poured out for many people in order for [their] sins to be forgiven. 29 But I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine [i.e., grape juice] from now on until that day when I will drink it again with you [i.e., figuratively] in my Father's kingdom." 30 And after they had sung a hymn, they went up to the Mount of Olives. [Note: This was a small hill just east of Jerusalem]
31 Then Jesus said [to His disciples], "All of you will have doubts about me tonight, for it is written [Zech. 13:7], 'I will strike down the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered everywhere.'
32 But after I am raised up, I will go on ahead of you to Galilee."
33 Peter answered Him, "[Even] if everyone [else] has doubts about you, I never will."
34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this [very] night, before the rooster crows, you will deny [knowing] me three times."
35 Peter replied to Him, "Even if I have to die with you, still I will not deny [knowing] you." And all [the rest of] the disciples said the same thing.
36 Then Jesus came with His disciples to a place called Gethsemene. [Note: This was an olive orchard on a hillside just east of Jerusalem]. He said to them, "You sit here while I go over there and pray." 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [i.e., James and John] with Him, and [soon] began to be grieved and very distressed. 38 Then He said to them, "My soul is extremely grieved, even to [the point where I could] die. Stay here and be alert with me [i.e., in prayer]." 39 And He went on ahead a short distance and fell face-down and prayed, "My Father, allow this cup [i.e., of suffering] to pass away from me if it is [at all] possible; nevertheless, let it not be what I want, but what You want [for me]."
40 And [when] He came [back] to where His disciples were and found them asleep, He said to Peter, "What [is this], could you not remain alert with me [in prayer] for one hour? 41 Be alert and pray, so that you do not give in to temptation; the spirit [of a person] is truly willing [i.e., to do a certain thing], but his physical nature is [often too] weak [to carry it out]."
42 He [then] went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if this [cup of suffering] cannot pass away unless I drink it [i.e., experience the suffering], [then] let what You want be done." 43 And He came [back] again and found them asleep, because they had not been able to keep their eyes open.
44 He left and went away from them again and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Go ahead and sleep now, and get your rest. See, the time is near and the Son of man is [about to be] turned over into the hands of sinners. 46 Get up, let us be going. Look, the one who will turn me over [to the Jewish leaders] is nearby."
47 And while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, came with a large crowd who were carrying swords and clubs. They had come from the leading priests and elders of the [Jewish] people. 48 Now the one who betrayed Him had given them a signal, saying, "Whoever I give a kiss [of greeting to], he is the one, take hold of him." 49 So, immediately he went to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi," and [then] kissed Him [enthusiastically].
50 And Jesus said to him, "[My] friend, [go ahead], do what you came to do." Then the Jewish officers came and arrested Jesus and began taking Him away. 51 Just then, one of those who were with Jesus [i.e., Peter. See John 18:10], reached out with his sword and struck the head priest's servant [with it], shearing off his ear.
52 Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in your belt again, for all those who use the sword will die by the sword. 53 Or, do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father and He will immediately send me more than twelve legions of angels [i.e., Jesus could have called about 72,000 angels to minister to Him. See Matt. 4:11]? 54 How [else] then should the Scriptures be fulfilled that this must happen [than what is taking place]?"
55 [Then] Jesus said to the crowds at that very time, "Have you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs as [you would apprehend] a thief? I sat everyday teaching in the Temple, and you did not [come to] take me. 56 But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled." Then all of His disciples left Him and ran away.
57 And those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas, the head priest, where the experts in the law of Moses and the [Jewish] elders were gathered. 58 But Peter followed Him from a distance [as they were going] to the courtyard of the head priest. He went inside [i.e., eventually. See John 18:15-16] and sat down with the [Jewish] officers to see how things would turn out [i.e., with Jesus' trial].
59 Now the leading priests and the entire Council [called "the Sanhedrin"] looked for false witnesses [to testify] against Jesus, in order to put Him to death. 60 But they did not find any [i.e., whose stories harmonized. See Mark 14:56], even though many false witnesses came [forward to testify]. Finally, two [false witnesses] came forward 61 and said, "This man [i.e., Jesus] said, 'I can destroy the Temple of God, and [then] rebuild it within three days.'"
62 The head priest stood up and said to Him, "Have you nothing to answer? What about this charge being made against you by these people?" 63 But Jesus did not say anything. So, the head priest said to Him, "I command you [to swear] by the living God, [and] to tell us if you are the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one], the Son of God!"
64 Jesus replied to him, "You have said so; nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right side of Power [i.e., God Himself], and coming on the clouds of the sky."
65 Then the head priest tore at his clothing [i.e., as an expression of frustration], saying, "He has spoken against God [i.e., by claiming Deity for Himself]. What additional need do we have for witnesses? Look, you [yourselves] have now heard him speaking against God. 66 What do you people think [i.e., about such statements]?" They answered, "He deserves to die." 67 Then they spit in His face and hit Him [with their fists], while others slapped Him [in the face], 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you 'Christ.' Tell us who hit you?" [Note: By this time Jesus had been blindfolded. See Mark 14:65].
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in a courtyard and a servant-girl approached him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean."
70 But he denied [it] in front of all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."
71 And when he had gone out by the gate, another servant-girl saw him and said to those nearby, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."
72 And he denied [it] again, [this time] with an oath, saying, "I do not [even] know the man."
73 And a little later, those standing nearby came to Peter and said, "[We know] for sure, you also are one of them [i.e., Jesus' disciples], because your accent gives you away."
74 Then Peter began to curse and swear, "[I tell you], I do not know the man." And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny [knowing] me three times." And he went out and cried bitterly.