Matthew 26:51-61

51 At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest's slave and cut off his ear.

52 Then Jesus told him, "Put your sword back in place because all who take up a sword will perish by a sword.

53 Or do you think that I cannot call on My Father, and He will provide Me at once with more than 12 legions ^[a] of angels?

54 How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?"

55 At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, ^[b] to capture Me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple complex, and you didn't arrest Me.

56 But all this has happened so that the prophetic Scriptures ^[c] would be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted Him and ran away.

Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin

57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened.

58 Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest's courtyard.^[d] He went in and was sitting with the temple police^[e] to see the outcome.^[f]

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death.

60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward.^[g] Finally, two^[h] who came forward

61 stated, "This man said, 'I can demolish God's sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.' "