Matthew 26:36-64

Listen to Matthew 26:36-64

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

36 ¹Then Jesus went with them ²to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray. ”

37 And taking with him ³Peter and ⁴the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.

38 Then he said to them, ⁵“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and ⁶watch^[a] with me. ”

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face ⁷and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let ⁸this cup pass from me; ⁹nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. ”

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?

41 ¹⁰Watch and ¹¹pray that you ¹²may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ”

42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, ¹³your will be done. ”

43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for ¹⁴their eyes were heavy.

44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for ¹⁵the third time, saying the same words again.

45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. ^[b] See, ¹⁶the hour is at hand, and ¹⁷the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand. ”

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

47 ¹⁸While he was still speaking, ¹⁹Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; seize him. ”

49 And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, ²⁰Rabbi! ” And he kissed him.

50 Jesus said to him, ²¹“Friend, ²²do what you came to do. ” ^[c] Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

51 And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his ²³sword and struck the servant^[d] of the high priest and cut off his ear.

52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ²⁴all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

53 ²⁵Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ²⁶more than twelve ²⁷legions of angels?

54 ²⁸But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so? ”

55 At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day ²⁹I sat in the temple ³⁰teaching, and you did not seize me.

56 But ³¹all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. ” ³²Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

57 ³³Then ³⁴those who had seized Jesus led him to ³⁵Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.

58 And ³⁶Peter was following him at a distance, as far as ³⁷the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ³⁸the guards to see the end.

59 Now the chief priests and the whole council^[e] ³⁹were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,

60 but they found none, ⁴⁰though many false witnesses came forward. At last ⁴¹two came forward

61 and said, “This man said, ⁴²‘I am able to ⁴³destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days. ’”

62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you? ” ^[f]

63 ⁴⁴But Jesus remained silent. ⁴⁵And the high priest said to him, ⁴⁶“I adjure you by ⁴⁷the living God, ⁴⁸tell us if you are ⁴⁹the Christ, ⁵⁰the Son of God. ”

64 Jesus said to him, ⁵¹“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on ⁵²you will see the Son of Man ⁵³seated at the right hand of Power and ⁵⁴coming on the clouds of heaven. ”

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