Matthew 26:43-75

43 He came and again found them asleep, for they were very tired.

44 So He left them, and went away once more and prayed a third time, again using the same words.

45 Then He came to the disciples and said, "Sleep on and rest. See, the moment is close at hand when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men.

46 Rouse yourselves. Let us be going. My betrayer is close at hand."

47 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.

48 Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, "The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him."

49 So he went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace to you, Rabbi!" And he kissed Him eagerly.

50 "Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.

51 But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

52 "Put back your sword again," said Jesus, "for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.

53 Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?

54 In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?"

55 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.

56 But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled." At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.

57 But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled.

58 And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the High Priest's palace, where he entered and sat down among the officers to see the issue.

59 Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;

60 but they could find none, although many false witnesses came forward. At length there came two

61 who testified, "This man said, `I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'"

62 Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, "Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?"

63 Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

64 "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

65 Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, "Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety.

66 What is your verdict?" "He deserves to die," they replied.

67 Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some with the open hand--

68 while they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you."

69 Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when one of the maidservants came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilaean."

70 He denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."

71 Soon afterwards he went out and stood in the gateway, when another girl saw him, and said, addressing the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

72 Again he denied it with an oath. "I do not know the man," he said.

73 A short time afterwards the people standing there came and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your brogue shows it."

74 Then with curses and oaths he declared, "I do not know the man." Immediately a cock crowed,

75 and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, how He had said, "Before the cock crows you will three times disown me." And he went out and wept aloud, bitterly.