Matthew 26 - English Standard Version (ESV)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

26 When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, ^{2 (A)}“You know that after two days ^(B)the Passover is coming, and ^(C)the Son of Man ^(D)will be delivered up to be crucified.”

^{3 (E)}Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in ^(F)the palace of the high priest, whose name was ^(G)Caiaphas, ^{4 (H)}and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. ⁵ But they said, “Not during the feast, ^(I)lest there be an uproar among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

^{6 (J)}Now when Jesus was at ^(K)Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,^{[a] 7} a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. ⁸ And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this could have been sold for a large sum and ^(L)given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But ^(M)Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹ For ^(N)you always have the poor with you, but ^(O)you will not always have me. ¹² In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it ^(P)to prepare me for burial. ¹³ Truly, I say to you, wherever ^(Q)this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told ^(R)in memory of her.”

Judas to Betray Jesus

^{14 (S)}Then one of the twelve, whose name was ^(T)Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they ^(U)paid him ^(V)thirty pieces of silver. ¹⁶ And from that moment he sought an opportunity ^(W)to betray him.

The Passover with the Disciples

^{17 (X)}Now on ^(Y)the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹⁸ He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ^(Z)‘The Teacher says, ^(AA)My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” ¹⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

^{20 (AB)}When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.^{[b] 21} And as they were eating, ^(AC)he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” ²² And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” ²³ He answered, ^(AD)“He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man goes ^(AE)as it is written of him, but ^(AF)woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! ^(AG)It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” ²⁵ Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, ^(AH)Rabbi?” He said to him, ^(AI)“You have said so.”

Institution of the Lord's Supper

^{26 (AJ)}Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and ^(AK)after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; ^(AL)this is my body.” ²⁷ And he took a cup, and when he ^(AM)had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, ²⁸ for ^(AN)this is my ^(AO)blood of the^[c] covenant, which is poured out for ^(AP)many ^(AQ)for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you ^(AR)in my Father's kingdom.”

Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial

^{30 (AS)}And when they had sung a hymn, ^(AT)they went out to ^(AU)the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will ^(AV)strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I am raised up, ^(AW)I will go before you to Galilee.” ^{33 (AX)}Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” ^{34 (AY)}Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, ^(AZ)before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” ^{35 (BA)}Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

^{36 (BB)}Then Jesus went with them ^(BC)to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ And taking with him ^(BD)Peter and ^(BE)the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, ^(BF)“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and ^(BG)watch^[d] with me.” ³⁹ And going a little farther he fell on his face ^(BH)and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let ^(BI)this cup pass from me; ^(BJ)nevertheless, 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 (BK)}Watch and ^(BL)pray that you ^(BM)may 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, ^(BN)your will be done.” ⁴³ And again he came and found them sleeping, for ^(BO)their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for ^(BP)the 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.^[e] See, ^(BQ)the hour is at hand, and ^(BR)the 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 (BS)}While he was still speaking, ^(BT)Judas 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, ^(BU)Rabbi!” And he kissed him. ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, ^(BV)“Friend, ^(BW)do what you came to do.”^[f] 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 ^(BX)sword and struck the servant^[g] of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For ^(BY)all who take the sword will perish by the sword. ^{53 (BZ)}Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me ^(CA)more than twelve ^(CB)legions of angels? ^{54 (CC)}But 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 ^(CD)I sat in the temple ^(CE)teaching, and you did not seize me. ⁵⁶ But ^(CF)all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” ^(CG)Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Jesus Before Caiaphas and the Council

^{57 (CH)}Then ^(CI)those who had seized Jesus led him to ^(CJ)Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. ⁵⁸ And ^(CK)Peter was following him at a distance, as far as ^(CL)the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with ^(CM)the guards to see the end. ⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council^{[h] (CN)}were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, ⁶⁰ but they found none, ^(CO)though many false witnesses came forward. At last ^(CP)two came forward ⁶¹ and said, “This man said, ^(CQ)‘I am able to ^(CR)destroy 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?”^{[i] 63 (CS)}But Jesus remained silent. ^(CT)And the high priest said to him, ^(CU)“I adjure you by ^(CV)the living God, ^(CW)tell us if you are ^(CX)the Christ, ^(CY)the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, ^(CZ)“You have said so. But I tell you, from now on ^(DA)you will see the Son of Man ^(DB)seated at the right hand of Power and ^(DC)coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest ^(DD)tore his robes and said, ^(DE)“He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?” They answered, ^(DF)“He deserves death.” ⁶⁷ Then ^(DG)they spit in his face ^(DH)and ^(DI)struck him. And some slapped him, ⁶⁸ saying, “Prophesy to us, you ^(DJ)Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Peter Denies Jesus

^{69 (DK)}Now Peter was sitting outside ^(DL)in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” ⁷¹ And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus ^(DM)of Nazareth.” ⁷² And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” ⁷³ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for ^(DN)your accent betrays you.” ⁷⁴ Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ^(DO)“Before the rooster crows, you will ^(DP)deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Footnotes

1. Matthew 26:6 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
2. Matthew 26:20 Some manuscripts add disciples
3. Matthew 26:28 Some manuscripts insert new
4. Matthew 26:38 Or keep awake; also verses 40, 41
5. Matthew 26:45 Or Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
6. Matthew 26:50 Or Friend, why are you here?
7. Matthew 26:51 Or bondservant
8. Matthew 26:59 Greek Sanhedrin
9. Matthew 26:62 Or Have you no answer to what these men testify against you?

Cross references

1. Matthew 26:2 : For ver. 2-5, see Mark 14:1, 2; Luke 22:1, 2
2. Matthew 26:2 : See John 6:4
3. Matthew 26:2 : ver. 24
4. Matthew 26:2 : See ch. 20:18, 19
5. Matthew 26:3 : [Ps. 2:2; John 11:47; Acts 4:27]
6. Matthew 26:3 : ver. 58, 69; Luke 11:21; John 18:15; [Rev. 11:2]
7. Matthew 26:3 : ver. 57; Luke 3:2; John 11:49; 18:13; Acts 4:6
8. Matthew 26:4 : John 11:53; See ch. 21:46
9. Matthew 26:5 : ch. 27:24
10. Matthew 26:6 : For ver. 6-13, see Mark 14:3-9; John 12:1-8; [Luke 7:37-39]
11. Matthew 26:6 : ch. 21:17; John 11:18
12. Matthew 26:9 : [John 13:29]
13. Matthew 26:10 : ch. 16:8
14. Matthew 26:11 : Deut. 15:11
15. Matthew 26:11 : ch. 9:15; See John 7:33
16. Matthew 26:12 : John 19:40
17. Matthew 26:13 : [ch. 24:14]
18. Matthew 26:13 : Acts 10:4
19. Matthew 26:14 : For ver. 14-16, see Mark 14:10, 11; Luke 22:3-6; [John 13:2, 27, 30]
20. Matthew 26:14 : ch. 10:4; 27:3; Acts 1:16; [John 6:71; 12:4]
21. Matthew 26:15 : Zech. 11:12; [Gen. 23:16; Jer. 32:9]
22. Matthew 26:15 : ch. 27:3, 9; Ex. 21:32
23. Matthew 26:16 : See ch. 20:18, 19
24. Matthew 26:17 : For ver. 17-19, see Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13
25. Matthew 26:17 : Ex. 12:18
26. Matthew 26:18 : See John 11:28
27. Matthew 26:18 : [ver. 45; John 7:6, 8, 30; 8:20; 13:1; 17:1]
28. Matthew 26:20 : For ver. 20-24, see Mark 14:17-21; [Luke 22:14, 21-23; John 13:21-26]
29. Matthew 26:21 : [John 6:70, 71]
30. Matthew 26:23 : [John 13:18]
31. Matthew 26:24 : ver. 54, 56; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; 24:25-27, 46; Acts 17:2, 3; 26:22, 23; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 1:10, 11
32. Matthew 26:24 : ch. 18:7
33. Matthew 26:24 : John 17:12
34. Matthew 26:25 : ver. 49; See John 1:38
35. Matthew 26:25 : ver. 64; See Luke 22:70
36. Matthew 26:26 : For ver. 26-29, see Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25
37. Matthew 26:26 : See ch. 14:19
38. Matthew 26:26 : 1 Cor. 10:16; [John 6:53]
39. Matthew 26:27 : See ch. 15:36
40. Matthew 26:28 : [See ver. 26 above]; 1 Cor. 10:16; [John 6:53]
41. Matthew 26:28 : Ex. 24:8; [Zech. 9:11; Heb. 13:20]
42. Matthew 26:28 : See ch. 20:28
43. Matthew 26:28 : Mark 1:4; [Luke 1:77]
44. Matthew 26:29 : [ch. 13:43]
45. Matthew 26:30 : For ver. 30-35, see Mark 14:26-31
46. Matthew 26:30 : Luke 22:39; John 18:1
47. Matthew 26:30 : See ch. 21:1
48. Matthew 26:31 : Cited from Zech. 13:7; [John 16:32]
49. Matthew 26:32 : ch. 28:7, 10, 16; Mark 16:7
50. Matthew 26:33 : [Luke 22:31, 33]
51. Matthew 26:34 : Luke 22:34; John 13:38
52. Matthew 26:34 : ver. 75
53. Matthew 26:35 : Luke 22:33; John 13:37
54. Matthew 26:36 : For ver. 36-46, see Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46
55. Matthew 26:36 : [See ver. 30 above]; Luke 22:39; John 18:1
56. Matthew 26:37 : ch. 17:1
57. Matthew 26:37 : ch. 4:21
58. Matthew 26:38 : [Ps. 42:5, 6; John 12:27]
59. Matthew 26:38 : See ch. 24:42
60. Matthew 26:39 : Heb. 5:7
61. Matthew 26:39 : See ch. 20:22
62. Matthew 26:39 : ver. 42; John 5:30; 6:38; Phil. 2:8
63. Matthew 26:41 : [See ver. 38 above]; See ch. 24:42
64. Matthew 26:41 : 1 Pet. 4:7
65. Matthew 26:41 : ch. 6:13
66. Matthew 26:42 : ver. 39; See ch. 6:10
67. Matthew 26:43 : Luke 9:32
68. Matthew 26:44 : [2 Cor. 12:8]
69. Matthew 26:45 : John 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1; [ver. 18; Luke 22:53]
70. Matthew 26:45 : ch. 17:22; 20:18
71. Matthew 26:47 : For ver. 47-56, see Mark 14:43-50; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11
72. Matthew 26:47 : ver. 14; Acts 1:16
73. Matthew 26:49 : ver. 25
74. Matthew 26:50 : ch. 20:13; 22:12
75. Matthew 26:50 : [John 13:27]
76. Matthew 26:51 : [Luke 22:38]
77. Matthew 26:52 : Rev. 13:10; [Gen. 9:6; Ezek. 35:6]
78. Matthew 26:53 : [John 10:18]
79. Matthew 26:53 : [ch. 4:11; 2 Kgs. 6:17; Dan. 7:10; Luke 22:43; John 18:36]
80. Matthew 26:53 : Luke 8:30
81. Matthew 26:54 : See ver. 24; ch. 1:22
82. Matthew 26:55 : [John 8:2]; [Luke 2:46; John 18:20]
83. Matthew 26:55 : ch. 21:23; [ch. 4:23]
84. Matthew 26:56 : [See ver. 54]
85. Matthew 26:56 : ver. 31; [Ps. 88:8, 18; John 16:32]
86. Matthew 26:57 : Luke 22:54
87. Matthew 26:57 : For ver. 57-68, see Mark 14:53-65; [John 18:12, 13, 19-24]
88. Matthew 26:57 : ver. 3
89. Matthew 26:58 : [John 18:15]
90. Matthew 26:58 : [See ver. 57 above]; ver. 3
91. Matthew 26:58 : John 7:32; 18:3
92. Matthew 26:59 : See Acts 6:11
93. Matthew 26:60 : Ps. 27:12; 35:11
94. Matthew 26:60 : Deut. 19:15
95. Matthew 26:61 : [Acts 6:14]; See John 2:19
96. Matthew 26:61 : ch. 27:40
97. Matthew 26:63 : ch. 27:12, 14; Isa. 53:7; John 19:9
98. Matthew 26:63 : For ver. 63-66, [Luke 22:67-71]
99. Matthew 26:63 : [Lev. 5:1; 1 Sam. 14:24, 26; Mark 5:7]
100. Matthew 26:63 : See ch. 16:16
101. Matthew 26:63 : John 10:24
102. Matthew 26:63 : [ch. 22:42-45]; See ch. 1:17
103. Matthew 26:63 : See ch. 14:33
104. Matthew 26:64 : ver. 25
105. Matthew 26:64 : See ch. 16:27; 24:30
106. Matthew 26:64 : Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:3; [Mark 16:19]
107. Matthew 26:64 : See ch. 16:27; 24:30
108. Matthew 26:65 : Num. 14:6; Acts 14:14
109. Matthew 26:65 : ch. 9:3; John 10:36
110. Matthew 26:66 : See Lev. 24:16
111. Matthew 26:67 : ch. 27:30; Isa. 50:6; Mark 10:34
112. Matthew 26:67 : [Luke 22:63-65; John 18:22]
113. Matthew 26:67 : ch. 5:39; Acts 23:2
114. Matthew 26:68 : ver. 63
115. Matthew 26:69 : For ver. 69-75, see Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:16-18, 25-27
116. Matthew 26:69 : ver. 3
117. Matthew 26:71 : ch. 2:23
118. Matthew 26:73 : [Judg. 12:6]
119. Matthew 26:75 : ver. 34
120. Matthew 26:75 : [Acts 3:13, 14]