(Matthew 26:1–5; Mark 14:1–2; John 11:45–57)

¹ Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread,¹ called the Passover, was approaching,

1. Literally the feast of the Unleavened; see Exodus 12:14–20.

² and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

(Matthew 26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11)

³ Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.

⁴ And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.

⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

⁶ Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

Preparing the Passover

(Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16)

⁷ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.

⁸ Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.”

⁹ “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.

¹⁰ He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters,

¹¹ and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’

¹² And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

¹³ So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper

(Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

¹⁴ When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.

¹⁵ And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.

¹⁶ For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.

¹⁸ For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.¹

1. Some manuscripts end verse 19 after This is My body and do not include verse 20.

²¹ Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.

²² Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”

²³ Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

Who Is the Greatest?

²⁴ A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.

²⁵ So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.

²⁶ But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

²⁷ For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

²⁸ You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.

²⁹ And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,

³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

(Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; John 13:36–38)

³¹ Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.

³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

³³ “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

³⁴ But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.

³⁶ “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.

³⁷ For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’¹ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”

1. Isaiah 53:12

³⁸ So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

(Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42)

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

⁴⁰ When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

⁴¹ And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,

⁴² “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.

⁴⁴ And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.¹

1. Some manuscripts do not include verses 43 and 44.

⁴⁵ When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

⁴⁶ “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”

The Betrayal of Jesus

(Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–14)

⁴⁷ While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.

⁴⁸ But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

⁴⁹ Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?

⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts,¹ and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”

1. Literally the temple

Peter Denies Jesus

(Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–18)

⁵⁴ Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.

⁵⁵ When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.

⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.

⁵⁷ But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

⁶¹ And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

(Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; John 19:1–15)

⁶³ The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.