1The Jewish festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching.
2The leading priests and the scribes were looking for a way to kill Jesus, because they were afraid of the people.
3Satan entered Judas, who was also called Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples.
4He went and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he could hand Jesus over to them.
5They were happy and agreed to give him money.
6He agreed and looked for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when there were no crowds around.
7The Day of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us so we can eat it."
9They asked him, "Where do you want us to prepare it?"
10He told them, "Listen, when you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.
11Tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my followers?"'
12He will show you a large, furnished upstairs room. Prepare the meal there."
13They left, found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.
14When the time came, he sat down with the twelve apostles.
15He said to them, "I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
16because I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in God's Kingdom."
17He took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, "Take this and share it among yourselves,
18because I tell you, I will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until God's Kingdom comes."
19He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me."
20In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new agreement made valid by my blood, which is poured out for you.
21But look, the hand of the one who is betraying me is with me on the table.
22The Son of Man will indeed go as it has been decided, but how terrible it will be for the person who betrays him!"
23They began to ask each other which of them would do such a thing.
24An argument also broke out among them about which of them was considered to be the greatest.
25He said to them, "The kings of the nations boss them around, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.'
26But you should not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should be like the one who serves.
27For who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? Isn't it the one who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
28You are the ones who have stayed with me through my troubles.
29I am giving you a kingdom, just as my Father gave one to me.
30This is so you can eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
31The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked to test you all, separating you like wheat.
32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back to me, strengthen your brothers."
33Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and even to death!"
34Jesus replied, "Peter, I tell you, a rooster will not crow today until you have said three times that you don't know me."
35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you out without a money bag, a traveler's bag, or sandals, did you need anything?" They answered, "No, nothing."
36He told them, "But now, if you have a money bag, take it, and do the same with a traveler's bag. If you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
37For I tell you that this Scripture must still be fulfilled in me: 'He was counted among criminals.' Indeed, everything written about me is being fulfilled."
38They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "That’s enough."
39Jesus left and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives. His disciples followed him.
40When he arrived at the place, he told them, "Pray that you won’t give in to temptation."
41He went about a stone's throw away from them, knelt down, and prayed,
42saying, "Father, if you are willing, please take this suffering away from me. Yet, I want your will to be done, not mine."
43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
44In his anguish, he prayed more intensely. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45When he finished praying and got up, he went back to his disciples and found them asleep, exhausted from their sorrow.
46He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you won’t give in to temptation."
47While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. Leading them was a man named Judas, one of the twelve disciples. He came up to Jesus to kiss him.
48But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49When those around Jesus saw what was happening, they asked, "Lord, should we fight with our swords?"
50Then one of them struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear.
51But Jesus answered, "Stop! That's enough!" Then he touched the man's ear and healed him.
52Jesus said to the chief priests, temple guards, and elders who had come to arrest him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a robber?
53I was with you every day in the temple, and you didn't try to arrest me then. But this is your moment, the time when darkness has its power."
54They arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.
55When they had built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
56A servant girl saw him sitting in the light. She stared at him and said, "This man was also with him."
57Peter denied it, saying, "Woman, I don't know him."
58A little later, someone else saw him and said, "You are also one of them!" But Peter answered, "Man, I am not!"
59After about an hour passed, another person confidently stated, "It's true, this man was also with him, because he is from Galilee!"
60But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”
62Peter went outside and cried uncontrollably.
63The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him and beat him.
64They blindfolded him, hit him in the face, and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
65They said many other insulting things against him.
66As soon as it was daylight, the council of the elders of the people, including the chief priests and scribes, met. They brought Jesus before their council and asked,
67“If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he replied, “If I tell you, you will not believe me,
68and if I ask you questions, you will not answer me or let me go.
69From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of God’s powerful throne.”
70They all asked, “So you are the Son of God then?” He told them, “You are right in saying that I am.”
71They said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? We have heard it ourselves directly from his own mouth!”