Matthew — Chapter 26

Passage

And then, when Jesus had ended all these words, he said to his disciples: You know that after two days shall be the pasch: and the Son of man shall be delivered up to be crucified. Then were gathered together the chief priests and ancients of the people, into the court of the high priest, who was called Caiphas: And they consulted together that by subtilty they might apprehend Jesus and put him to death. But they said: Not on the festival day, lest perhaps there should be a tumult among the people. And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on his head as he was at table. And the disciples seeing it had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste? For this might have been sold for much and given to the poor. And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? For she has wrought a good work upon me. For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always. For she in pouring this ointment on my body has done it for my burial. Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she has done shall be told for a memory of her. Then went one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests. And said to them: What will you give me, and I will deliver him to you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of silver. And from thenceforth he sought opportunity to betray him. And on the first day of the Azymes, the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where will you that we prepare for you to eat the pasch? But Jesus said: Go you into the city to a certain man and say to him: The master says, My time is near at hand. With you I make the pasch with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus appointed to them: and they prepared the pasch. But when it was evening, he sat down with his twelve disciples. And while they were eating, he said: Amen I say to you that one of you is about to betray me. And they being very much troubled began every one to say: Is it I, Lord? But he answering said: He that dips his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me. The Son of man indeed goes, as it is written of him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were better for him, if that man had not been born. And Judas that betrayed him answering, said: Is it I, Rabbi? He says to him: You have said it. And while they were at supper, Jesus took bread and blessed and broke and gave to his disciples and said: Take you and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks and gave to them, saying: Drink you all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many to forgiveness of sins. And I say to you, I will not drink from henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father. And a hymn being said, they went out to mount Olivet. Then Jesus says to them: All you shall be scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd: and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. And Peter answering, said to him: Although all shall be scandalized in you, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said to him: Amen I say to you that in this night before the cock crow, you will deny me thrice. Peter says to him: Yea, though I should die with you, I will not deny you. And in like manner said all the disciples. Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray. And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then he says to them: My soul is sorrowful even to death. Stay you here and watch with me. And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will but as you will. And he comes to his disciples and finds them asleep. And he says to Peter: What? Could you not watch one hour with me? Watch you: and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, your will be done. And he comes again and finds them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them, he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word. Then he comes to his disciples and said to them: Sleep you now and take your rest. See the hour is at hand: and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise: let us go. See he is at hand that will betray me. As he yet spoke, see Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the ancients of the people. And he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he. Hold him fast. And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi. And he kissed him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art you come? Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and held him. And see one of them that were with Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword: and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. Then Jesus says to him: Put up again your sword into its place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest you that I cannot ask my Father, and he will give me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? In that same hour, Jesus said to the crowds: You are come out, as it were to a robber, with swords and clubs to apprehend me. I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple: and you laid not hands on me. Now all this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples, all leaving him, fled. But they holding Jesus led him to Caiphas the high priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled. And Peter followed him afar off, even to the court of the high priest, And going in, he sat with the servants, that he might see the end. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death. And they found not, whereas many false witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses: And they said: This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and after three days to rebuild it. And the high priest rising up, said to him: Answerest you nothing to the things which these witness against you? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said to him: I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us if you be the Christ the Son of God. Jesus says to him: You have said it. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of the power of God and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his garments, saying: He has blasphemed: What further need have we of witnesses? See, now you have heard the blasphemy. What think you? But they answering, said: He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face and buffeted him. And others struck his face with the palms of their hands, Saying: Prophesy to us, O Christ. Who is he that struck you? But Peter sat without in the court. And there came to him a servant maid, saying: You also wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what you sayest. And as he went out of the gate, another maid saw him; and she says to them that were there: This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath: I know not the man. And after a little while, they came that stood by and said to Peter: Surely you also art one of them. For even your speech does discover you. Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which he had said: Before the cock crow, you will deny me thrice. And going forth, he wept bitterly.