Chapter 22

1The Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was approaching.

2The chief priests and experts in Jewish law were looking for a way to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people.

3Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles.

4Judas went away and discussed with the chief priests and the officers of the Temple guard how he could hand Jesus over to them.

5They were delighted and agreed to give Judas money.

6He accepted their offer and began looking for a chance to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

7Then the 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 to eat.”

9They asked him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?”

10Jesus told them, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters.

11Say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover meal with my students?”’

12He will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Prepare the meal there.”

13They left and found everything just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover meal.

14When the time came, Jesus took his place at the meal, and the apostles were with him.

15He told them, “I have deeply wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer.

16I tell you, I will certainly not eat it again until its meaning is fulfilled in God’s kingdom, where God rules.”

17Then Jesus took a cup, thanked God, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

18I tell you, from now on I will certainly not drink wine from the vine until God’s kingdom comes.”

19Then Jesus took bread, thanked God, broke it, and gave it to them. He said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Keep doing this to remember me.”

20After the meal, he took the cup in the same way and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by my blood, which is poured out for you.”

21Jesus continued, “But look—the person who is handing me over is here with me at the table.

22The Son of Man, as I call myself, is going to his appointed fate. But terrible suffering awaits the person who hands him over.”

23The apostles began asking one another which of them could possibly be planning to do this.

24An argument also broke out among them about which of them should be considered the greatest.

25Jesus told them, “The kings of the nations dominate their people, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’

26But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you must become like the youngest, who has the least status, and the leader must become like one who serves.

27After all, who is considered greater: the person eating at the table or the one serving? Is it not the person eating? Yet I am here among you as one who serves.

28You are the ones who have stayed with me through my trials.

29So I grant you a kingdom, just as my Father granted one to me,

30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. You will sit on thrones, judging Israel’s twelve tribes.

31Simon, Simon! Satan has demanded permission to sift all of you like wheat.

32But I have prayed for you, Simon, so that your faith will not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your fellow believers.”

33Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”

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

35Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without a money pouch, travel bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” They answered, “Nothing.”

36He told them, “But now, anyone who has a money pouch should take it, and so should anyone who has a travel bag. Anyone who does not have a sword should sell his outer garment and buy one.

37For I tell you, this written statement must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted among lawbreakers.’ What was written about me is reaching its completion.”

38They said, “Lord, look—here are two swords.” Jesus replied, “That is enough.”

39Jesus left and went, as usual, to the Mount of Olives, and his students followed him.

40When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you will not give in when you are tested.”

41Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed,

42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet may your will be done, not mine.”

43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Jesus and strengthened him.

44In deep anguish, he prayed even more intensely, and his sweat became like clots of blood falling to the ground.

45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to his students, he found that grief had exhausted them and they were asleep.

46He asked them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not give in when you are tested.”

47While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd arrived. Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He approached Jesus to greet him with a kiss.

48But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you handing over the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49When those around Jesus saw what was about to happen, they asked, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

50One of them struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear.

51But Jesus said, “Stop! No more of this.” Then he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52Jesus then spoke to the chief priests, the officers of the Temple guard, and the community elders who had come to arrest him. “Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous bandit?

53I was with you in the Temple every day, yet you did not seize me. But this is your hour, when the power of darkness rules.”

54They arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. Peter followed at a distance.

55They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. Peter sat among them.

56A servant girl saw him sitting in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with Jesus too.”

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

58A little later, someone else saw Peter and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter replied, “No, I am not.”

59About an hour later, another man insisted, “This man certainly was with Jesus, because he is a Galilean too.”

60But Peter said, “I do not know what you are talking about!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

61Jesus turned and looked directly at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had told him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”

62Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

63The men guarding Jesus mocked him and beat him.

64They covered his face and kept asking him, “Use your power as a prophet and tell us—who hit you?”

65They said many other cruel and insulting things to him.

66At daybreak, the council of the people’s elders gathered, including the chief priests and experts in Jewish law. They led Jesus before their council

67and said, “If you are the Messiah, God’s promised king, tell us.” Jesus replied, “If I tell you, you certainly will not believe me.

68And if I ask you a question, you certainly will not answer.

69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right side of the all-powerful God.”

70They all asked, “Then are you the Son of God?” Jesus replied, “You are the ones saying that I am.”

71They said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”