{"meta":{"source":"Prime Bible","sourceUrl":"https://primebible.com","license":"Public domain (translation text); see citation policy at /citation-policy","organization":"501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 41-2531951","canonicalUrl":"https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/26","llmTxt":"https://primebible.com/llms.txt","generatedAt":"2026-05-27T01:20:59.788Z"},"reference":{"translation":"WNT","book":"Matthew","bookSlug":"matthew","chapter":26,"testament":"NEW"},"navigation":{"previousChapter":25,"nextChapter":27,"totalChapters":28,"totalVerses":75},"verses":[{"verseNumber":1,"text":"When Jesus had ended all these discourses, He said to His disciples,"},{"verseNumber":2,"text":"|You know that in  two days' time the Passover comes. And the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.|"},{"verseNumber":3,"text":"Then the High Priests and Elders of the People assembled in the court of the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas,"},{"verseNumber":4,"text":"and consulted how to get Jesus into their power by stratagem and put Him to death."},{"verseNumber":5,"text":"But they said, |Not during the Festival, lest there be a riot among the people.|"},{"verseNumber":6,"text":"Now when Jesus was come to Bethany and was at the house of Simon the Leper,"},{"verseNumber":7,"text":"a woman came to Him with a jar of very costly, sweet-scented ointment, which she poured over His head as He reclined at table."},{"verseNumber":8,"text":"|Why such waste?| indignantly exclaimed the disciples;"},{"verseNumber":9,"text":"|for this might have been sold for a considerable sum, and the money given to the poor.|"},{"verseNumber":10,"text":"But Jesus heard it, and said to them, |Why are you vexing her? For she has done a most gracious act towards me."},{"verseNumber":11,"text":"The poor you always have with you, but me you have not always."},{"verseNumber":12,"text":"In pouring this ointment over me, her object was to prepare me for burial."},{"verseNumber":13,"text":"In solemn truth I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News shall be proclaimed, this deed of hers shall be spoken of in memory of her.|"},{"verseNumber":14,"text":"At that time one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the High Priests"},{"verseNumber":15,"text":"and said, |What are you willing to give me if I betray him to you?| So they weighed out to him thirty shekels,"},{"verseNumber":16,"text":"and from that moment he was on the look out for an opportunity to betray Him."},{"verseNumber":17,"text":"On the first day of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus with the question, |Where shall we make preparations for you to eat the Passover?|"},{"verseNumber":18,"text":"|Go into the city,| He replied, |to a certain man, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, My time is close at hand. It is at your house that I shall keep the Passover with my disciples.'|"},{"verseNumber":19,"text":"The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and got the Passover ready."},{"verseNumber":20,"text":"When evening came, He  was at table with the twelve  disciples,"},{"verseNumber":21,"text":"and the meal was proceeding, when Jesus said, |In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me.|"},{"verseNumber":22,"text":"Intensely grieved they began one after another to ask Him, |Can it be I, Master?|"},{"verseNumber":23,"text":"|The one who has dipped his fingers in the bowl with me,| He answered, |is the man who will betray me."},{"verseNumber":24,"text":"The Son of Man is indeed going as is written concerning Him; but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been a happy thing for that man if he had  never been born.|"},{"verseNumber":25,"text":"Then Judas, the disciple who was betraying Him, asked, |Can it be I, Rabbi?|  |It is you,| He replied."},{"verseNumber":26,"text":"During the meal Jesus took  a Passover biscuit, blessed it and broke it. He then gave it to the disciples, saying, |Take this and eat it: it  is my body.|"},{"verseNumber":27,"text":"And He  took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, |Drink from it, all of you;"},{"verseNumber":28,"text":"for this is my blood which is to be poured out for many for the remission of sins--the blood which ratifies  the Covenant."},{"verseNumber":29,"text":"I tell you that I will never again take the produce of the vine till that day when I shall drink  the new wine with you in my Father's Kingdom.|"},{"verseNumber":30,"text":"So they sang  the hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives."},{"verseNumber":31,"text":"Then said Jesus, |This night all of you will stumble and fail in your fidelity to me; for it is written, 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered in all directions.'"},{"verseNumber":32,"text":"But after I have risen to life again I will go before you into Galilee.|"},{"verseNumber":33,"text":"|All may stumble and fail,| said Peter, |but I never will.|"},{"verseNumber":34,"text":"|In solemn truth I tell you,| replied Jesus, |that this very night,  before the cock crows, you will three times disown me.|"},{"verseNumber":35,"text":"|Even if I must die with you,| declared Peter, |I will never disown you.| In like manner protested all the disciples."},{"verseNumber":36,"text":"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, |Sit down here, whilst I go yonder and there pray.|"},{"verseNumber":37,"text":"And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zabdi. Then He began to be full of anguish and distress,"},{"verseNumber":38,"text":"and He said to them, |My soul is  crushed with anguish to the very point of death; wait here, and keep awake with me.|"},{"verseNumber":39,"text":"Going forward a short distance He fell on His face and prayed. |My Father,| He said, |if it is possible, let this  cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou willest.|"},{"verseNumber":40,"text":"Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, |Alas, none of you could keep awake with me for even a single hour!"},{"verseNumber":41,"text":"Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation:  the spirit is  right willing, but the  body is frail.|"},{"verseNumber":42,"text":"Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, |My Father, if it is impossible for this cup to pass without my drinking it, Thy will be done.|"},{"verseNumber":43,"text":"He came and again found them asleep, for  they were very tired."},{"verseNumber":44,"text":"So He left them, and went away once more and prayed a third time, again using the same words."},{"verseNumber":45,"text":"Then He came to the disciples and said, |Sleep on and rest. See, the moment is close at hand when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men."},{"verseNumber":46,"text":"Rouse yourselves. Let us be going. My betrayer is close at hand.|"},{"verseNumber":47,"text":"He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came--one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People."},{"verseNumber":48,"text":"Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, |The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him.|"},{"verseNumber":49,"text":"So he went straight to Jesus and said,  |Peace to you, Rabbi!| And he kissed Him  eagerly."},{"verseNumber":50,"text":"|Friend,| said Jesus,  |carry out your intention.| Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly."},{"verseNumber":51,"text":"But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's  servant, cutting off his ear."},{"verseNumber":52,"text":"|Put back your sword again,| said Jesus, |for all who  draw the sword shall perish by the sword."},{"verseNumber":53,"text":"Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly  send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?"},{"verseNumber":54,"text":"In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?|"},{"verseNumber":55,"text":"Then said Jesus to the crowds, |Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I  have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me."},{"verseNumber":56,"text":"But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled.| At this point the disciples all left Him and fled."},{"verseNumber":57,"text":"But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled."},{"verseNumber":58,"text":"And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the High Priest's palace, where he entered and sat down among the  officers to see the issue."},{"verseNumber":59,"text":"Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;"},{"verseNumber":60,"text":"but they could find none, although many false witnesses came forward. At length there came two"},{"verseNumber":61,"text":"who testified, |This man said, 'I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'|"},{"verseNumber":62,"text":"Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, |Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?|"},{"verseNumber":63,"text":"Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. |In the name of the  ever-living God,| he said,  |I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.|"},{"verseNumber":64,"text":"|I am He,| replied Jesus. |But I tell you that,  later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky.|"},{"verseNumber":65,"text":"Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, |Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety."},{"verseNumber":66,"text":"What is your verdict?| |He deserves to die,| they replied."},{"verseNumber":67,"text":"Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some  with the open hand--"},{"verseNumber":68,"text":"while they taunted Him, saying, |Christ,  prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you.|"},{"verseNumber":69,"text":"Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when  one of the maidservants came over to him and said, |You too were with Jesus the Galilaean.|"},{"verseNumber":70,"text":"He denied it before them all, saying, |I do not know what you mean.|"},{"verseNumber":71,"text":"Soon afterwards he went out and stood in the gateway, when another girl saw him, and said, addressing the people there,  |This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.|"},{"verseNumber":72,"text":"Again he denied it with an oath. |I do not know the man,| he said."},{"verseNumber":73,"text":"A short time afterwards the people  standing there came and said to Peter, |Certainly you too are one of them, for your brogue shows it.|"},{"verseNumber":74,"text":"Then with curses and oaths he declared, |I do not know the man.| Immediately a cock crowed,"},{"verseNumber":75,"text":"and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, how He had said, |Before the cock crows you will three times disown me.| And he went out and wept  aloud, bitterly."}],"citation":{"inline":"Matthew 26 (WNT)","markdown":"[Matthew 26](https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/26)","sbl":"Prime Bible. *The Bible.* WNT. https://primebible.com/wnt/matthew/26 (accessed 2026-05-27)."}}