Matthew 26:47-68

Contemporary English Version

Jesus Is Arrested

(Mark 14.43-50; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)

⁴⁷ Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders. ⁴⁸ Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”^[a]

⁴⁹ Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “My friend, do what you came for.”^[b]

The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁵² But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting. ⁵³ Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and he would at once send me more than twelve armies of angels? ⁵⁴ But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say this must happen?”

^55 (A) Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. ⁵⁶ But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.”

All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

(Mark 14.53-65; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)

⁵⁷ After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.

⁵⁹ The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.^{[c] 60} But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward ^61 (B) and said, “This man claimed he could tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”

⁶² The high priest stood up and asked Jesus, “Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus did not answer. So the high priest said, “With the living God looking on, you must tell the truth. Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?”^[d]

^64 (C) “That is what you say!” Jesus answered. “But I tell all of you,

^65 (D) The high priest then tore his robe and said, “This man claims to be God! We don't need any more witnesses! You have heard what he said. ⁶⁶ What do you think?”

They answered, “He is guilty and deserves to die!” ^67 (E) Then they spit in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “You think you are the Messiah! So tell us who hit you!”