Open English Translation MAT Chapter 26

26 After Yeshua had completed his teaching, he told his apprentices, 2 [ref]“The passover celebration is in two more days, and humanity’s child will be handed over to be executed on a stake.”

3 At that time, the chief priests and the local elders were gathered together in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the chief priest, 4 and they plotted together to devise a way to arrest Yeshua so they could execute him. 5 However, they decided not to do it during the celebrations so it wouldn’t cause a big public disturbance.

6 Meanwhile Yeshua arrived in Bethany at the house of Simon who had previously had leprosy. 7 [ref]A woman inside the house came up to him carrying a carved alabaster flask of very expensive lotion, which she poured over his head as he was seated, 8 but some of his followers were upset when they saw this, and complained, “Why all this waste? 9 That could have been sold and raised a lot of money to give to the poor.”

10 But Yeshua knew what they were saying and responded, “Why are you all causing problems for this woman, because she did something beautiful for me. 11 [ref]You’ll always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me around. 12 This woman put this lotion on my body in a sense as a burial spice. 13 I can assure you all that wherever the good message about me is retold anywhere in the world, this woman and what she did will also be mentioned as a memorial to her.”

14 Then one of the twelve named Yudas Iscariot went to the chief priests 15 [ref]and asked, How much are you willing to pay me if I hand him over to you all?” They offered thirty silver coins 16 so from then on, he was looking for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Celebration with Flat Bread, the Yeshua’s apprentices approached him and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the passover meal for you?”

18 “Go into the city to so-and-so,” answered Yeshua, “and tell him that the teacher said, ‘My time is getting close, but I’ll celebrate the passover meal with you, along with my apprentices.’ ”

19 So the apprentices did as Yeshua had instructed them, and then they prepared the passover meal.

20 That evening as Yeshua was sitting with the twelve, 21 he said to them while they were still eating, “I can assure you that one of you is going to turn me in.”

22 They were very upset and one by one they asked him, “Surely it won’t be me, master?”

23 [ref]“It’s the one who dipped his bread into the bowl at the same time as I did,” Yeshua answered. “He’s the one who’s going to turn me in. 24 It’s true that humanity’s child is going to suffer what has already been written about, but on the other hand, the end won’t be good for the man who turns him in, in fact it would have been better for him if he’d never been born.”

25 “Surely it won’t be me, honoured teacher?” asked Yudas, the one who would hand him in.[fn]

“You said it,” he replied.

26 Then during the meal, Yeshua took some bread and blessed it, then he broke it into pieces and gave it to his apprentices, saying, “Take this and eat it—it’s my body.”

27 Then he took a cup of wine and after giving thanks, he shared it with them saying, “Everyone drink some, 28 [ref]because this is my blood of the agreement which is about to be poured out for the forgiveness of the sins of many people. 29 I can assure you all that I certainly won’t drink this passover wine again until I’m able to drink it together with you all in my father’s kingdom.”

30 Then they sang some songs before heading out of the city to the Mount of Olives.

31 [ref]Then Yeshua told them, “All of you will flounder tonight concerning me, because it’s been written, ‘I’ll strike the shepherd and the flock will be scattered.’ 32 [ref]But after I come back to life, I’ll go to Galilee ahead of you all.”

33 “Even if all the others flounder,” answered Peter, “I won’t.”

34 “I can assure you,” responded Yeshua, “that you’ll disown me three times tonight before the rooster crows in the morning.”

35 “Even if I have to die with you,” said Peter, “I’d certainly never disown you,” and all the other apprentices said likewise.

36 Then they went together to a property named Gethsemane where he told his apprentices to sit down while he went on a little further to pray. 37 He took Peter, Yacob, and Yohan with him, and then he was struck by feelings of sorrow and distress 38 and told them, “My soul is deathly sad. Stay here and look out for me.”

39 He went on a little further, and knelt with his face to the ground, saying, “My father, if it’s possible, let me avoid this suffering. However, it’s not what I want because I want to do what you want.”

40 Then he went back to the apprentices, but found them napping and said to Peter, “Weren’t you even able to stay awake for an hour for me? 41 Stay alert and pray so that you all don’t fall into temptation. Your spirits are eager, but your endurance is lacking.”

42 Then he went off a second time and prayed, “My father, if this can’t be done any other way than me having to suffer, then I’ll submit to your will.” 43 Returning again, he found the apprentices sleeping because they were very tired.

44 So he left them there and went back a third time, praying in the same way. 45 Then he went back to his apprentices and told them, “You’re all sleeping to get some rest? But look, it’s time now, and humanity’s child is about to be handed over to sinners. 46 Get up—we need to move. The one about to turn me in is coming.”

47 While he was still speaking, Yudas, one of the twelve, came and he was accompanied by a large crowd from the chief priests and local elders, and they were carrying swords and clubs. 48 The one who was turning him in had prearranged a sign that he would kiss the one that they should arrest.

49 He walked straight up to Yeshua and said, “Greetings, my honoured teacher,” and he kissed him.

50 “Friend,” Yeshua asked, “why have you come?”

Then they came up to Yeshua, and grabbed and arrested him. 51 But wow, one of Yeshua’s group put out a hand to stop them, then drew his sword and struck at the chief priest’s slave, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its sheath,” Yeshua said, “because those who fight with the sword, die by the sword. 53 Don’t you realise that I could just ask my father and he would place over a dozen divisions of heavenly soldiers here in front of me, 54 however then the scriptures that tell what will happen wouldn’t get fulfilled.”

55 [ref]Then turning to the crowds, Yeshua said, “So you all came out with swords and clubs as if you were arresting a thief? 56 I was sitting, teaching every day in the temple but you didn’t arrest me there.”

57 Then the ones who had arrested Yeshua led him away to Caiaphas the chief priest, where the religious teachers and the local elders had gathered together. 58 Peter followed along from a distance, and went inside to the chief priest’s courtyard, where he sat with the attendants and waited to see what would happen. 59 The chief priests and the whole council tried to find people who would bring false accusations against Yeshua so they could sentence him to death, 60 but even though many people wanted to try, they couldn’t find anyone suitable. Eventually, two others came up 61 [ref]and said, “We heard this man say, ‘I’m able to demolish God’s temple and rebuild it in three days.’ ”

62 So the chief priest stood and asked Yeshua, “Don’t you have any respond to what these men are accusing you of?” 63 But Yeshua stayed silent, so then the chief priest asked him, “I order you by the living God to tell us if you’re the messiah, the son of God.”

64 [ref]“You said it,” Yeshua responded. “However, I can tell you all that from now on, you’ll see humanity’s child sitting beside God in the position of power and coming in the clouds in the sky.”

65 [ref]Then the chief priest tore his robes and said, “He belittled God. Why would we need more witnesses after that? See here, you all heard him slander God. 66 What do you all think now?

“He should get the death penalty,” they answered.

67 [ref]Then they spat in Yeshua’s face and they beat him and slapped him 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, messiah. Who was it that just slapped you?”

69 Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl went up to him and said, “You were one of the ones with Yeshua from Galilee.”

70 But Peter disowned Yeshua in front of them all saying, “I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.” 71 Then he went out the gate, but someone else saw him and she told the others, “This man was with Yeshua from Nazareth.”

72 Again, Peter disowned Yeshua with an oath, “I don’t even know the guy.”

73 A little while later, another person stood up and went to Peter, “You must be one of them because we can tell by your accent.”

74 Peter began to curse and promise, “I don’t know that man.” Just then the rooster crowed 75 and then Peter remembered that Yeshua had said that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. He left the courtyard and went away and bawled in shame.