The Betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53)
1 UDB When Jesus finished his prayer, he went with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a grove of olive trees, and they entered it. BSB BSB: After Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples across the Kidron Valley, where they entered a garden.
2 UDB Judas, the one who was about to hand Jesus over to his enemies, knew where the place was because Jesus often went there with his disciples. BSB BSB: Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples.
3 UDB Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had ordered some soldiers and officers to go there with Judas. So they went to the garden with lanterns, torches, and weapons. BSB BSB: So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.
4 UDB Jesus knew what was going to happen to him, so he went forward and asked them, "For whom are you looking?" BSB BSB: Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
5 UDB They replied to him, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said to them, "I am that person." (Now Judas, the one who was handing him over, was standing with them.) BSB BSB: “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
6 UDB When Jesus said to them, "I am that person," they swiftly moved back and fell to the ground. BSB BSB: When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
7 UDB So he asked them again, "For whom are you looking?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." BSB BSB: So He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered.
8 UDB Jesus replied to them, "I told you that I am that person. Since I am the one you are looking for, let these other men go." BSB BSB: “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”
9 UDB This happened in order to fulfill the words he had said when he was praying to his Father, "I did not lose even one of those you gave me." BSB BSB: This was to fulfill the word He had spoken: “I have not lost one of those You have given Me.”
10 UDB Then Simon Peter drew out a short sword and struck the high priest's servant, a man named Malchus, and cut off his right ear. BSB BSB: Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
11 UDB Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath! Of course I will suffer in the way that my Father has planned for me to do." BSB BSB: “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”
12 UDB Then the group of soldiers, along with their captain and some of the temple guards, seized Jesus and tied him to prevent him from escaping. BSB BSB: Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.
14 UDB It was Caiaphas who had advised other leaders that it would be better that one man should die for the people than that all the people should perish. BSB BSB: Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better if one man died for the people.
Peter’s First Denial (Matthew 26:69–70; Mark 14:66–68; Luke 22:54–57)
15 UDB Simon Peter followed Jesus and so did another disciple. The other disciple was known to the high priest, so he had permission to enter the high priest's courtyard when the soldiers took Jesus. BSB BSB: Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.
16 UDB Peter had to stop outside at the gate. So the other disciple went out again and he spoke to the servant girl who was watching the gate, and he let Peter in. BSB BSB: But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
17 UDB That servant girl said to Peter, "You are one the disciples of the man whom they have arrested, are you not?" He said, "No, I am not." BSB BSB: At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
18 UDB It was cold, so the high priest's servants and temple guards made a charcoal fire and were standing and warming themselves around it. Peter was also there with them. He was standing and warming himself. BSB BSB: Because it was cold, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had made to keep warm. And Peter was also standing with them, warming himself.
Jesus before the High Priest (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71)
19 UDB The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and what he had been teaching them. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching.
20 UDB Jesus replied, "I have spoken openly to everyone. I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple, in the places where our people come together. I have said nothing in secret. BSB BSB: “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.
21 UDB So why are you asking me these questions? Ask the people who heard what I taught them. They know what I said." BSB BSB: Why are you asking Me? Ask those who heard My message. Surely they know what I said.”
22 UDB When Jesus said these things, one of the temple guards standing near him struck him hard with his hand. He said, "That is not the right way to answer the high priest." BSB BSB: When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Him in the face and said, “Is this how You answer the high priest?”
23 UDB Jesus replied to him, "If I had said something wrong, tell me what it was. However, if what I said was right, you should not slap me!" BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “If I said something wrong, testify as to what was wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why did you strike Me?”
24 UDB Then Annas sent Jesus, who was still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest. BSB BSB: Then Annas sent Him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.
Peter’s Second and Third Denials (Matthew 26:71–75; Mark 14:69–72; Luke 22:58–62)
25 UDB Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. Another person said to him, "You are one of the disciples of the man whom they have arrested, are you not?" He said, "No, I am not." BSB BSB: Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
26 UDB One of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said to him, "Surely I saw you in the olive tree grove with the man they have arrested, did I not?" BSB BSB: One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
27 UDB Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed. BSB BSB: Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Jesus before Pilate (Matthew 27:11–14; Luke 23:1–5)
28 UDB Then the soldiers led Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the headquarters of Pilate, the Roman governor. It was early morning. Pilate was not a Jew, so Jesus's accusers thought that if they entered his headquarters, they would defile themselves and be unable to celebrate the Passover Festival. So they did not go in. BSB BSB: Then they led Jesus away from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. By now it was early morning, and the Jews did not enter the Praetorium, to avoid being defiled and unable to eat the Passover.
29 UDB So Pilate came out to talk to them. He said, "Of what are you accusing this man?" BSB BSB: So Pilate went out to them and asked, “What accusation are you bringing against this man?”
30 UDB "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have brought him to you!" they replied. BSB BSB: “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
31 UDB Then Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him by your own law." Then the Jewish leaders said, "We want to execute him, but your Roman law prevents us from doing that." BSB BSB: “You take Him and judge Him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “We are not permitted to execute anyone,” the Jews replied.
32 UDB They said this in order to make true what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. BSB BSB: This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to indicate the kind of death He was going to die.
34 UDB Jesus replied, "Are you asking because you yourself want to know, or did others tell you to ask me this question?" BSB BSB: “Are you saying this on your own,” Jesus asked, “or did others tell you about Me?”
35 UDB Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew! Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done wrong?" BSB BSB: “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?”
37 UDB Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus replied, "Yes. The reason I was born and came into this world was to tell people the truth about God. Everyone who loves the truth listens to me." BSB BSB: “Then You are a king!” Pilate said. “You say that I am a king,” Jesus answered. “For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.”
38 UDB Pilate asked him, "What is true?" After Pilate asked that question, he went outside and talked to the Jewish leaders again. He said to them, "I find he has broken no law. BSB BSB: “What is truth?” Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, “I find no basis for a charge against Him.
39 UDB However, you Jews have a custom where every year during the Passover Festival, you ask me to release one man who is in prison. So would you like for me to release to you the King of the Jews?" BSB BSB: But it is your custom that I release to you one prisoner at the Passover. So then, do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 UDB They shouted again, "No, do not release this man, but release Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a leader in a rebellion. BSB BSB: “Not this man,” they shouted, “but Barabbas!” (Now Barabbas was an insurrectionist.)
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.