The Plot to Kill Jesus (Matthew 26:1–5; Mark 14:1–2; John 11:45–57)
1 UDB It was now almost time for the Celebration of Unleavened Bread, which people also call the Passover. BSB BSB: Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,
2 UDB Now the chief priests and the teachers of the Jewish laws were looking for a way to kill Jesus because they feared the people who followed him. BSB BSB: and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they feared the people.
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16; Mark 14:10–11)
3 UDB Then Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. BSB BSB: Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve.
4 UDB He went and talked with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard about how he might turn Jesus over to them. BSB BSB: And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them.
5 UDB They were very pleased that he wanted to do that. They offered to pay him money for doing it. BSB BSB: They were delighted and agreed to give him money.
6 UDB So Judas agreed, and then he started looking for a way to help them arrest Jesus when there was no crowd around him. BSB BSB: Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.
Preparing the Passover (Matthew 26:17–19; Mark 14:12–16)
7 UDB Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day when the lambs for the Passover Celebration had to be killed. BSB BSB: Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.
8 UDB So Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the meal for the Passover Celebration for us so we can eat it together." BSB BSB: Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9 UDB They replied to him, "Where do you want us to prepare to eat it?" BSB BSB: “Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.
10 UDB He answered, "Listen carefully. When you go into the city, a man carrying a large jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters. BSB BSB: He answered, “When you enter the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters,
11 UDB Say to the owner of the house, 'Our teacher says to show us the room where he can eat the Passover meal together with us, his disciples.' BSB BSB: and say to the owner of that house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’
12 UDB He will show you a large room that is on the upper floor of the house. It will be all set up, with everything ready for guests. Prepare the meal for us there." BSB BSB: And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”
13 UDB So the two disciples went into the city. They found everything to be just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the meal for the Passover Celebration there. BSB BSB: So they went and found it just as Jesus had told them. And they prepared the Passover.
The Last Supper (Matthew 26:20–30; Mark 14:17–26; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)
14 UDB When it was time to eat the meal, Jesus came and sat down with the apostles. BSB BSB: When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.
16 UDB I tell you, I will not eat it again until I do so when God rules everyone everywhere, when he finishes what he started to do in the Passover." BSB BSB: For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 UDB Then he took a cup of wine and thanked God for it. He said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves. BSB BSB: After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves.
18 UDB For I tell you that I will not drink any of this wine again until God rules everyone everywhere." BSB BSB: For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 UDB Then he took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke it into pieces and gave it to them to eat. As he did so, he said, "This bread is my body, which I am about to sacrifice for you. Do this later to honor me." BSB BSB: And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 UDB In the same way, after they had eaten the meal, he took the cup of wine and said, "This is the new covenant I will make using my own blood, which will pour out for you. BSB BSB: In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
21 UDB But look! The person who will hand me over to my enemies is here eating with me. BSB BSB: Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table.
22 UDB Indeed, I, the Son of Man, will die because that is what God has planned. But how terrible it will be for the man who hands me over to my enemies!" BSB BSB: Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”
23 UDB Then the apostles began to ask one another, "Which one of us is planning to do this thing?" BSB BSB: Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.
Who Is the Greatest? 24 UDB After that, the apostles began to argue among themselves; they said, "Which one of us will have the most honor when Jesus becomes king?" BSB BSB: A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.
25 UDB Jesus answered them, "The kings of the Gentile nations like to show people that they are powerful. Yet they give themselves the title, 'ones who help the people.' BSB BSB: So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.
26 UDB But you should not be like those rulers! Instead, the most honored persons among you should act as if they were the youngest, and the one who leads must act like a servant. BSB BSB: But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.
27 UDB For you know that the important person is the one who eats at the table, not the servant who brings the food. But I am your servant. BSB BSB: For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.
28 UDB "You are the persons who have stayed with me during all the hard things I have suffered. BSB BSB: You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.
29 UDB So now, I will make you powerful officials when God rules everyone, just as my Father appointed me to rule as a king. BSB BSB: And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me,
30 UDB You will sit and eat and drink with me when I become king. In fact, you will sit on thrones to judge the people of the twelve tribes of Israel. BSB BSB: so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (Matthew 26:31–35; Mark 14:27–31; John 13:36–38)
31 UDB "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked God to let him test you like someone shakes grain in a sieve, and God has permitted him to do it. BSB BSB: Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you like wheat.
32 UDB But I have prayed for you, Simon, that you will not completely stop believing in me. So when you come back to me, give courage again to these men, your brothers. BSB BSB: But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 UDB Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison; I am willing to die with you!" BSB BSB: “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”
34 UDB Jesus replied, "Peter, I want you to know that this night, before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you do not know me!" BSB BSB: But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
36 UDB And he said, "But, now, if anyone among you has some money, he should take it with him. Also, whoever has food should take it with him, and whoever does not have a sword should sell his coat and buy one!" BSB BSB: “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37 UDB I tell you this because what a prophet wrote about me in the scriptures must happen: 'People considered him to be a criminal.' Everything that is written about me in the scriptures is happening. BSB BSB: For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
38 UDB The disciples said, "Lord, look! We have two swords!" He replied, "Enough. Do not talk like this any longer." BSB BSB: So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” He answered.
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42)
39 UDB Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives as he usually did; his disciples went with him. BSB BSB: Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
40 UDB When he came to the place where he wanted to go, he said to them, "Pray that God will help you not to be tempted to sin." BSB BSB: When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”
41 UDB Then he went about thirty meters from them, knelt down, and prayed. He said, BSB BSB: And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed,
43 UDB Then an angel from heaven came and gave him courage. BSB BSB: Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
44 UDB He was suffering greatly. So he prayed more intensely. His sweat was falling to the ground like large drops of blood. BSB BSB: And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 UDB When he got up from praying, he returned to his disciples. He found that they were so tired out because of their sorrow that they were sleeping. BSB BSB: When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
46 UDB He woke them up and said to them, "You should not be sleeping! Get up! Pray that God will help you so that nothing will persuade you to sin." BSB BSB: “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”
The Betrayal of Jesus (Matthew 26:47–56; Mark 14:43–52; John 18:1–14)
47 UDB While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd of people came to him. Judas, one of the twelve disciples, was leading them. He came up to Jesus to kiss him. BSB BSB: While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.
48 UDB But Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you really kiss me, the Son of Man, in order to hand me over to my enemies?" BSB BSB: But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 UDB When the disciples realized what was happening, they said, "Lord, shall we strike them with our swords?" BSB BSB: Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
50 UDB One of them struck the servant of the high priest, but only cut off his right ear. BSB BSB: And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51 UDB But Jesus said, "Do not do any more of that." Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him. BSB BSB: But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.
52 UDB Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guards, and the Jewish elders who had come to arrest him, "It is surprising that you have come here with swords and clubs to arrest me, as if I were a robber. For many days I was with you in the temple, but you did not try to arrest me at all! But this is the time you are doing what you want. It is also the time when Satan is doing the evil things as he wants to do." BSB BSB: Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw?
Peter Denies Jesus (Matthew 26:69–75; Mark 14:66–72; John 18:15–18)
54 UDB They seized Jesus and led him away. They brought him to the high priest's house. Peter followed them far behind. BSB BSB: Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
55 UDB The people lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. Peter sat among them. BSB BSB: When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 UDB A female servant saw Peter sitting there as the fire shone upon him. She looked at him carefully and said, "This man was also with the one whom they have arrested!" BSB BSB: A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.
57 UDB But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him!" BSB BSB: But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.
58 UDB A little later someone else saw Peter and said, "You also are one of those who were with the man they arrested!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not one of them!" BSB BSB: A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
59 UDB About an hour later someone else said loudly, "The way that this man speaks shows that he is from the region of Galilee. Certainly this man was also with the man whom they arrested!" BSB BSB: About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”
60 UDB But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!" Immediately a rooster crowed, while he was still speaking. BSB BSB: “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 UDB The Lord Jesus turned around and looked right at Peter. Then Peter remembered what the Lord had said to him, "This night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you know me." BSB BSB: And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
62 UDB And he went out of the courtyard and cried with great sorrow. BSB BSB: And he went outside and wept bitterly.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus (Isaiah 50:4–11; Matthew 27:27–31; Mark 15:16–20; John 19:1–15)
63 UDB The men who were guarding Jesus made fun of him and beat him. BSB BSB: The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him.
64 UDB They put a blindfold on him and said to him, "Show us that you are a prophet! Tell us who it was that struck you!" BSB BSB: They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?”
65 UDB They said many other evil things about him, insulting him. BSB BSB: And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.
Jesus before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65; John 18:19–24)
66 UDB At dawn the next morning, many of the Jewish leaders gathered together. In this group were the chief priests and the men who taught the Jewish laws. They took Jesus to the Jewish council chamber. There they said to him, BSB BSB: At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, met together. They led Jesus into their Sanhedrin and said,
67 UDB "If you are the Christ, tell us!" But he replied, "If I say that I am he, you will not believe me. BSB BSB: “If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.
68 UDB If I ask you a question, you will not give me an answer. BSB BSB: And if I ask you a question, you will not answer.
69 UDB But from now on, I, the Son of Man, will be sitting next to almighty God and ruling!" BSB BSB: But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
70 UDB Then they all asked, "If that is so, are you saying that you are the Son of God?" He answered, "Yes, it is just as you say." BSB BSB: So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.”
71 UDB Then they said to each other, "We certainly do not need any more people to testify against him! We ourselves have heard him say that he is equal to God!" BSB BSB: “Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”