22:1 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called the Passover, was approaching.

22:2 And the ruling priests and scripture scholars were looking for a safe way to get Jesus killed, because they feared the people.

22:3 Then the Adversary entered into Judas of Kerioth (one of the Twelve),

22:4 and he went out to confer with the ruling priests and commanders on how to hand Jesus over.

22:5 This pleased them immensely, so they all agreed to pay him.

22:6 He accepted the money and then watched for an opportunity to hand him over while the crowd was away.

22:7 Then the day of the Feast arrived, when they were to sacrifice the Passover lamb.

22:8 Jesus sent out Peter and John with this task: “Go and prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it.”

22:9 “Where should we prepare it?” they asked.

22:10 “As you enter the city you will meet someone carrying a pitcher of water,” he replied. “Follow that person to the house they enter.

22:11 Then say to the homeowner, ‘The Teacher wants to know where the reception room is, so he can eat the Passover with his disciples’.

22:12 That person will show you a large, furnished, upper-story room; prepare it there.”

22:13 And they went out and found everything as he had told them, so they prepared the Passover.

22:14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table along with his Ambassadors.

22:15 And he said to them, “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before my time of suffering.

22:16 I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

22:17 When he received the cup he gave thanks and said, “Accept this and share it among yourselves.

22:18 I tell you that I will certainly not drink the fruit of the vine from now until the kingdom of God comes.”

22:19 And then he took bread and gave thanks and said, “This is my body being given up for you; do this to remember me.”

22:20 After dinner he did the same with the cup and said, “This is the cup of the new Will and Testament, signed in my own blood, which is poured out on your behalf.

22:21 “But look! The hand of the one who will betray me is on the table with me.

22:22 For the Human will indeed go according to plan, but woe to the person by whom he is betrayed!”

22:23 Then they all began to argue among themselves as to which of them would turn out to commit this act.

22:24 Then a rivalry broke out among them, as to which of them was greater.

22:25 And Jesus said to them, “The kings of the non-Judeans exercise mastery over them, and those wielding authority are called ‘benefactors’.

22:26 But you must not be like that. For the greater among you must become like the lesser, and the leader like the assistant.

22:27 Who is greater, the one reclining at the table or the one waiting tables? Is it not the one reclining? Yet here I am among you as the one waiting tables.

22:28 “You are the ones who stood with me during my trials.

22:29 I now bequeath the kingdom to you, just as my Father bequeathed it to me,

22:30 so that you will eat and drink at my table in the kingdom, and you will sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

22:31 “Simon, Simon, look! The Adversary had demanded that you be brought to trial to see what you’re made of.

22:32 But I have pleaded concerning you, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back, reinforce your siblings.”

22:33 “Master,” objected Peter, “I am willing to go to jail or even be put to death with you!”

22:34 But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, that the rooster will not crow today before you have completely renounced me three times!”

22:35 Then he said to them, “When I sent you out without wallet or luggage or an extra pair of sandals, did you lack anything?”“Not a thing,” they replied.

22:36 “But now,” he said, “whoever has a wallet or luggage should use it. And if you need a sword, sell some clothing and buy it.

22:37 For I tell you that what is written must be fulfilled in me: ‘He was considered to be among the lawless’. Yes, that which refers to me has reached its end.”

22:38 So they said, “Look, Master, we have two swords here!”“That will do,” he replied.

22:39 Then he went out to the Mount of Olives as usual, and his disciples followed him.

22:40 When they reached their destination he said to them, “Pray that you will not be put to the test!”

22:41 Then he went about a stone’s throw away from them and knelt down to pray:

22:42 “Father, if you’re willing, take this cup away from me. But do what you want, not what I want.”

22:43

22:44

22:45 Jesus got up from praying, and when he went back to where his disciples were, he found them asleep because of their great sorrow.

22:46 And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so that you will not be put to the test!”

22:47 But while he was still speaking, suddenly there was a crowd. One of the Twelve, called Judas, went ahead of them and approached Jesus to greet him warmly,

22:48 but Jesus said to him, “Will you really betray the Human with a kiss?”

22:49 When those around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Master, should we attack them with swords?”

22:50 And one of them struck the ruling priest’s deputy, cutting off his right ear.

22:51 But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” Then he touched the ear and instantly healed him.

22:52 And he said to the ruling priests and temple compound officers and elders, “Am I a robber, that you come at me with swords and clubs?

22:53 Every day I was with you in the temple compound, and you never arrested me. But this hour belongs to you, and to the jurisdiction of Darkness.”

22:54 So they arrested him and took him into the house of the ruling priest, and Peter followed at a distance.

22:55 Someone had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and Peter sat with the others around it.

22:56 But a slave girl saw him sitting near the fire, and continuing to watch him she said, “This one was with him too!”

22:57 But Peter denied it: “Miss, I don’t know him.”

22:58 Then someone else saw him and said, “I swear, you are one of them!”Again Peter denied it: “No, I am not!”

22:59 About an hour later yet another person said, “I’m telling you, he was with him, because he’s a Galilean!”

22:60 And Peter said again, “Listen, man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” As the words left his mouth, a rooster crowed.

22:61 Then Jesus turned around and looked at Peter, and he remembered what the Master had said: “Before the rooster crows today, you will completely renounce me three times!”

22:62 Peter then went outside, sobbing bitterly.

22:63 Then the men holding Jesus in custody jeered at him and beat him up.

22:64 They blindfolded him and taunted him, “Prophesy! Tell us who hit you!”

22:65 And they said many other slanderous things to him.

22:66 At daybreak the council of elders of the people gathered, along with the ruling priests and scripture scholars, and they led him away to the Sanhedrin.

22:67 “If you are the Anointed,” they said to him, “Tell us now.” “No matter what I say, you will never believe me,” he replied.

22:68 “If I were the one asking you questions, you’d never respond.

22:69 But from now on, the Human will be seated at the right hand of the power of God!”

22:70 “So then, you are the God-Man?” they all said.“Yes, you’ve said it yourself,” he replied.

22:71 Then they all said, “What need is there for any additional testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!”