Matthew 26

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref And when Jesus had come to the end of all these words, he said to his disciples,

2 Ref After two days is the Passover, and the Son of man will be given up to the death of the cross.

3 Ref Then the chief priests and the rulers of the people came together in the house of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.

4 Ref And they made designs together to take Jesus by some trick, and put him to death.

5 Ref But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear of trouble among the people.

6 Ref Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

7 Ref There came to him a woman having a bottle of perfume of great price, and she put the perfume on his head when he was seated at table.

8 Ref But when the disciples saw it they were angry, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 Ref For we might have got much money for this and given it to the poor.

10 Ref But Jesus, seeing it, said to them, Why are you troubling the woman? she has done a kind act to me.

11 Ref For the poor you have ever with you, but me you have not for ever.

12 Ref For in putting this perfume on my body, she did it to make me ready for my last resting-place.

13 Ref Truly I say to you, Wherever this good news goes out in all the world, what this woman has done will be talked of in memory of her.

14 Ref Then one of the twelve, who was named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,

15 Ref What will you give me, if I give him up to you? And the price was fixed at thirty bits of silver.

16 Ref And from that time he was watching for a chance to give him into their hands.

17 Ref Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where are we to make ready for you to take the Passover meal?

18 Ref And he said to them, Go into the town to such a man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is near: I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.

19 Ref And the disciples did as Jesus had said to them; and they made ready the Passover.

20 Ref Now when evening was come, he was seated at table with the twelve disciples;

21 Ref And while they were taking food, he said, Truly I say to you that one of you will be false to me.

22 Ref And they were very said, and said to him, one by one, Is it I, Lord?

23 Ref And he made answer and said, He who puts his hand into the plate with me, the same will be false to me.

24 Ref The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but a curse is on that man through whom the Son of man is given up; it would have been well for that man if he had never come into the world.

25 Ref And Judas, who was false to him, made answer and said, Is it I, Master? He says to him, Yes.

26 Ref And when they were taking food, Jesus took bread and, after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to the disciples and said, Take it; this is my body.

27 Ref And he took a cup and, having given praise, he gave it to them, saying,

28 Ref Take of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the testament, which is given for men for the forgiveness of sins.

29 Ref But I say to you that from now I will not take of this fruit of the vine, till that day when I take it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 Ref And after a song of praise to God, they went out to the Mountain of Olives.

31 Ref Then said Jesus to them, All of you will be turned away from me this night: for it is said in the Writings, I will put to death the keeper of the sheep, and the sheep of the flock will be put to flight.

32 Ref But after I am come back from the dead, I will go before you into Galilee.

33 Ref But Peter made answer and said to him, Though all may be turned away from you, I will never be turned away.

34 Ref Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me.

35 Ref Peter says to him, Even if I am put to death with you, I will not be false to you. So said all the disciples.

36 Ref Then comes Jesus with them to a place named Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, Be seated here, while I go over there for prayer.

37 Ref And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became sad and very troubled.

38 Ref Then says he to them, My soul is very sad, even to death: keep watch with me here.

39 Ref And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done.

40 Ref And he comes to the disciples, and sees that they are sleeping, and says to Peter, What, were you not able to keep watch with me one hour?

41 Ref Keep watch with prayer, so that you may not be put to the test: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is feeble.

42 Ref Again, a second time he went away, and said in prayer, O my Father, if this may not go from me without my taking it, let your pleasure be done.

43 Ref And he came again and saw them sleeping, for their eyes were tired.

44 Ref And he went away from them again, and a third time said the same prayer.

45 Ref Then he comes to the disciples; and says to them, Go on sleeping now, and take your rest: for the hour is come, and the Son of man is given into the hands of evil men.

46 Ref Up, let us be going: see, he who gives me up is near.

47 Ref And while he was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a band armed with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and those in authority over the people.

48 Ref Now the false one had given them a sign saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he: take him.

49 Ref And straight away he came to Jesus and said, Master! and gave him a kiss.

50 Ref And Jesus said to him, Friend, do that for which you have come. Then they came and put hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Ref And one of those who were with Jesus put out his hand, and took out his sword and gave the servant of the high priest a blow, cutting off his ear.

52 Ref Then says Jesus to him, Put up your sword again into its place: for all those who take the sword will come to death by the sword.

53 Ref Does it not seem possible to you that if I make request to my Father he will even now send me an army of angels?

54 Ref But how then would the Writings come true, which say that so it has to be?

55 Ref In that hour Jesus said to the people, Have you come out as against a thief with swords and sticks to take me? I was teaching every day in the Temple and you took me not.

56 Ref But all this has taken place so that the writings of the prophets might come true. Then all his disciples went from him in flight.

57 Ref And those who had made Jesus prisoner took him away to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and those in authority over the people had come together.

58 Ref But Peter went after him at a distance, to the house of the high priest, and went in and took his seat with the servants, to see the end.

59 Ref Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;

60 Ref And they were not able to get it, though a number of false witnesses came.

61 Ref But later there came two who said, This man said, I am able to give the Temple of God to destruction, and to put it up again in three days.

62 Ref And the high priest got up and said to him, Have you no answer? what is it which these say against you?

63 Ref But Jesus said not a word. And the high priest said to him, I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will say to us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.

64 Ref Jesus says to him, You say so: but I say to you, From now you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.

65 Ref Then the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, He has said evil against God: what more need have we of witnesses? for now his words against God have come to your ears:

66 Ref What is your opinion? They made answer and said, It is right for him to be put to death.

67 Ref Then they put shame on him, and were cruel to him: and some gave him blows, saying,

68 Ref Be a prophet, O Christ, and say who gave you a blow!

69 Ref Now Peter was seated in the open square outside the house: and a servant-girl came to him, saying, You were with Jesus the Galilaean.

70 Ref But he said before them all that it was false, saying, I have no knowledge of what you say.

71 Ref And when he had gone out into the doorway, another saw him and says to those who were there, This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.

72 Ref And again he said with an oath, I have no knowledge of the man.

73 Ref And after a little time those who were near came and said to Peter, Truly you are one of them; because your talk is witness against you.

74 Ref Then with curses and oaths he said, I have no knowledge of the man. And straight away there came the cry of a cock.

75 Ref And the word of Jesus came back to Peter, when he said, Before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me. And he went out, weeping bitterly.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref It happened, when Jesus had finished all these words, that he said to his disciples,

2 Ref "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

3 Ref Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.

4 Ref They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him.

5 Ref But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people."

6 Ref Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 Ref a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

8 Ref But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste?

9 Ref For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor."

10 Ref But Jesus, knowing this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? Because she has done a good work for me.

11 Ref For you always have the poor with you; but you don't always have me.

12 Ref For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Ref Most assuredly I tell you, wherever this Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her."

14 Ref Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 Ref and said, "What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?" They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver.

16 Ref From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Ref Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

18 Ref He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'"

19 Ref The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.

20 Ref Now when evening had come, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.

21 Ref As they were eating, he said, "Most assuredly I tell you that one of you will betray me."

22 Ref They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, Lord?"

23 Ref He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.

24 Ref The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."

25 Ref Judas, who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it."

26 Ref As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for{TR reads "blessed" instead of "gave thanks for"} it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

27 Ref He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it,

28 Ref for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

29 Ref But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom."

30 Ref When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31 Ref Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

32 Ref But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."

33 Ref But Peter answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble."

34 Ref Jesus said to him, "Most assuredly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

35 Ref Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All of the disciples also said likewise.

36 Ref Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go there and pray."

37 Ref He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled.

38 Ref Then he said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me."

39 Ref He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire."

40 Ref He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour?

41 Ref Watch and pray, that you don't enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42 Ref Again, a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your desire be done."

43 Ref He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 Ref He left them again, went away, and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

45 Ref Then he came to his disciples, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Ref Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

47 Ref While he was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

48 Ref Now he who betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him."

49 Ref Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him.

50 Ref Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Ref Behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

52 Ref Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword.

53 Ref Or do you think that I couldn't ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 Ref How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?"

55 Ref In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me.

56 Ref But all this has happened, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

57 Ref Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58 Ref But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.

59 Ref Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

60 Ref and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,

61 Ref and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"

62 Ref The high priest stood up, and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?"

63 Ref But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

64 Ref Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, henceforth you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

65 Ref Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.

66 Ref What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of death!"

67 Ref Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,

68 Ref saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?"

69 Ref Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!"

70 Ref But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."

71 Ref When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth."

72 Ref Again he denied it with an oath, "I don't know the man."

73 Ref After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known."

74 Ref Then he began to curse and to swear, "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Ref Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and wept bitterly.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his disciples,

2 Ref Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.

3 Ref Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;

4 Ref and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.

5 Ref But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people.

6 Ref Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 Ref there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.

8 Ref But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 Ref For this `ointment' might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 Ref But Jesus perceiving it said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 Ref For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12 Ref For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

13 Ref Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

14 Ref Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

15 Ref and said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver.

16 Ref And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him `unto them.'

17 Ref Now on the first `day' of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover?

18 Ref And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

19 Ref And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

20 Ref Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples;

21 Ref and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 Ref And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord?

23 Ref And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 Ref The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

25 Ref And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said.

26 Ref And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

27 Ref And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

28 Ref for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.

29 Ref But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 Ref And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

31 Ref Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

32 Ref But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.

33 Ref But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.

34 Ref Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

35 Ref Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, `yet' will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

36 Ref Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.

37 Ref And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.

38 Ref Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.

39 Ref And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 Ref And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Ref Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 Ref Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 Ref And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44 Ref And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.

45 Ref Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

46 Ref Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.

47 Ref And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.

48 Ref Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.

49 Ref And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.

50 Ref And Jesus said unto him, Friend, `do' that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

51 Ref And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

52 Ref Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

53 Ref Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?

54 Ref How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?

55 Ref In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not.

56 Ref But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.

57 Ref And they that had taken Jesus led him away to `the house of' Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

58 Ref But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end.

59 Ref Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

60 Ref and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,

61 Ref and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

62 Ref And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

63 Ref But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.

64 Ref Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.

65 Ref Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:

66 Ref what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.

67 Ref Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,

68 Ref saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?

69 Ref Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.

70 Ref But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

71 Ref And when he was gone out into the porch, another `maid' saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.

72 Ref And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man.

73 Ref And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art `one' of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.

74 Ref Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.

75 Ref And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

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