Judas Betrays Jesus
27 Presently Jesus said to them: “All of you will fall away; for scripture says: ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 Yet, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee.” 29 “Even if everyone else falls away,” said Peter, “I shall not.” 30 “I tell you,” answered Jesus, “that you yourself today—yes, this very night—before the cock crows twice, will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter vehemently protested: “Even if I must die with you, I shall never disown you!” And they all said the same.
32 Presently they came to a garden known as Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples: “Sit down here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter, James, and John; and began to show signs of great dismay and deep distress of mind. 34 “I am sad at heart,” he said, “sad even to death; wait here, and watch.” 35 Going on a little further, he threw himself on the ground, and began to pray that, if it were possible, he might be spared that hour.
36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “all things are possible to thee; take away this cup from me; yet, not what I will, but what thou wills.” 37 Then he came and found the three apostles asleep. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could not you watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray,” he said to them all, “that you may not fall into temptation. True, the spirit is eager, but human nature is weak.”
39 Again he went away, and prayed in the same words; 40 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 A third time he came, and said to them: “Sleep on now and rest yourselves. Enough! My time has come. Hark! the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men. 42 Up and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.”
43 And just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the twelve, came up; and with him a crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the councilors. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him and take him away safely.”
45 As soon as Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once, and said: “Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46 Then the men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 One of those who were standing by drew his sword and struck at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. 48 But Jesus interposed, and said to the men: “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs to take me? 49 I have been among you day after day in the temple courts teaching, and yet you did not arrest me; but this is in fulfillment of the scriptures.”
50 And all the apostles forsook him and fled. 51 One young man did indeed follow him, wrapped only in a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him; 52 But he left the sheet in their hands and fled naked. 53 Then they took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the councilors, and the teachers of the law assembled.
54 Peter, who had followed Jesus at a distance into the court-yard of the high priest, was sitting there among the servants, warming himself by the fire. 55 Meanwhile the chief priest and the whole of the high council were trying to get such evidence against Jesus as would warrant his being put to death, but they could not find any; 56 For, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, their evidence did not agree.
57 Presently some men stood up, and gave this false evidence against him: 58 “We ourselves heard him say: ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.’” 59 Yet not even on that point did their evidence agree. 60 Then the high priest stepped forward, and questioned Jesus. “Have you no answer to make?” he asked. “What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer.
A second time, the high priest questioned him. “Are you,” he asked, “the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” replied Jesus, “and you shall all see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty; and ‘coming in the clouds of heaven’.”
63 At this the high priest tore his vestments. “Why do we want any more witnesses?” he exclaimed. 64 “You heard his blasphemy? What is your verdict?” They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death. 65 Some of those present began to spit at him, and to blindfold his eyes, and strike him, saying, as they did so: “Now play the prophet!” and even the servants hit him with blows.
66 While Peter was in the court-yard down below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came up; 67 And, seeing Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him and exclaimed: “Why, you were with Jesus, the Nazarene!” 68 But Peter denied it. “I do not know or understand what you mean,” he replied. Then he went out into the porch; 69 And there the maidservant, on seeing him, began to say again to the by-standers: “This is one of them!” 70 But Peter again denied it.
Soon afterwards the bystanders again said to him: “You certainly are one of them; why you are a Galilean!” 71 But he began to swear with the most solemn imprecations: “I do not know the man you are speaking about.” 72 At that moment, for the second time, a cock crowed; and Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him: ‘Before a cock has crowed twice, you will disown me three times’; and, as he thought of it, he began to weep.
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To read the next chapter of the Book of Mark, please go to: King of the Jews.
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