Thirty Pieces of Silver
43 And coming back again he found them asleep, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, again saying the same words. 45 Then he came to the disciples, and said: “Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Hark! My time is close at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.
46 Up, and let us be going. Look! My betrayer is close at hand.” :47 And, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the twelve, came in sight; and with him was a great crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and councilors of the nation. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. “The man whom I kiss,” he had said, “will be the one; arrest him.”
49 So he went up to Jesus at once, and exclaimed: “Welcome, Rabbi!” and kissed him; 50 On which Jesus said to him: “Friend, do what you have come for.” Thereupon the men went up, seized Jesus, and arrested him. 51 Suddenly one of those who was with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and striking the high priest’s servant, cut off his ear.
52 “Sheathe your sword,” Jesus said, “for all who draw the sword will be put to the sword. 53 Do you think that I cannot ask my Father for help, when he would at once send to my aid more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But in that case how would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say that this must be?”
55 Jesus at the same time said to the crowds: “Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the temple courts, and yet you did not arrest me.” 56 The whole of this occurred in fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures. Then the disciples all forsook him and fled.
57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the councilors had assembled. 58 Peter followed him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the offices, to see the end. 59 Meanwhile, the chief priests and the whole of the high council were trying to get such false evidence against Jesus, as would warrant putting him to death, 60 But they did not find any, although many came forward with false stories. Later on, however, two men came forward and said: 61 “This man said: ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.”
62 Then the high priest stood up, and said to Jesus: “Have you no answer? What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. On this the high priest said to him: “I adjure you, by the living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 “It is true,” Jesus answered; “Moreover I tell you all that hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the heavens.’”
65 Then the high priest tore his robes. “This is blasphemy!” he exclaimed. “Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy! 66 What is your decision?” They answered: “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spat in his face, and struck him, while others dealt blows at him, saying as they did so: 68 “Now play the prophet for us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you?”
69 Peter, meanwhile, was sitting outside in the courtyard; and a maidservant came up to him, and exclaimed: “Why, you were with Jesus the Galilean!” 70 But Peter denied it before them all. “I do not know what you mean,” he replied. 71 When he had gone out into the gateway, another maid saw him, and said to those who were there: “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth!” 72 Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”
73 But soon afterwards those who were standing by came up and said to Peter: “You also are certainly one of them; why, your very way of speaking proves it!” 74 Then Peter began to swear, with most solemn imprecations: “I do not know the man.” At that moment a cock crowed; 75 and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said: ‘Before the cock has crowed, you will disown me three times’; and he went outside, and wept bitterly.
To read the Chapter 27 of the Gospel of Matthew, please go to: Forsaken Me.
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