Matthew 26

The Plot to Kill Jesus
(Mark 14:1–2; Luke 22:1–2; John 11:45–57)

1When Jesus (YHWH saves) had finished saying all these things, He told His disciples (pupils), 2“You⁺ know that the Passover is two days away, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

3At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4and they conspired to arrest Jesus (YHWH saves) covertly and kill Him. 5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany
(Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8)

6While Jesus (YHWH saves) was in Bethany (house of affliction) in the home of Simon (hearing) the Leper (Simon the Potter),a 7a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.

8When the disciples (pupils) saw this, they were indignant and asked, “Why this waste? 9This perfume could have been sold at a high price, and the money given to the poor.”

10Aware of this, Jesus (YHWH saves) asked, “Why are you⁺ bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me. 11The poor you⁺ will always have with you⁺ <Deu 15:11>,b but you will not always have Me. 12By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial. 13Truly I tell you⁺, wherever this gospel (good news) is preached in all the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
(Mark 14:10–11; Luke 22:3–6)

14Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas (praise) Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you⁺ willing to give me if I hand Him over to you⁺?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Preparing the Passover
(Mark 14:12–16; Luke 22:7–13)

17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread \On the first of the Unleavened/,c the disciples (pupils) came to Jesus (YHWH saves) and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

18He answered, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him that the Teacher {Didaskalos} says, ‘My time is near. I will keep the Passover with My disciples (pupils) at your house.’” 19So the disciples (pupils) did as Jesus (YHWH saves) had directed them and prepared the Passover.

The Last Supper
(Mark 14:17–26; Luke 22:14–23; 1 Corinthians 11:17–34)

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining with the twelve disciples [the Twelve].d 21And while they were eating, He said to them, “Truly I tell you⁺, one of you⁺ will betray Me.”

22They were deeply grieved and began to ask Him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord {Kyrie}?”

23Jesus answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed. It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25Then Judas (praise), who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”

26While they were eating, Jesus (YHWH saves) took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples (pupils), saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28This is My blood of the covenant [the new covenant],e which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you⁺, 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.”

30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Zechariah 13:7–9; Mark 14:27–31; Luke 22:31–38; John 13:36–38)

31Then Jesus (YHWH saves) said to them, “This very night you⁺ will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered <Zec 13:7>.’f

32But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you⁺ into Galilee (circuit).”

33Peter (rock) said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”

34“Truly I tell you,” Jesus (YHWH saves) declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

35Peter (rock) replied, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the other disciples (pupils) said the same thing.

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane
(Mark 14:32–42; Luke 22:39–46)

36Then Jesus (YHWH saves) went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane (olive press), and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

37He took with Him Peter (rock) and the two sons of Zebedee (YHWH has given) and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My soul {psychē} is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

39Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father {Pater}, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

40Then Jesus returned to the disciples (pupils) and found them sleeping. “Were you⁺ not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter (rock). 41“Watch and pray so that you⁺ will not enter into temptation. For the spirit {pneuma} is willing, but the body (flesh) is weak.”

42A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father {Pater}, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” 43And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

44So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. 45Then He returned to the disciples (pupils) and said, “Are you⁺ still sleeping and resting? Look (Behold), the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Rise, let us go! See (Behold), My betrayer is approaching!”

The Betrayal of Jesus
(Mark 14:43–52; Luke 22:47–53; John 18:1–14)

47While Jesus was still speaking, Judas (praise), one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him.” 49Going directly to Jesus (YHWH saves), he said, “Greetings (Rejoice), Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

50“Friend,” Jesus (YHWH saves) replied, “do what you came for.”g

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus, and arrested Him. 51At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant {doulon} of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus (YHWH saves) said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53Are you not aware that I can call on My Father {Patera}, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels (messengers)? 54But how then would the Scriptures (Writings) be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

55At that time Jesus (YHWH saves) said to the crowd, “Have you⁺ come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw? Every day I sat teaching {didaskōn} in the temple courts \the temple/,h and you⁺ did not arrest Me. 56But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.”

Then all the disciples (pupils) deserted Him and fled.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin
(Mark 14:53–65; Luke 22:66–71; John 18:19–24)

57Those who had arrested Jesus (YHWH saves) led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered. 58But Peter (rock) followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

59Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin (the whole Council)i were seeking false testimony against Jesus (YHWH saves) in order to put Him to death. 60But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Finally two came forward 61and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God {Theou} and rebuild it in three days.’”

62So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?”

63But Jesus (YHWH saves) remained silent.

Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God {Theou}: Tell us if You are the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God.”

64“You have said it yourself,” Jesus (YHWH saves) answered. “But I say to all of you⁺, from now on you⁺ will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power (the right hand of the Mighty One)j and coming on the clouds of heaven <Psa 110:1, Dan 7:13>.”k

65At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look (behold), now you⁺ have heard the blasphemy. 66What do you⁺ think?”

“He deserves to die,” they answered.

67Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him 68and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ (the Anointed One)! Who hit You?”

Peter Denies Jesus
(Mark 14:66–72; Luke 22:54–62; John 18:15–18)

69Meanwhile, Peter (rock) was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus (YHWH saves) the Galilean,” she said.

70But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.”

71When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus (YHWH saves) of Nazareth (branch).”

72And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!”

73After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter (rock). “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.”

74At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!”

And immediately a rooster crowed.

75Then Peter (rock) remembered the word that Jesus (YHWH saves) had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.


The Berean Annotated Bible (BAB) is the Annotated version of the Berean Standard Bible (BSB). The BAB includes over 50,000 points of emphasis using the following system:

(Emphasis and Names)
{Hebrew and Greek}
[Alternate Manuscripts]
\Literal translation/
<Measurements and Crossrefs>
Second Person Plural: you⁺ your⁺ yours⁺

This version is an early draft and is now in the stage of proofing, consistency checking, and public comment. Please note that meanings for Biblical names are based on Hebrew and Greek roots and can be somewhat subjective. Feel free to Contact us with suggestions or corrections. We are still adding points of emphasis wherever helpful.



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