¶ And it followed: when Iesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples: ye know that after ij. days shall be ester, and the son of man shall be delivered to be crucified.
¶ Then assembled together the chief priests and scribes and seniors of the people into the palace of the high priest, called Caiphas: and held a counsel, how they might take Iesus by subtlety, and kill him. but they said, not on the holy day, lest any trouble arise among the people.
¶ When Iesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman, which had an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at the board. When his disciples saw that, they had indignation saying: what needed this waste? This ointment might have been well sold, and given to the poor. When Iesus understood that, he said unto them: why trouble ye the woman? she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye shall have poor folk always with you: but me shall ye not have always. And in that she casted this ointment on my body, she did it to bury me withall. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout all the world, there shall also this that she hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
¶ Then one of the twelve called Iudas Iscariot went unto the chief priests, and said: what will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they appointed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
¶ The first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Iesus saying unto him: where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the ester lamb? And he said: Go into the city, unto such a man, and say to him: the master saith, my time is almost come, I will keep mine ester at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Iesus had appointed them, and made ready the ester lamb.
¶ When the even was come, he sat down with the xij. And as they did eat, he said: Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him: is it I master? He answered and said: he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, shall betray me. The son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe be to that man, by whom the son of man shall be betrayed. It had been good for that man, if he had never been born.
¶ Then Iudas which betrayed him, answered and said: is it I master? He said unto him: thou hast said. As they did ate, Iesus took bread and gave thanks, brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it them, saying: drink of it every one. This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins. I say unto you: I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine tree, until that day, when I shall drink it new with you in my father's kingdom.
¶ And when they had said grace, they went out into mount olivet. Then said Iesus unto them: all ye shall fall this night because of me. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galile. Peter answered, and said unto him: though all men should be hurt by thee, yet would I not be hurt. Iesus said unto him: verily I say unto thee, that this same night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him: If I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
¶ Then went Iesus with them into a place, which is called Gethsemane, and said unto his disciples: sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebede, and began to wax sorrowful and to be in agony. Then said Iesus unto them: my soul is heavy even unto the death. Tarry ye here: and watch with me. And he went away a little apart, and fell flat on his face, and prayed saying: O my father, if it possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he came unto the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter: what, could ye not watch with me one hour? watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
¶ He went away once more, and prayed, saying: O my father, if this cup cannot pass away from me, but that I drink of it, thy will be fulfilled. And he came, and found them asleep again. For their eyes were heavy. And he left and went again, and prayed the third time saying the same words. Then came he to his disciples and said unto them: Sleep henceforth, and take your rest. Take heed the hour is at hand, and the son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going, he is at hand that shall betray me.
¶ While he yet spake, lo, Iudas one of the twelve came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, which were sent from the chief priests and seniors of the people. He that betrayed him, gave them a token, saying: whosoever I kiss, that same is he, lay hands on him. And forthwithall he came to Iesus, and said: hail master. And kissed him. And Iesus said unto him: friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they and laid hands on Iesus and took him.
¶ And behold, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then said Iesus unto him: put up thy sword into his sheath. For all they that lay hands on the sword, shall perish with the sword. Either thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father, and he shall give me more than xij. legions of angels? how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, for so must it be.
¶ The same time said Iesus to the multitude: ye be come out as it were unto a thief, with swords and staves for to take me: daily I sat among you teaching in the temple, and ye took me not. All this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. And they took Iesus and led him to Caiphas the high priest, where the scribes and the seniors were assembled. Peter followed him afar off, unto the high priest's place: and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.
¶ The chief priests, and the seniors, and all the council, sought false witness against Iesus, for to put him to death, and they found none: in so much that when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said: This fellow said: I can destroy the temple of God, and build the same in iij. days.
¶ And the chief priest arose, and said to him: answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee? but Iesus held his peace. And the chief priest answered, and said to him: I charge thee in the name of the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the son of God. Iesus said to him: thou hast said. Nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and come in the clouds of the sky.
¶ Then the high priest rent his clothes saying? He hath blasphemed: what need we of any more witnesses? Lo, now have ye heard his blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said: he is worthy to die. Then spat they in his face, and beat him with their fists. And other smote him with the palm of their hands on the face, saying: areede to us Christ, who is he that smote thee?
¶ Peter sat without in the palace, and a damsel came to him, saying: Thou also wast with Iesus of Galilee: he denied before them all saying: I wot not what thou sayest. When he was gone out into the porch, another wench saw him, and said unto them that were there: This fellow was also with Iesus of Nazareth: And again he denied with an oath, and said: I know not the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said unto Peter: surely thou art even one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the words of Iesu, which he said unto him: before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice: and went out at the doors and wept bitterly.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526