Matthew 26:40-27:2 (Holy Thursday)

At that time, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?  Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done."  And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.  So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.  Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.   Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand."  While he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.  Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him."  And he came up to Jesus at once and said, "Hail, Master!" And he kissed him.  Jesus said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.  And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.  Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?  But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"  At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me.  But all this has taken place, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook him and fled.  Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Ca'iaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered.  But Peter followed him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end.  Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death,  but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward  and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'"  And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"  But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."  Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."  Then the high priest tore his robes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.   What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."  Then they spat in his face, and struck him; and some slapped him,  saying, "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?"  Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a maid came up to him, and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."  But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."  And when he went out to the porch, another maid saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."  And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man."  After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you."  Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately the cock crowed.  And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death;  and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor.