Christ betrayed and Chap. xxvi. brought before Caiaphas‹ spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. 43 And he came and found them asleep again; for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest; behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sin ners. 46 Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 47 ¶ And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, eame, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now, he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast. 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Master; and kissed him. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels ?j 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be ? 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. 57 ¶ And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. 58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end. 59 Now, the chief priests j Legion. A Roman legion consisted of about 6000 men; sometimes 51 And behold one of them more, sometimes less. * Christ falsely accused S. Matthew. and denied of Peter. and elders, and all the council,sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death: 60 But found none; yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false wit nesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee? 63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said; k nevertheJess, I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. Thou hast said; that is, What I am, thou hast said; I am the Christ, the Son of God. Rending or tearing the clothes implies great grief, horror, or indignation; the high priest however was expressly forbidden to rend his clothes. Lev. xxi. 10. 66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. 67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffetted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, 68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ; Who is he that smote thee? 69 Now Peter sat without in the palace; and a damsel came unto him saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immedi ately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Judas hangeth himself. Chap. xxvii. CHAP. XXVII. 1 Christ delivered to Pilate. 5 Judas hangeth himself. 35 Christ is crucified. WHEN the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And when they had bound him they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. a 3¶ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them the pot ter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called the field of blood, unto this day. a Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea. Barabbas released. 9 (Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.) 11 ¶ And Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. b 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14 And he answered him to never a word c insomuch that governor marvelled great the ly. 15 Now, at that feast the governor was wont d to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barab bas. 17 Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Ba b Thou sayest. Thou sayest right; or, as thou hast said, I am a king. c He answered bim not a word. d Was wont. Was accustomed was used. S. Matthew. Pilate admonished. rabbas, e or Jesus, which is called Christ? 18 For he knew that for. envy they had delivered him. 19¶ When he was set down on the judgment-seat his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered, and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why? what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands f before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the e Barabbas, a person guilty of robBery, sedition and murder. f Washing the hands was a custom among the Jews designed to declare their innocence. Christ mocked people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them; and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified. 27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. 28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.g 29 ¶ And when they had platted a crown of thorns they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! 30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 31 And after that they had mocked him they took the robe off from him and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And, as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his cross. 33 ¶ And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha,h that is to say, A place of a scull, g The scarlet robe was worn by kings, and in mockery was put upon our Saviour, because he said he was king of the Jews. So also the reed or cane, that in derision was put into his hand, denoted a sceptre, which was an ensign of royalty. b Golgotha or Calvary was a small Christ crucified, reviled, Chap. xxvii. giveth up the ghost, &c. 34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and, when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture i did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down, they watched him there; 37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the 42 He saved others, himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him: * 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said I am the Son of God. 44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. 45 Now, from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.k 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, the ghost. yielded up 51 And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; |
