Matthew 26 :: Bible in Basic English (BBE)

The Plot to Kill Jesus

(Mar 14:1, 2; Luk 22:1, 2; Jhn 11:45–53 )

Mat 26:1And when Jesus had come to the end of all these words, he said to his disciples,

Mat 26:2After two days is the Passover, and the Son of man will be given up to the death of the cross.

Mat 26:3Then the chief priests and the rulers of the people came together in the house of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.

Mat 26:4

Mat 26:4And they made designs together to take Jesus by some trick, and put him to death.

Mat 26:5

Mat 26:5But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear of trouble among the people.

The Precious Ointment

(Mar 14:3–9; Jhn 12:1–8 )

Mat 26:6

Mat 26:6Now when Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

Mat 26:7

Mat 26:7There came to him a woman having a bottle of perfume of great price, and she put the perfume on his head when he was seated at table.

Mat 26:8

Mat 26:8But when the disciples saw it they were angry, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

Mat 26:9

Mat 26:9For we might have got much money for this and given it to the poor.

Mat 26:10

Mat 26:10But Jesus, seeing it, said to them, Why are you troubling the woman? she has done a kind act to me.

Mat 26:11

Mat 26:11For the poor you have ever with you, but me you have not for ever.

Mat 26:12

Mat 26:12For in putting this perfume on my body, she did it to make me ready for my last resting-place.

Mat 26:13

Mat 26:13Truly I say to you, Wherever this good news goes out in all the world, what this woman has done will be talked of in memory of her.

Judas's Bargain

(Mar 14:10, 11; Luk 22:3–6 )

Mat 26:14

Mat 26:14Then one of the twelve, who was named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said,

Mat 26:15

Mat 26:15What will you give me, if I give him up to you? And the price was fixed at thirty bits of silver.

Mat 26:16

Mat 26:16And from that time he was watching for a chance to give him into their hands.

(Mar 14:12–21; Luk 22:7–13 )

Mat 26:17

Mat 26:17Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where are we to make ready for you to take the Passover meal?

Mat 26:18

Mat 26:18And he said to them, Go into the town to such a man, and say to him, The Master says, My time is near: I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.

Mat 26:19

Mat 26:19And the disciples did as Jesus had said to them; and they made ready the Passover.

The Last Passover

Mat 26:20

Mat 26:20Now when evening was come, he was seated at table with the twelve disciples;

Mat 26:21

Mat 26:21And while they were taking food, he said, Truly I say to you that one of you will be false to me.

Mat 26:22

Mat 26:22And they were very sad, and said to him, one by one, Is it I, Lord?

Mat 26:23

Mat 26:23And he made answer and said, He who puts his hand into the plate with me, the same will be false to me.

Mat 26:24

Mat 26:24The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but a curse is on that man through whom the Son of man is given up; it would have been well for that man if he had never come into the world.

Mat 26:25

Mat 26:25And Judas, who was false to him, made answer and said, Is it I, Master? He says to him, Yes.

The Lord's Supper Instituted

(Mar 14:22–26; Luk 22:14–23; 1Co 11:23–26 )

Mat 26:26

Mat 26:26And when they were taking food, Jesus took bread and, after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to the disciples and said, Take it; this is my body.

Mat 26:27

Mat 26:27And he took a cup and, having given praise, he gave it to them, saying,

Mat 26:28

Mat 26:28Take of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the testament, which is given for men for the forgiveness of sins.

Mat 26:29

Mat 26:29But I say to you that from now I will not take of this fruit of the vine, till that day when I take it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Mat 26:30

Mat 26:30And after a song of praise to God, they went out to the Mountain of Olives.

(Mar 14:27–31; Luk 22:31–34; Jhn 13:36–38 )

Mat 26:31

Mat 26:31Then said Jesus to them, All of you will be turned away from me this night: for it is said in the Writings, I will put to death the keeper of the sheep, and the sheep of the flock will be put to flight.

Mat 26:32

Mat 26:32But after I am come back from the dead, I will go before you into Galilee.

Mat 26:33

Mat 26:33But Peter made answer and said to him, Though all may be turned away from you, I will never be turned away.

Mat 26:34

Mat 26:34Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me.

Mat 26:35

Mat 26:35Peter says to him, Even if I am put to death with you, I will not be false to you. So said all the disciples.

The Garden of Gethsemane

(Mar 14:32–42; Luk 22:39–46 )

Mat 26:36

Mat 26:36Then comes Jesus with them to a place named Gethsemane, and says to his disciples, Be seated here, while I go over there for prayer.

Mat 26:37

Mat 26:37And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became sad and very troubled.

Mat 26:38

Mat 26:38Then says he to them, My soul is very sad, even to death: keep watch with me here.

Mat 26:39

Mat 26:39And he went forward a little, and falling down on his face in prayer, he said, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup go from me; but let not my pleasure, but yours be done.

Mat 26:40

Mat 26:40And he comes to the disciples, and sees that they are sleeping, and says to Peter, What, were you not able to keep watch with me one hour?

Mat 26:41

Mat 26:41Keep watch with prayer, so that you may not be put to the test: the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is feeble.

Mat 26:42

Mat 26:42Again, a second time he went away, and said in prayer, O my Father, if this may not go from me without my taking it, let your pleasure be done.

Mat 26:43

Mat 26:43And he came again and saw them sleeping, for their eyes were tired.

Mat 26:44

Mat 26:44And he went away from them again, and a third time said the same prayer.

Mat 26:45

Mat 26:45Then he comes to the disciples; and says to them, Go on sleeping now, and take your rest: for the hour is come, and the Son of man is given into the hands of evil men.

Mat 26:46

Mat 26:46Up, let us be going: see, he who gives me up is near.

Jesus' Betrayal and Arrest

(Mar 14:43–52; Luk 22:47–53; Jhn 18:1–11 )

Mat 26:47

Mat 26:47And while he was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a band armed with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and those in authority over the people.

Mat 26:48

Mat 26:48Now the false one had given them a sign saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he: take him.

Mat 26:49

Mat 26:49And straight away he came to Jesus and said, Master! and gave him a kiss.

Mat 26:50

Mat 26:50And Jesus said to him, Friend, do that for which you have come. Then they came and put hands on Jesus, and took him.

Mat 26:51

Mat 26:51And one of those who were with Jesus put out his hand, and took out his sword and gave the servant of the high priest a blow, cutting off his ear.

Mat 26:52

Mat 26:52Then says Jesus to him, Put up your sword again into its place: for all those who take the sword will come to death by the sword.

Mat 26:53

Mat 26:53Does it not seem possible to you that if I make request to my Father he will even now send me an army of angels?

Mat 26:54

Mat 26:54But how then would the Writings come true, which say that so it has to be?

Mat 26:55

Mat 26:55In that hour Jesus said to the people, Have you come out as against a thief with swords and sticks to take me? I was teaching every day in the Temple and you took me not.

Mat 26:56

Mat 26:56But all this has taken place so that the writings of the prophets might come true. Then all his disciples went from him in flight.

Jesus before Caiaphas

(Mar 14:53–65; Luk 22:66–71; Jhn 18:12–14, 19–24 )

Mat 26:57

Mat 26:57And those who had made Jesus prisoner took him away to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and those in authority over the people had come together.

Mat 26:58

Mat 26:58But Peter went after him at a distance, to the house of the high priest, and went in and took his seat with the servants, to see the end.

Mat 26:59

Mat 26:59Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus, so that they might put him to death;

Mat 26:60

Mat 26:60And they were not able to get it, though a number of false witnesses came.

Mat 26:61

Mat 26:61But later there came two who said, This man said, I am able to give the Temple of God to destruction, and to put it up again in three days.

Mat 26:62

Mat 26:62And the high priest got up and said to him, Have you no answer? what is it which these say against you?

Mat 26:63

Mat 26:63But Jesus said not a word. And the high priest said to him, I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will say to us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.

Mat 26:64

Mat 26:64Jesus says to him, You say so: but I say to you, From now you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Mat 26:65

Mat 26:65Then the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, He has said evil against God: what more need have we of witnesses? for now his words against God have come to your ears:

Mat 26:66

Mat 26:66What is your opinion? They made answer and said, It is right for him to be put to death.

Mat 26:67

Mat 26:67Then they put shame on him, and were cruel to him: and some gave him blows, saying,

Mat 26:68

Mat 26:68Be a prophet, O Christ, and say who gave you a blow!

Peter's Denials

(Mar 14:66–72; Luk 22:54–62; Jhn 18:15–18, 25–27 )

Mat 26:69

Mat 26:69Now Peter was seated in the open square outside the house: and a servant-girl came to him, saying, You were with Jesus the Galilaean.

Mat 26:70

Mat 26:70But he said before them all that it was false, saying, I have no knowledge of what you say.

Mat 26:71

Mat 26:71And when he had gone out into the doorway, another saw him and says to those who were there, This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.

Mat 26:72

Mat 26:72And again he said with an oath, I have no knowledge of the man.

Mat 26:73

Mat 26:73And after a little time those who were near came and said to Peter, Truly you are one of them; because your talk is witness against you.

Mat 26:74

Mat 26:74Then with curses and oaths he said, I have no knowledge of the man. And straight away there came the cry of a cock.

Mat 26:75

Mat 26:75And the word of Jesus came back to Peter, when he said, Before the hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me. And he went out, weeping bitterly.

The Bible in Basic English was translated by Professor Samuel Henry Hooke (1874-1968)
This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.