Contemporary English Version Anglicised

Matthew 26:44-61 Contemporary English Version Anglicised (CEVUK00)

44. He left them and prayed the same prayer once more.

45. Finally, Jesus returned to his disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.

46. Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”

47. Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a large mob armed with swords and clubs was with him. They had been sent by the chief priests and the nation's leaders.

48. Judas had told them beforehand, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.”

49. Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Hello, teacher.” Then Judas kissed him.

50. Jesus replied, “My friend, why are you here?”The men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

51. One of Jesus' followers pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

52. But Jesus told him, “Put your sword away. Anyone who lives by fighting will die by fighting.

53. Don't you know that I could ask my Father, and straight away he would send me more than twelve armies of angels?

54. But then, how could the words of the Scriptures come true, which say that this must happen?”

55. Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? Day after day I sat and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me.

56. But all this happened, so that what the prophets wrote would come true.”All Jesus' disciples left him and ran away.

57. After Jesus had been arrested, he was led off to the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The nation's leaders and the teachers of the Law of Moses were meeting there.

58. But Peter followed along at a distance and came to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen.

59. The chief priests and the whole council wanted to put Jesus to death. So they tried to find some people who would tell lies about him in court.

60. But they could not find any, even though many did come and tell lies. At last, two men came forward

61. and said, “This man claimed that he would tear down God's temple and build it again in three days.”