Study Desk

^(C1)And while He was still speaking, behold, ^(C2)Judas, one of the twelve, came ^(F1)accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him."

And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, ^(C1)Rabbi!" and kissed Him.

But Jesus said to him, "^(C1)Friend, do what you have come for." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.

And behold, ^(C1)one of those who were with Jesus ^(F1)reached and drew his ^(C2)sword, and struck the ^(C1)slave of the high priest and ^(F2)cut off his ear.

Then Jesus ^(*)said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for ^(C1)all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword.

"Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve ^(F1)(C1)legions of ^(C2)angels?

"How then would ^(C1)the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? ^(C1)Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me.

"But all this has taken place so that ^(C1)the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

^(C1)Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to ^(C2)Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.

But ^(C1)Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the ^(C2)courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the ^(F1)(C3)officers to see the outcome.

Now the chief priests and the entire ^(F1)(C1)Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on ^(C1)two came forward,

and said, "This man stated, '^(C1)I am able to destroy the ^(F1)temple of God and to rebuild it ^(F2)in three days.'"

The high priest stood up and said to Him, "Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?"

But ^(C1)Jesus kept silent. ^(C2)And the high priest said to Him, "I ^(C3)place You under oath by ^(C4)the living God, to tell us whether You are the ^(F1)Christ, ^(C5)the Son of God."

Jesus ^(*)said to him, "^(C1)You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see ^(C2)the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and ^(C3)coming on the clouds of heaven."

Then the high priest ^(C1)tore his ^(F1)robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy;

what do you think?" They answered, "^(C1)He deserves death!"

^(C1)Then they ^(C2)spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others ^(F1)slapped Him,

and said, "^(C1)Prophesy to us, You ^(F1)Christ; who is the one who hit You?"

^(C1)Now Peter was sitting outside in the ^(C2)courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean."

But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."

When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and ^(*)said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."

And again he denied it, with an oath: "I do not know the man."

A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You really are one of them as well, ^(C1)since even the way you talk ^(F1)gives you away."

Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the Man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had ^(F1)made: "^(C1)Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.