43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.”

45When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. 46They laid their hands on him, and seized him.

47But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48Jesus answered them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? 49I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”

50They all left him, and fled.

51A certain young man followed him, having a linen cloth thrown around himself over his naked body. The young men grabbed him, 52but he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

53They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with him.

54Peter had followed him from a distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. 56For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other. 57Some stood up, and gave false testimony against him, saying, 58“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” 59Even so, their testimony did not agree.

60The high priest stood up in the middle, and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against you?”

61But he stayed quiet, and answered nothing.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

62Jesus said, “I am. You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of the sky.”

63The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? 64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”

They all condemned him to be worthy of death. 65Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

66As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came, 67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!”

68But he denied it, saying, “I neither know, nor understand what you are saying.” He went out on the porch, and the rooster crowed.

69The maid saw him, and began again to tell those who stood by, “This is one of them.”

70But he again denied it.

After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, “You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

71But he began to curse, and to swear, “I don’t know this man of whom you speak!”

72The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.

1Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

Upcoming Proclamations

God willing, the Church will proclaim this Gospel on February 11, 2026, and then again on March 3, 2027.