1. And when Jesus had said these things, and they had sung a hymn, He went forth with His disciples, according to the custom, over the brook Cedron to the Mount of Olives, where there was a garden. Then Jesus saith to them: You will all be scandalized in Me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
2. But Peter answering said to Him: Although all men shall be scandalized in Thee, I will never be scandalized. And Jesus saith to him: Amen I say to thee, today, even this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice. But Peter spoke the more vehemently and saith to Him: Although I should die together with Thee, I will not deny Thee. And in like manner also said they all.
3. Then Jesus came with them to a country place, a farm, which is called Gethsemani. And He said to His disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray. Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And taking with Him Peter, and James and John the two sons of Zebedee, He began to grow sorrowful and to be sad, to fear and to be heavy. Then He saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death, stay you here and watch with Me.
4. And when He had gone forward a little, and was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast, kneeling down He fell flat on the ground upon His face: and He prayed, saying: Father, if Thou wilt, remove this chalice from Me, nevertheless not My will but Thine be done. O My Father, if it is possible, let this chalice pass from Me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt. Abba, Father, all things are possible to Thee. Take away this chalice from Me. But not what I will, but what Thou wilt.
5. And He cometh to His disciples and findeth them asleep. And He saith to Peter: Simon, sleepest thou? What! Couldst thou, could you, not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye: and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
6. And going away again He went the second time, and prayed, saying the self-same words: O My Father, if this chalice cannot pass except I drink it, Thy will be done. And He cometh again and findeth them asleep, for their eyes were heavy with sorrow. And He said to them: Why sleep you? Arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. And they knew not what to answer Him.
7. And leaving them He went away again, and He prayed the third time, saying the same words. And there appeared to Him an Angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And being in an agony He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood trickling down upon the ground. Then He cometh the third time to His disciples and saith to them: Sleep ye on now and take your rest. It is enough; the hour is come. Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up: let us go. Behold he that will betray Me is at hand.
8. Now Judas also, who betrayed Him, one of the twelve, knew the place, because Jesus had often resorted thither together with His disciples. Judas, therefore, having received a band of men and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, the scribes and the ancients of the people, cometh thither while He was yet speaking, and with him a great multitude, with lanterns and torches and weapons, swords and clubs and staves.
9. Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that were to come upon Him, went forward and saith to them: Whom seek ye? They answered Him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am He. And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon, then, as He had said to them, I am He, they went, backward and fell to the ground. Again, therefore, He asked them: Whom seek ye? And they said: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered: I have told you that I am He. If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way; that the word might be fulfilled which He said: Of them whom Thou hast given Me, I have not lost anyone.
10. And he that betrayed Him had given them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He; lay hold on Him, hold Him fast, and lead Him away cautiously. And when he was come, immediately going up to Jesus, he said: Hail, Rabbi, and he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art thou come? Judas, dost thou betray the Son of Man with a kiss? Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him.
11. And they that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? Then one of them that was with Jesus, Simon Peter, stretching forth his hand, drew his sword, and striking the servant of the high priest, cut off his ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. But Jesus, answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. Then He said to Peter: Put up again thy sword into the scabbard. For all that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How, then, shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? The chalice which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? And when He had touched his ear, He healed him.
12. In that same hour Jesus said to the chief priests and magistrates of the Temple, and the ancients and the multitude that were come to Him: Are you come out, as it were against a robber, with swords and clubs and staves to apprehend Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the Temple, and you did not stretch forth your hand against Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then His disciples, leaving Him, all fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body, and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked.
13. Then the band, and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, took Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was the high priest of that year. Now Caiaphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
14. The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world, I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple whither all the Jews resort, and in private I have spoken nothing. Why askest thou Me? Ask them who have heard what I have spoken to them; behold, they know what things I have said. And when He had said these things, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest Thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him: If I have spoken ill, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou Me? And Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas, the high priest.
15. But they, holding Jesus, led Him to Caiaphas, the high priest, and all the priests and the scribes and the ancients were assembled together. And the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness for evidence against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. For though many false witnesses had come in, and bore false witness against Him, their evidence did not agree. And last of all there came in two false witnesses. They, rising up, bore false witness against Him, saying: We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple of God made with hands, and within three days I will build another not made with hands. And their witness did not agree.
16. And the high priest, rising up in the midst, asked Jesus, saying: Answerest Thou nothing to the things that are laid to Thy charge by these men? But Jesus held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him and said to Him: I adjure Thee, by the living God, that Thou tell us if Thou be the Christ, the Son of the blessed God. And Jesus said to him: Thou hast said it, I am. Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of Heaven. Then the high priest rent his garments, saying: He hath blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy, what think you? But they all answering, condemned Him and said: He is guilty of death.
17. But Simon Peter followed Jesus afar off, and so did another disciple, to the high priest's palace. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went put and spoke to the portress, and brought in Peter. And when they had kindled a fire of coals in the midst of the hall, because it was cold, and were sitting about it, Peter sat with the servants to see the end, and warmed himself. Now when Peter was in the court below, there cometh one of the maidservants of the high priest, the maid that was portress; and when she had seen Peter sitting in the light and warming himself, and had looked on him, she said: Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth, the Galilaean. This man also was with Him. Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? But he denied Him before them all, saying: Woman, I am not. I know Him not. I neither know nor understand what thou sayest.
18. And he went forth before the court, out of the gate, and the cock crew. And again another maidservant saw him, and she began to say to the standers-by: This is one of them. This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth. Thou also art one of them. And again he denied with an oath: O man, I am not. I do not know the man. And after a little while, about the space of one hour after, they that stood by came again and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them, for even thy speech doth discover thee. Thou also art a Galilaean. And another man, one of the servants of the high priest, a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off, saith to him: Did I not see thee in the Garden with Him? Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man, saying: Man, I know not what thou sayest; I know not this man of whom you speak.
19. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crew again. And the Lord, turning, looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word that the Lord Jesus had said to him: Before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and began to weep, and wept bitterly.
20. And the men that held Him began to spit in His face, and mocked Him, and buffeted Him, and they blindfolded Him, and covered His face, and smote Him in the face, and the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands. And they asked Him, saying: Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is he that struck Thee? And many other things, blaspheming, they said against Him.
21. And as soon as it was day, straightway all the chief priests and ancients of the people and scribes came together and held a council against Jesus to put Him to death. And they brought Him into their council, saying: If Thou be the Christ, tell us. And He said to them: If I shall tell you, you will not believe Me, and if I shall also ask you, you will not answer Me nor let Me go. But hereafter the Son of Man shall be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. Then said they all: Art Thou then the Son of God? And He said: You say that I am. Then they said: What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth. And the whole multitude of them rose up, and led Him away bound, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the Governor.
22. Then Judas, who betrayed Him, seeing that He was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the ancients, saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it. And casting down the pieces of silver in the Temple, he departed and went and hanged himself with a halter. But the chief priests, having taken the pieces of silver, said: It is unlawful for us to put them into the corbona, because it is the price of blood. And having consulted together, they bought with them the potter's field, to be a burying-place for strangers. Wherefore that field was called Haceldama, that is, The field of blood, even to this day. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the Prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they prized of the children of Israel. And they gave them unto the potter's field, as the Lord appointed to me.
23. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Governor's hall. And it was morning, and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch. Pilate therefore went out to meet them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man? They answered and said to him: If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.
24. Pilate then said to them: Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death; that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, signifying what death He should die. And they began to accuse Him, saying: We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ the King. And Jesus stood before Pilate the Governor. And Pilate asked Him, saying: Art Thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus answered him and said: Thou sayest it. And the chief priests and ancients accused Him in many things. And when He was accused He answered nothing.
25. Then Pilate again asked Him: Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee. Dost not Thou hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee? But Jesus still answered him not to any word, so that the Governor wondered exceedingly. Pilate therefore went into the hall again, and called Jesus, and said to Him: Art Thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me? Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me. What hast Thou done? Jesus answered: My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews, but now My Kingdom is not from hence. Pilate therefore said to Him: Art Thou a King then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a King. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should give testimony to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith to Him: What is truth? And when he had said this he went forth again to the Jews, and saith to them: I find no cause in Him.
26. But they were more earnest, saying: He stirreth up the people, teaching through out all Judaea, beginning from Galilee to this place. And Pilate hearing of Galilee, asked if the man were a Galilaean. And when he understood that He belonged to Herod s jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem in those days.
27. And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad, for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to see some miracle wrought by Him. And he questioned Him with many words. But He answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod with his soldiers despised Him, and mocked Him, put ting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends together that same day: for before they were enemies one to another.
28. Then Pilate, calling together the chief priests and the magistrates and the people, said to them: You have brought this man to me as one that perverteth the people; and, behold, I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this man touching those things wherein you accuse Him. No, nor yet Herod, for I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him. I will chastise Him, therefore, and release Him.
29. Now upon the solemn festival-day the Governor was accustomed to release to the people one of the prisoners, whomsoever they demanded. And he had then a notorious prisoner that was called Barabbas, a robber who was put in prison with seditious men, who in the sedition had committed murder. And when the multitude was come up, they began to desire what he always had done to them. And Pilate answered them and said: You have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ? For he knew that through envy the chief priests had delivered Him up.
30. But the chief priests and ancients persuaded the people that they should ask Barabbas and make Jesus away. And the Governor answering said to them: Which will you have of the two to be released unto you? But the whole multitude cried out at once, saying: Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. And Pilate spoke to them again, desiring to release Jesus: What will you then that I do with Jesus, that is called Christ, the King of the Jews? But they all again cried out: Crucify Him, crucify Him, let Him be crucified! And Pilate said to them the third time: Why, what evil hath He done? I find no cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. But they were the more instant with loud voices: Crucify Him, let Him be crucified! And their voices prevailed.
31. And Pilate, seeing that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was made, having taken water, washed his hands be fore the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And all the people answering said: His blood be upon us and upon our children. Then Pilate, being willing to satisfy the people, gave sentence that their petition should be granted. And he released unto them Barabbas, who for murder and sedition had been cast into prison, whom they had desired, but delivered up to them Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified according to their will.
32. Then the soldiers of the Governor, taking Jesus into the court of the palace, gathered together unto Him the whole band, and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they came to Him, and bowing the knee before Him, they mocked Him, and began to salute Him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! And they gave Him blows, and they did spit upon Him, and they took the reed and struck His head, and bowing their knees, they worshipped Him.
33. Pilate therefore went forth again and saith to them: Behold I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him. (So Jesus came forth, bearing the crown of thorns, and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the man! When the chief priests, therefore, and the officers had seen Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate saith to them: Take Him you, and crucify Him, for I find no cause in Him. The Jews answered him: We have a law, and according to that law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.
34. When Pilate therefore had heard this saying he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith to Him: Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee? Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore he that hath delivered Me to thee hath the greater sin.
35. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man thou art not Caesar's friend, for whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews: Behold your King! But they cried out: Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him! Pilate saith to them: Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar. Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified.
36. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him. And as they led Him away, they found a man of Cyrene, named Simon, who passed by coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and of Rufus; him they forced to take up His cross to carry after Jesus.
37. And there followed Him a great multitude of people and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For, behold, the day shall come wherein they will say: Blessed are the barren and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not given suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall upon us, and to the hills: Cover us. For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?
38. And bearing His own cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha. And they gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh. And when He had tasted He would not drink. And there were also two other, malefactors, led with Him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place they crucified Him there; and the robbers, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. And the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith: And with the wicked He was reputed.
39. And Pilate wrote a title also, and he put it upon the cross over His head. And the writing was: This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. This title, therefore, many of the Jews read, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin. Then the chief priests said to Pilate: Write not, the King of the Jews, but that He said: I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered: What I have written I have written.
40. And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. Then the soldiers, after they had crucified Him, took his garments (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part, casting lots upon them what every man should take), and also His coat Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then to one another: Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it whose it shall be; that the word might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet: They have parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things. And it was the third hour and they crucified Him.
41. And they sat down and watched Him. And the people stood beholding. And they that passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying: Vah, Thou that destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days buildest it up again, save Thy own self; if Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner the chief priests with the scribes and ancients, mocking, derided Him, saying: He saved others, Himself He cannot save. If He be Christ the King of Israel, if He be Christ the Son of God, let Him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. He trusted in God; let Him now deliver Him, if He will have Him, for He said: I am the Son of God.
42. And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying: If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself. And the self-same thing the thieves that were crucified with Him reproached Him with, and reviled Him. And one of these robbers who were hanging, blasphemed Him, saying: If thou be Christ, save Thyself and us. But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art under the same condemnation? And we, indeed, justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him: Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise.
43. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His Mother, and His Mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus therefore saw His Mother, and the disciple standing whom He loved, He saith to His Mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that He saith to the disciple: Behold thy Mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own.
44. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole earth until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? which is, being interpreted: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? And some of them that stood there and heard, said: Behold, this man calleth for Elias.
45. Afterwards Jesus, knowing that all things were accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And immediately one of them running took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed about hyssop, and offered it to His mouth, and gave Him to drink. And others said: Stay, let us see whether Elias will come to take Him down and deliver Him. When Jesus therefore had taken the vinegar, He said: It is consummated.
46. And Jesus again crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit. And saying this, bowing down His head, He gave up the ghost. And behold the sun was darkened, and the veil of the Temple was rent in two in the midst from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent. And the graves opened, and many bodies of the Saints that had slept arose, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, came into the holy city and appeared to many.
47. Now the centurion, who stood over against Him, and they that were with him watching Jesus, seeing that crying out in this manner He had given up the ghost; having seen the earthquake and the things that were done, were greatly afraid, and glorified God, saying: Indeed this was a just man. Indeed this man was the Son of God.
48. And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. And there were also women, among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less, and of Joseph, and Salome, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, who also when He was in Galilee followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. And all His acquaintance and the women stood afar off beholding these things.
49. Then the Jews (because it was the Parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath day (for that was a great Sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers therefore came, and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but one of the soldiers opened His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. And he that saw gave testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true, that you also may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of Him. And again another Scripture saith: They shall look on Him whom they pierced.
50. And when evening was come (because it was the Parasceve, that is, the day before the Sabbath), a certain rich man of Arimathea, a city of Judaea, by name Joseph, who was a senator, a noble councillor, a good and just man, who also himself waited for the Kingdom of God, and was a disciple of Jesus, but in private for fear of the Jews; this man had not consented to their counsel and doings; went in boldly to Pilate and besought that he might take away the body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he commanded that the body of Jesus should be delivered to Joseph. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.
51. And Nicodemus also came, who at first came to Jesus by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound. They took therefore the body of Jesus, and buying fine linen, wrapped it up in the linen cloths with the spices, as it is the custom with the Jews to bury. And there was in the place where He was crucified a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, his own (Joseph's) monument, which he had hewed out in a rock, wherein never yet any man had been laid. There, therefore, by reason of the Parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus, because the sepulchre was nigh at hand. "And he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument, and went his way. And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, and the women that were come with Him from Galilee, following after, sitting over against the sepulchre, beheld where His body was laid. And returning they prepared spices and ointments, and on the Sabbath day they rested, according to the commandment.
52. And the next day which followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, saying: Sir, we have remembered that that seducer said, while He was yet alive: After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore, the sepulchre to be guarded until the third day, lest His disciples come, and steal Him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead, so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said to them: You have a guard; go, guard it as you know. And they, departing, made the sepulchre sure with guards, sealing the stone.
- from The Crown of Sorrow, by Archbishop Alban Goodier