The treason of Judas. The last supper. The first part of the history of
the passion.
22:1. Now the feast of unleavened bread, which is called the pasch, was
at hand.
22:2. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put
Jesus to death: but they feared the people.
22:3. And Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed Iscariot, one of
the twelve.
22:4. And he went and discoursed with the chief priests and the
magistrates, how he might betray him to them.
22:5. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money.
22:6. And he promised. And he sought opportunity to betray him in the
absence of the multitude.
22:7. And the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was
necessary that the pasch should be killed.
22:8. And he sent Peter and John, saying: Go, and prepare for us the
pasch, that we may eat.
22:9. But they said: Where wilt thou that we prepare?
22:10. And he said to them: Behold, as you go into the city, there
shall meet you a man carrying a pitcher of water: follow him into the
house where he entereth in.
22:11. And you shall say to the goodman of the house: The master saith
to thee: Where is the guest chamber, where I may eat the pasch with my
disciples?
22:12. And he will shew you a large dining room, furnished. And there
prepare.
22:13. And they going, found as he had said to them and made ready the
pasch.
22:14. And when the hour was come, he sat down: and the twelve apostles
with him.
22:15. And he said to them: With desire I have desired to eat this
pasch with you, before I suffer.
22:16. For I say to you that from this time I will not eat it, till it
be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
22:17. And having taken the chalice, he gave thanks and said: Take and
divide it among you.
22:18. For I say to you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine,
till the kingdom of God come.
22:19. And taking bread, he gave thanks and brake and gave to them,
saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a
commemoration of me.
Do this for a commemoration of me. . .This sacrifice and sacrament is to
be continued in the church, to the end of the world, to shew forth the
death of Christ, until he cometh. But this commemoration, or
remembrance, is by no means inconsistent with the real presence of his
body and blood, under these sacramental veils, which represent his
death; on the contrary, it is the manner that he himself hath
commanded, of commemorating and celebrating his death, by offering in
sacrifice, and receiving in the sacrament, that body and blood by which
we were redeemed.
22:20. In like manner, the chalice also, after he had supped, saying:
This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed
for you.
22:21. But yet behold: the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on
the table.
22:22. And the Son of man indeed goeth, according to that which is
determined: but yet, woe to that man by whom he shall be betrayed.
22:23. And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was
that should do this thing.
22:24. And there was also a strife amongst them, which of them should
seem to be the greater.
22:25. And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over
them; and they that have power over them are called beneficent.
22:26. But you not so: but he that is the greater among you, let him
become as the younger: and he that is the leader, as he that serveth.
22:27. For which is greater, he that sitteth at table or he that
serveth? Is not he that sitteth at table? But I am in the midst of you,
as he that serveth.
22:28. And you are they who have continued with me in my temptations:
22:29. And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed to me, a
kingdom;
22:30. That you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom: and may
sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
22:31. And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to
have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
22:32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou,
being once converted, confirm thy brethren.
22:33. Who said to him: Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into
prison and to death.
22:34. And he said: I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this
day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest me. And he said to
them:
22:35. When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want
anything?
22:36. But they said: Nothing. Then said he unto them: But now he that
hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath
not, let him sell his coat and buy a sword.
22:37. For I say to you that this that is written must yet be fulfilled
in me. And with the wicked was he reckoned. For the things concerning
me have an end.
22:38. But they said: Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said to
them: It is enough.
22:39. And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the Mount of
Olives. And his disciples also followed him.
22:40. And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest
ye enter into temptation.
22:41. And he was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast. And kneeling
down, he prayed.
22:42. Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but
yet not my will, but thine be done.
22:43. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening
him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer.
22:44. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the
ground.
22:45. And when he rose up from prayer and was come to the disciples,
he found them sleeping for sorrow.
22:46. And he said to them: Why sleep you? Arise: pray: lest you
enter into temptation.
22:47. As he was yet speaking, behold a multitude; and he that was
called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to
Jesus, for to kiss him.
22:48. And Jesus said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man
with a kiss?
22:49. And they that were about him, seeing what would follow, said to
him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?
22:50. And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut
off his right ear.
22:51. But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. And when he had
touched his ear, he healed him.
22:52. And Jesus said to the chief priests and magistrates of the
temple and the ancients, that were come unto him: Are ye come out, as
it were against a thief, with swords and clubs?
22:53. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch
forth your hands against me: but this is your hour and the power of
darkness.
22:54. And apprehending him, they led him to the high priest's house.
But Peter followed afar off.
22:55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and
were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them.
22:56. Whom when a certain servant maid had seen sitting at the light
and had earnestly beheld him, she said: This man also was with him.
22:57. But he denied him, saying: Woman, I know him not.
22:58. And after a little while, another seeing him, said: Thou also
art one of them. But Peter said: O man, I am not.
Another, etc. . .Observe here, in order to reconcile the four
Evangelists, that divers persons concurred in charging Peter with being
Christ's disciple; till at length they brought him to deny him thrice.
1. The porteress that let him in, and afterwards seeing him at the
fire, first put the question to him; and then positively affirmed that
he was with Christ. 2. Another maid accused him to the standers by; and
gave occasion to the man here mentioned to renew the charge against
him, which caused the second denial. 3. Others of the company took
notice of his being a Galilean; and were seconded by the kinsman of
Malchus, who affirmed he had seen him in the garden. And this drew on
the third denial.
22:59. And after the space, as it were of one hour, another certain man
affirmed, saying: Of a truth, this man was also with him: for he is
also a Galilean.
22:60. And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
immediately, as he was yet speaking, the cock crew.
22:61. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the
word of the Lord, as he had said: Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny
thrice.
22:62. And Peter going out, wept bitterly.
22:63. And the men that held him mocked him and struck him.
22:64. And they blindfolded him and smote his face. And they asked him
saying: Prophesy: Who is it that struck thee?
22:65. And blaspheming, many other things they said against him.
22:66. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people and the
chief priests and scribes came together. And they brought him into
their council saying: If thou be the Christ, tell us.
22:67. And he saith to them: If I shall tell you, you will not believe
me.
22:68. And if I shall also ask you, you will not answer me, nor let me
go.
22:69. But hereafter the Son of man shall be sitting on the right hand
of the power of God.
22:70. Then said they all: Art thou then the Son of God? Who said: You
say that I am.
22:71. And they said: What need we any further testimony? For we
ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.