The Passion of Our Lord Christ According to Matthew (26:14–27:66)

(All the text in italics is to be read by the entire congregation.)

Narrator — The Passion of our Lord Jesus Narrator — So the disciples did as Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew. had directed them, and they prepared Narrator — One of the twelve, who was the Passover meal. called , went to the chief When it was evening, he took his priests and said, place with the twelve; and while they Judas — “What will you give me if I were eating, he said, betray Jesus to you?” Jesus — “Truly I tell you, one of you will Narrator — They paid him thirty pieces of betray me.” . And from that moment he began Narrator — And they became greatly to look for an opportunity to betray distressed and began to say to him one him. after another, On the first day of Unleavened Disciples — “Surely not I, Lord?” Bread the disciples came to Jesus, Narrator — He answered, saying, Jesus — “The one who has dipped his Disciples — “Where do you want us to make hand into the bowl with me will betray the preparations for you to eat the me. The Son of Man goes as it is Passover?” written of him, but woe to that one by Narrator — He said, whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It Jesus — “Go into the city to a certain man, would have been better for that one not and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My to have been born.” time is near; I will keep the Passover at Narrator — Judas, who betrayed him, your house with my disciples.’” said, Judas — “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus — “Truly I tell you, this very night, Narrator — He replied, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Jesus — “You have said so.” Narrator — Peter said to him, Narrator — While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing Peter — “Even though I must die with it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, you, I will not deny you.” and said, Narrator — And so said all the disciples. Jesus — “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then Jesus went with them to a Narrator — Then he took a cup, and after place called ; and he said giving thanks he gave it to them, to his disciples, saying, Jesus — “Sit here while I go over there Jesus — “Drink from it, all of you; for this and pray.” is my blood of the covenant, which is Narrator — He took with him Peter and poured out for many for the the two sons of Zebedee, and began to forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will be grieved and agitated. Then he said never again drink of this fruit of the to them, vine until that day when I drink it new Jesus — “I am deeply grieved, even to with you in my Father’s kingdom.” death; remain here, and stay awake Narrator — When they had sung the with me.” hymn, they went out to the Mount of Narrator — And going a little farther, he Olives. Then Jesus said to them, threw himself on the ground and Jesus — “You will all become deserters prayed, because of me this night; for it is Jesus — “My Father, if it is possible, let written, this cup pass from me; yet not what I ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the want but what you want.” sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ Narrator — Then he came to the disciples But after I am raised up, I will go and found them sleeping; and he said ahead of you to Galilee.” to Peter, Narrator — Peter said to him, Jesus — “So, could you not stay awake Peter — “Though all become deserters with me one hour? Stay awake and because of you, I will never desert pray that you may not come into the you.” time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Narrator — Jesus said to him, Narrator — Again he went away for the struck the slave of the high priest, second time and prayed, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to Jesus — “My Father, if this cannot pass him, unless I drink it, your will be done.” Jesus — “Put your sword back into its Narrator — Again he came and found place; for all who take the sword will them sleeping, for their eyes were perish by the sword. Do you think that heavy. So leaving them again, he went I cannot appeal to my Father, and he away and prayed for the third time, will at once send me more than twelve saying the same words. Then he came legions of angels? But how then would to the disciples and said to them, the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” Jesus — “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and Narrator — At that hour Jesus said to the the Son of Man is betrayed into the crowds, hands of sinners. Get up, let us be Jesus — “Have you come out with swords going. See, my betrayer is at hand.” and clubs to arrest me as though I were Narrator — While he was still speaking, a bandit? Day after day I sat in the Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with temple teaching, and you did not arrest him was a large crowd with swords me. But all this has taken place, so that and clubs, from the chief priests and the scriptures of the prophets may be the elders of the people. Now the fulfilled.” betrayer had given them a sign, saying, Narrator — Then all the disciples Judas — “The one I will kiss is the man; deserted him and fled. arrest him.” Those who had arrested Jesus took Narrator — At once he came up to Jesus him to Caiaphas the high priest, in and said, whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following Judas — “Greetings, Rabbi!” him at a distance, as far as the Narrator — and kissed him. Jesus said to courtyard of the high priest; and going him, inside, he sat with the guards in order Jesus — “Friend, do what you are here to to see how this would end. Now the do.” chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony Narrator — Then they came and laid against Jesus so that they might put hands on Jesus and arrested him. him to death, but they found none, Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put though many false witnesses came his hand on his sword, drew it, and forward. At last two came forward and Narrator — Now Peter was sitting outside said, in the courtyard. A servant‐girl came to Accusers — “This fellow said, ‘I am able to him and said, destroy the temple of God and to build Servant Girl — “You also were with Jesus it in three days.’” the Galilean.” Narrator — The high priest stood up and Narrator — But he denied it before all of said, them, saying, High Priest — “Have you no answer? Peter — “I do not know what you are What is it that they testify against talking about.” you?” Narrator — When he went out to the Narrator — But Jesus was silent. Then the porch, another servant‐girl saw him, high priest said to him, and she said to the bystanders, High Priest — “I put you under oath Servant Girl — This man was with Jesus before the living God, tell us if you are of Nazareth.” the Messiah, the Son of God.” Narrator — Again he denied it with an Narrator — Jesus said to him, oath, Jesus — “You have said so. But I tell you, Peter — “I do not know the man.” From now on you will see the Son of Narrator — After a little while the Man seated at the right hand of Power bystanders came up and said to Peter, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Bystander — Certainly you are also one of Narrator — Then the high priest tore his them, for your accent betrays you.” clothes and said, Narrator — Then he began to curse, and High Priest — “He has blasphemed! Why he swore an oath, do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is Peter — “I do not know the man!” your verdict?” Narrator — At that moment the cock Narrator — They answered, crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said Chief Priests — “He deserves death.” Jesus — “Before the cock crows, you will Narrator — Then they spat in his face and deny me three times.” struck him; and some slapped him, saying, Narrator — And he went out and wept bitterly. Chief Priests — “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?” When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in Now Jesus stood before the order to bring about his death. They governor; and the governor asked him, bound him, led him away, and handed Pilate — “Are you the King of the Jews?” him over to Pilate the governor. Narrator — Jesus said, When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and Jesus — “You say so.” brought back the thirty pieces of silver Narrator — But when he was accused by to the chief priests and the elders. He the chief priests and elders, he did not said, answer. Then Pilate said to him, Judas — “I have sinned by betraying Pilate — “Do you not hear how many innocent blood.” accusations they make against you?” Narrator — But they said, Narrator — But he gave him no answer, Chief Priests — “What is that to us? See to not even to a single charge, so that the it yourself.” governor was greatly amazed. Narrator — Throwing down the pieces of Now at the festival the governor silver in the temple, he departed; and was accustomed to release a prisoner he went and hanged himself. But the for the crowd, anyone whom they chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, wanted. At that time they had a said, notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Chief Priests — “It is not lawful to put them Pilate said to them, into the treasury, since they are blood money.” Pilate — “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus Narrator — After conferring together, who is called the Messiah?” they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this Narrator — For he realized that it was out reason that field has been called the of jealousy that they had handed him Field of Blood to this day. Then was over. While he was sitting on the fulfilled what had been spoken judgment seat, his wife sent word to through the prophet , “And him, they took the thirty pieces of silver, the Pilate’s Wife — “Have nothing to do with price of the one on whom a price had that innocent man, for today I have been set, on whom some of the people suffered a great deal because of a of Israel had set a price, and they gave dream about him.” them for the potter’s field, as the Lord Narrator — Now the chief priests and the commanded me.” elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The whole cohort around him. They governor again said to them, stripped him and put a scarlet robe on Pilate — “Which of the two do you want him, and after twisting some thorns me to release for you?” into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and Narrator — And they said, knelt before him and mocked him, Crowd — “Barabbas.” saying, Narrator — Pilate said to them, Soldiers — “Hail, King of the Jews!” Pilate — “Then what should I do with Narrator — They spat on him, and took Jesus who is called the Messiah?” the reed and struck him on the head. Narrator — All of them said, After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on Crowd — “Let him be crucified!” him. Then they led him away to crucify Narrator — Then he asked, him. Pilate — “Why, what evil has he done?” (At the mention of Golgotha, the Narrator — But they shouted all the more, congregation should stand and remain standing for the remainder of the reading.) Crowd — “Let him be crucified!” Narrator — As they went out, they came Narrator — So when Pilate saw that he upon a man from Cyrene named could do nothing, but rather that a riot Simon; they compelled this man to was beginning, he took some water carry his cross. And when they came to and washed his hands before the a place called Golgotha (which means crowd, saying, Place of a Skull), they offered him wine Pilate — “I am innocent of this man’s to drink, mixed with gall; but when he blood; see to it yourselves.” tasted it, he would not drink it. And Narrator — Then the people as a whole when they had crucified him, they answered, divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down Crowd — “His blood be on us and on our there and kept watch over him. Over children!” his head they put the charge against Narrator — So he released Barabbas for him, which read, “This is Jesus, the them; and after flogging Jesus, he King of the Jews.” handed him over to be crucified. Then two bandits were crucified Then the soldiers of the governor with him, one on his right and one on took Jesus into the governor’s his left. Those who passed by derided headquarters, and they gathered the him, shaking their heads and saying, Bystanders “You who would destroy the Narrator — Then Jesus cried again with a temple and build it in three days, save loud voice and breathed his last. At yourself! If you are the Son of God, come that moment the curtain of the temple down from the cross.” was torn in two, from top to bottom. Narrator — In the same way the chief The earth shook, and the rocks were priests also, along with the scribes and split. The tombs also were opened, and elders, were mocking him, saying, many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his Chief Priests — “He saved others; he cannot resurrection they came out of the save himself. He is the King of Israel; let tombs and entered the holy city and him come down from the cross now, and we appeared to many. Now when the will believe in him. He trusts in God; let centurion and those with him, who God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” earthquake and what took place, they Narrator — The bandits who were were terrified and said, crucified with him also taunted him in Centurion — “Truly this man was God’s the same way. Son! From noon on, darkness came over Narrator — Many women were also the whole land until three in the there, looking on from a distance; they afternoon. And about three o’clock had followed Jesus from Galilee and Jesus cried with a loud voice, had provided for him. Among them Jesus — “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the Narrator — that is, mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Jesus — “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Narrator — When some of the bystanders Joseph, who was also a disciple of heard it, they said, Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for Bystanders “This man is calling for Elijah.” the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it Narrator — At once one of them ran and to be given to him. So Joseph took the got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, body and wrapped it in a clean linen put it on a stick, and gave it to him to cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, drink. But the others said, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of Bystanders “Wait, let us see whether Elijah the tomb and went away. Mary will come to save him.” Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, Chief Priests — “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” Narrator — Pilate said to them, Pilate — “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” Narrator — So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.