²⁰ When erev came, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was sitting bimesibba (reclining) at tish with the Shneym Asar Talmidim.

²¹ And as they were eating with their Rebbe, he said, Omein, I say to you that one of you will be my betrayer.

²² And much distressed, each one began to say to him, Surely I am not the one, Adoni?

²³ But, in reply, he said, The one having dipped the hand into the bowl [SHEMOT 12:8] with me, this one is my betrayer.

²⁴ Indeed the Ben Adam [Moshiach] goes as it was written concerning him, but oy to that man through whom the Ben HaAdam is betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.

²⁵ And, in reply, Yehudah the betrayer of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, said, Surely I am not the one, Rabbi? Moshiach says to Yehudah, You have said it.

²⁶ And at the Seudah, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having taken matzah, having made HaMotzi, he broke the [middle] matzah, giving the afikoman to the talmidim, and said, Take and eat, this is my basar.

²⁷ And having taken the Cup of Redemption and having made the bracha, he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you.

²⁸ For this is my [Moshiach’s, see Isa 53:7-8] Dahm HaBrit HaChadasha [Isa 42:6; Jer 31:31-34], which is poured out LARABBIM (for many YESHAYAH 53:11-12) for the selicha (forgiveness) of chattaim (sins).

²⁹ And I say to you, I will by no means drink from now on of this pri hagefen (fruit of the vine) until that Day when I drink it with you chadash (new) in the Malchut Avi.

³⁰ And having sung the Hallel, they went out to the Har HaZeytim.

³¹ Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, All of you will be offended at me [Moshiach] during this night, for it has been written, HACH ES HAROEH UTEFUTSEN HATSON (Strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered ZECHARYAH 13:7).

³² But after I undergo Techiyas HaMoshiach I will go ahead of you to the Galil. [Mt 28:7]

³³ And, in reply, Kefa said to him, If everyone will be offended at you, I never will be offended.

³⁴ He said to him, Omein, I say to you that balailah hazeh (during this night), before a tarnegol (cock) crows, you will make hakhchashah (denial) of me [as Moshiach] shalosh paamim (three times).

³⁵ Kefa says to him, Even if it is necessary for me to die al kiddush ha-Shem with you, by no means will I deny you. Likewise all the talmidim spoke also.

³⁶ Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach comes with them to a place being called Gat-Shmanim, and Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to the talmidim, Sit here until I go over there and daven.

³⁷ And having taken Kefa and the two sons of Zavdai, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to be sorrowful and distressed with agmat nefesh (grief).

³⁸ Then he says to them, My nefesh is deadly grieved, even to the point of mavet. Remain here and stay awake with me.

³⁹ And having gone forward a short distance, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach fell upon his face, davening and saying, Avi, if it is possible, let this Kos pass from me. But not as I will, but as you will (Mt 6:10; 12:50).

⁴⁰ Then he comes to the talmidim and finds them sleeping, and he says to Kefa, So were you not strong enough to be awake for one hour with me?

⁴¹ Stay awake and offer tefillos, lest you enter lidey nisayon (Mt 6:13). Indeed the ruach is willing but the basar is weak.

⁴² Again, for a second time, having left, he davened, saying, Avi, if it is not possible for this to pass by except I drink it, let yeaseh rtzonechah (your will be done). [Mt 6:10]

⁴³ And having come again, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach found the talmidim sleeping, for their eyes were too heavy to stay open.

⁴⁴ And having left them again and having gone away, he was davening for the shlishit (third) time, saying the same words.

⁴⁵ Then he comes to the talmidim and says to them, Sleep on now and take your rest. Hinei! The hour is at hand, and the Ben HaAdam Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach is being betrayed into the hands of choteim (sinners).

⁴⁶ Arise, and let us go. Hinei! My betrayer has drawn near.

⁴⁷ And while he was still speaking hinei! Yehudah, one of the Shneym Asar, came and with him came a great multitude with swords and clubs from the Rashei Hakohanim (Chief Priests) and the Ziknei HaAm (the Elders of the People).

⁴⁸ Now the betrayer had given them a signal, saying, Whomever I may give the neshikah (kiss), he is the one. Chap (grab) him!

⁴⁹ And immediately, he approached Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, and said, Shalom, Rebbe. And he gave him the neshikah.

⁵⁰ And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to him, Chaver, do what you came for. Then, having approached, they laid hands on Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and arrested him.

⁵¹ And hinei! One of the ones with him stretched out his hand, drew his cherev, and struck the servant of the Kohen Gadol, cutting off his ear.

⁵² Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, Return your cherev into its place; for all who take the sword will die by the sword.

⁵³ Or do you think that I am not able to call upon Avi, and He will provide me now more than Shneym Asar legions of malachim?

⁵⁴ But how then may the Kitvei Hakodesh be fulfilled that say it must happen thus?

⁵⁵ At that moment, he said to the crowd, Do you have the chutzpah (nerve) to come out, as against a revolutionary, with swords and clubs to arrest me? Daily in the Beis Hamikdash I was sitting saying my shiurim and you did not arrest me.

⁵⁶ But this all happened that the Kitvei Hakodesh of the Neviim might be fulfilled. Then the talmidim deserted Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and fled.

⁵⁷ But the ones having arrested Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach led him away to Caiapha the Kohen Gadol, where the Sofrim and the Zekenim (Elders) were gathered together.

⁵⁸ And Kefa was following Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach from far away. He followed him as far as the courtyard of the Kohen Gadol and, having gone inside it, Kefa was sitting down with the servants to see the maskana (outcome).

⁵⁹ And the Rashei Hakohanim and the Sanhedrin all were seeking edut sheker (false testimony of false witnesses) against Yehoshua so that they might put him to death.

⁶⁰ And they found none, though many shakranim (liars) came forward. At last, two came forward

⁶¹ and said, This one said, I am able to bring about a churban (destruction) of the Beis Hamikdash of Hashem and within shloshah yamim to rebuild it.

⁶² And having got up, the Kohen Gadol said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Do you answer nothing? For what do these men give edut (testimony) against you?

⁶³ But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was silent. And the Kohen Gadol said to him, I adjure you by Hashem, Elohim Chayyim, to tell us if you are the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Ben HaElohim.

⁶⁴ Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, You said it. But I say to you, From now on you will see the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach] sitting at the right hand of Gevurah (Power) and his Bias (Coming) will be with ANENEI HASHOMAYIM (clouds of Heaven, DANIEL 7:13-14).

⁶⁵ Then the Kohen Gadol made the keriah (rending, tearing of his garments), saying, He has committed Chillul Hashem. What further need do we have of edut? Hinei! Now you have heard the Chillul Hashem.

⁶⁶ What does it seem to you? And, in reply, they said, He is deserving of mishpat mavet, the death penalty.

⁶⁷ Then they spat into his face and they struck him and they slapped him,

⁶⁸ saying, Give us a dvar nevuah, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. Who is the one who hit you?

⁶⁹ Now Kefa was sitting outside in the courtyard. And one maid approached Kefa, saying, And you were with Yehoshua of the Galil!

⁷⁰ But Kefa denied it before everyone, saying, I do not have daas of what you are saying.

⁷¹ And having gone out to the gate, another saw Kefa and says to the bystanders, There! This one was with Yehoshua of Natzeret!

⁷² And again Kefa denied it with a shevuah (oath), I do not know the man!

⁷³ And after a little while the bystanders came and said to Kefa, Truly also you are one of them, for even your accent gives you away!

⁷⁴ Then Kefa began to curse and swear, I do not know the man! And immediately a tarnegol (cock) crowed.

⁷⁵ And Kefa remembered the word which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach had said: Before a tarnegol (cock) crows you will deny me shalosh paamim (three times). And Kefa went out and wept bitterly. [T.N. Read the letters of this Kefa on p. 1104-1112, both attested by early Kehillah tradition or manuscript evidence.]

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1 Shimon Kefa a Shliach of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua to HaBechirim (the Chosen ones [2:4,6 9]), to the Exiled ones of the Golus, Sojourners living as aliens in the Diaspora, scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

² To HaBechirim (the Chosen ones) according to the yedi’ah mukdemet (foreknowledge [1:20]) of Elohim Avinu, the ones set apart as Kadoshim by the Ruach Hakodesh, resulting in mishma’at (obedience [1:14,22; 3:6; 4:17]) to the Moshiach and resulting in hazzayat HaDam HaMoshiach (sprinkling of the Blood of Moshiach Isa 52:15, Ex 24:7), of Moshiach Yehoshua. May Chen v’Chesed Hashem and Shalom Hashem abound to all of you!

³ Baruch Hashem, HaElohim Avi of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua! By his great rachamim (mercy) we have been born anew to a tikvah chayyah (living hope) through the Techiyas Yehoshua from HaMesim (the dead ones).

⁴ We have also been born anew to a nachalah (inheritance [3:9]) that is without shachat (corruption, decay Ps 16:10), undefiled and unfading, having been preserved in Shomayim for you,

⁵ The ones by the koach of Hashem being guarded through Emunah (Faith) for Yeshu’at Eloheinu (the Salvation of our G-d), which is ready to be revealed at the Ketz Hayamim (End of Days).

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer in various masot (trials, temptations [4:12]),

⁷ That the genuineness of your Emunah, much more valuable than gold which though perishable is tested by Eish (Fire), may be found to the tehillah (praise) and the kavod (glory) and the tiferet (splendor) at the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of Moshiach Yehoshua.

⁸ He is the one for whom you have ahavah, even though you have not seen him. Though you do not now see him, you have emunah in him [as Moshiach] and rejoice with simcha inexpressible and full of kavod,

⁹ Obtaining the maskana (outcome) of your Emunah, the Yeshu’at Eloheynu of your nefashot (souls).

¹⁰ The Nevi’im, who prophesied of the Chen v’Chesed Hashem that was to come to you, searched and inquired about this Yeshu’at Eloheynu.

¹¹ The Nevi’im were searching for what zman (time) or what context of occasion the Ruach of Moshiach in them was pointing to, when predicting the Chevlei Moshiach and HaKavod to follow.

¹² The hisgalus (revelation) came to the Nevi’im that the avodas hakodesh ministry they were rendering was not to themselves, but to you, when they spoke of the things announced to you through the Mevaserim (Messianic Darshanim, Maggidim) of the Besuras HaGeulah by the Ruach Hakodesh sent from Shomayim, the very things even malachim desire to look into.

¹³ Therefore, tighten the "readiness" gartel of your mind, a mind that is one of kibush hayetzer (self-control). Set your tikvah completely on the Chen v’Chesed Hashem that is being brought to you at the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of Moshiach Yehoshua.

¹⁴ As Bnei Mishma’at (Children of Obedience 1:2), not conforming yourselves to your former ta’avot (lusts), when you lacked da’as (personal, saving knowledge),

¹⁵ But, als (since) the One who bestows on you the kri’ah (calling) is KADOSH HU (TEHILLIM 99:5), so also yourselves become Kadoshim in hitnahagut (conduct),

¹⁶ Because it says in the Torah, KEDOSHIM TIH’YU KI KADOSH ANI ("You must be holy ones for I am holy" VAYIKRA 19:2).

¹⁷ And if you call upon as "Avinu" [Mt.6:9] the One who is the impartial Shofet (Shofet kol ha’aretz) of each man L’ISH K’MA’ASEIHU ("To each according to his deeds" TEHILLIM 62:13), then conduct yourself with yirat Shomayim during your time in the Golus of the Olam Hazeh,

¹⁸ Having da’as that the padut nafsheynu (redemption ransom of our souls) was not with perishable things such as silver or gold when your Geulah (Redemption) was purchased from the Derech HaHevel (empty way of life) handed down to you from your Avot.

¹⁹ No, it was the precious DAHM (VAYIKRA 17:11) as of a SEH TAMIM U’MUM ("lamb unblemished and unspotted” SHEMOT 12:5; VAYIKRA 22:20; YESHAYAH 53:7,9), the DAHM of Moshiach (Mt.26:28)

²⁰ Who, on the one hand, having been foreknown lifnei hivvased tevel (before the foundation of the world), but, on the other hand, having been manifested [5:4] at the Ketz Hayamim (End of Days) because of you.

²¹ Through him [Moshiach] you have emunah in Hashem, the One who brought forth the Techiyas HaMoshiach from HaMesim (the dead ones) and gave him Kavod. And so your emunah and your tikvah [1:13] are in Hashem.

²² Having purified your nefashot (souls) by mishma’at (obedience 1:2) to HaEmes, resulting in ahavah shel achvah (brotherly love) without tzevi’ut (hypocrisy), have fervent ahavah (agape) for one another, from a lev tahor.

²³ You have been given a new birth [Yn 3:3], not from perishable zerah (seed), but zerah that is without shachat (corruption TEHILLIM 16:10), through the Dvar Hashem who is Chai v’Nitzav l’Olam (living and remaining firm forever).

²⁴ For, "All flesh is grass and all of [mankind’s] glory is like the flower: the grass withers, the flower falls,

²⁵ But the Word of our G-d stands forever" YESHAYAH 40:6-8). And this is the Dvar proclaimed to you as the Besuras HaGeulah [in Moshiach]. [T.N. On the word mevaserim 1K 1:12 see Isaiah 40:9.]

2 Therefore, having put away all rishus (malice), all remiyah (guile, fraud, deceit) and tzevi’ut (hypocrisy) and kin’ah (envy) and all lashon hora,

² As new born olalim (infants), desire the pure cholov ruchani (spiritual milk), that by it you may grow into Yeshu’at Eloheynu,

³ Now that you have tasted KI TOV Hashem ("that the L-rd is good," TEHILLIM 34:9).

⁴ Come to him [Moshiach], to that "Even Chayyah" ("Living Stone"), CHADAL ISHIM ("rejected by men" YESHAYAH 53:3; TEHILLIM 118:22; YESHAYAH 28:16) but BECHIR ("Chosen" YESHAYAH 42:1 [1:1]), and precious in the sight of Hashem.

⁵ You also, like avanim chayyot (living stones [2:24]), are being built up for a Bayit Ruchani (a Spiritual Beis, House) for a kehunnat kodesh (holy priesthood) to offer up zivchei ruach (sacrifices of the spirit) acceptable to Hashem through Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

⁶ For it stands written in the Kitvei HaKodesh, HINENI YISSAD B’TZION EVEN PINNAT YIKRAT ("Behold, I place in Zion a precious corner stone” YESHAYAH 28:16; TEHILLIM 118:22; DANIEL 2:34-35), chosen, and HAMMA’AMIN LO YACHISH ("the one believing [on him, on Moshiach] never will be dismayed, ashamed YESHAYAH 28:16).

⁷ Therefore, to you who are the ma’aminim [in Moshiach] this EVEN ("Stone") is YIKRAT ("precious" YESHAYAH 28:16), but to the Apikorosim (Unbelievers): EVEN MA’ASU HABONIM HAY’TAH LEROSH PINAH ("The Stone which the ones building rejected became the head of the corner" TEHILLIM 118:22 [YESHAYAH 53:3]).

⁸ And EVEN NEGEF U’L’TZUR MICHSHOL ("a stone for stumbling over and a rock for falling over" YESHAYAH 8:14). They stumble because they have no mishma’at (obedience 1:2,14,22; 4:17) to the Dvar Hashem which is also what they were appointed for [2K 2:9,12,17; Yd 1:4; Ro 9:14-24].

⁹ But you are an AM NIVCHAR ("a chosen people” YESHAYAH 43:20; SHEMOT 6:7), a MAMLECHET KOHANIM ("a kingdom of priests, royal priests" Ex 19:6), a GOY KADOSH ("a holy nation" Ex 19:6), an AM SEGULLAH ("a people of treasured possession" Ex 19:5; Mal 3:17), for this purpose: that you may declare the wondrous deeds of the One who gave you the kri’ah (calling) and summoned you out of choshech into his marvelous ohr [Isa 43:21; 42:12].

¹⁰ You, who once were LO AMI ("not My people" Hos 1:9) but now AMI ATAH ("My people you are" Hos 2:25), the AM Hashem ("the people of G-d"), the ones having not received rachamim, but now having received rachamim (Hos 2:25).

¹¹ Chaverim, I say “Chazak (Be Strong)!” to you as aliens and exiles (1:1,17), exhorting you to abstain from fleshly ta’avot (lusts) which make milchamah (war) against the neshamah.

¹² Let your hitnahagut (conduct) among the Goyim show feste (excellent) midas chasidus (trait of piety) that, wherein they speak against you as anshei resha (men of wickedness), by observing your ma’asim tovim they may glorify Hashem in the YOM PEKUDDAH ("Day of Visitation, Reckoning" [Isa 10:3]).

¹³ Submit [2:18; 3:1] to every created human memshalah (governing authority) because of Hashem, whether to a Melech (King) as being HaRosh,

¹⁴ Or to moshelim (governors) as being sent by Hashem for the purpose of nakam (vengeance) on anshei resha (men of wickedness) but for the purpose of shevach (praise, commendation) on anshei tzedek.

¹⁵ For it is the ratzon Hashem (the will of G-d) that you, by acting as anshei tzedek, may silence the lack of da’as (knowledge) of the kesilim (the foolish people).

¹⁶ As Avadim (Servants) of Hashem, live as Bnei Chorin (Sons of Freedom, Freedmen); yet do not use your cherut (freedom) as a cloak for concealing ra’ah (evil).

¹⁷ Have kavod (respect, honor) toward kol Bnei Adam; have ahavah (agape) toward HaAchim (The Brotherhood of the Messianic Chavurah); have yirat Shomayim toward Hashem [1:17; 2:17; 3:2,6,14, 16], have kavod to HaMelech.

¹⁸ Avadim, be submitting in kol yir’ah (all fear) to your adonim (masters), not only to the good and eidele (gentle) adonim, but also to the hard sarei misim (task-masters, Shemot 1:11).

¹⁹ For this is worthy of shevach (praise, commendation) if, because of a consciousness of Hashem, anyone bears up under tzoros (troubles) while suffering unjustly.

²⁰ For what shevach (praise) is it if, after committing chatta’im (sins) and being beaten, you endure? But if being osei tzedek (doers of what is right) and suffering, then you endure, this is worthy of shevach before Hashem.

²¹ It was for this tachlis (purpose) [of your being osei tzedek and suffering] that you were given your kri’ah (calling), because also Moshiach suffered on behalf of you [Isa 53:5-6], leaving you a mofet (example), that you should follow be’ikvot Moshiach (in the steps of Moshiach),

²² Who was beli chet (without sin) V’LO MIRMAH BEFIV ("and no deceit was in his mouth" Isa 53:9);

²³ Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, who, being reviled, did not retaliate; suffering, he did not utter iyumim (threats), but handed himself over, entrusting himself to the Shofet Tzedek (Righteous Judge [4:5]);

²⁴ Moshiach, who himself NASAH (bore, carried away, Isa 53:4, 12) ES PEYSHA’EINU (our transgressions, our sins YESHAYAH 53:5,8,12) in geviyyato [BERESHIS 47:18; YESHAYAH 53:5] on HAETZ [DEVARIM 21:23] that, having become niftarim (deceased ones) to chattoteinu, we might become Kol Chai (all living) to Tzidkanut (Righteousness); UVACHAVURATO NIRPA LANU ("by whose wounds you were healed” YESHAYAH 53:5).

²⁵ For you were KULLANU KA’TZON TA’INU ("all of us like sheep we went astray" YESHAYAH 53:6), for you were as sheep being led astray, but you made teshuva now to the Ro’eh [YECHEZKEL 34:1-16] and Mashgiach (Overseer IYOV 10:12) of your nefashot (souls).