The Plot against Jesus and Judas' Agreement

When Jesus had finished speaking, he told his disciples that Passover was two days away and that he would be handed over to be crucified. Around that time, the chief priests, scribes, and elders gathered in the court of the high priest, Caiaphas.

These leaders were looking for a way to seize Jesus by deceit and kill him. But they said it should not happen during the feast, because they feared the people and did not want a riot.

John gives earlier background to this growing plot. After many who had seen what Jesus did believed in him, others reported it to the Pharisees. Then the chief priests and Pharisees gathered a council, and from that day they planned to put Jesus to death.

After that, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. He went with his disciples to a town called Ephraim near the wilderness. As Passover came closer, people in Jerusalem wondered whether he would come, and the chief priests and Pharisees ordered that anyone who knew where he was should report it so they could seize him.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to arrange Jesus' betrayal. Luke says Satan entered into Judas. He spoke with the chief priests, and Luke also mentions the captains. They were glad and agreed to give him money. Matthew names the amount as thirty pieces of silver. From then on, Judas looked for an opportunity to hand Jesus over when the crowd was not there.