1. It was almost time for the Jewish Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover.
2. The leading priests and teachers of the law wanted to kill Jesus. But they were trying to find a quiet way to do it, because they were afraid of what the people would do.
3. One of Jesus’ twelve apostles was named Judas Iscariot. Satan entered him,
4. and he went and talked with the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the Temple. He talked to them about a way to hand Jesus over to them.
5. The priests were very happy about this. They promised to give Judas money for doing this.
39-40. Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives. His followers went with him. (He went there often.) He said to his followers, “Pray for strength against temptation.”