Diatessaron
CHAPTER 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God is the Word. This was in the beginning with God. Everything was by his hand, and without him not even one existing thing was made. In him was life, and the life is the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness apprehended it not.
2 There was in the days of Herod the king a priest whose name was Zacharias, of the family of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
3 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all his commands, and in the uprightness of God without reproach.
4 And they had no son, for Elizabeth was barren, and they had both advanced in age.
5 And while he discharged the duties of priest in the order of his service before God, according to the custom of the priesthood it was his turn to burn incense; so he entered the temple of the Lord.
6 And the whole gathering of the people were praying without at the time of the incense.
7 And there appeared unto Zacharias the angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense; and Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
8 But the angel said unto him, "Be not agitated, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John; and you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth. And he shall be great before the Lord, and shall not drink wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit while he is in his mother's womb. And he shall turn back many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit, and in the power of Elijah the prophet, to turn back the heart of the fathers to the sons, and those that obey not to the knowledge of the righteous; and to prepare for the Lord a perfect people."
9 And Zacharias said unto the angel, "How shall I know this, since I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years?"
10 And the angel answered and said unto him, "I am Gabriel, that stands before God; and I was sent to speak unto you, and give you tidings of this."
11 "Henceforth you shall be speechless, and shall not be able to speak until the day in which this shall come to pass, because you did not trust this my word, which shall be accomplished in its time."
12 And the people were standing awaiting Zacharias, and they were perplexed at his delaying in the temple. And when Zacharias went out, he was not able to speak unto them: so they knew that he had seen in the temple a vision; and he made signs unto them, and continued dumb. And when the days of his service were completed, he departed to his dwelling.
13 And after those days Elizabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, and said, "This has the Lord done unto me in the days when he looked upon me, to remove my reproach from among men."
14 And in the sixth month Gabriel the angel was sent from God to Galilee to a city called Nazareth, to a virgin given in marriage to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
15 And the angel entered unto her and said unto her, "Peace be unto you, you who are filled with grace. Our Lord is with you, you blessed amongst women."
16 And she, when she beheld, was agitated at his word, and pondered what this salutation could be.
17 And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You shall now conceive, and bear a son, and call his name Jesus. This shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father: and he shall rule over the house of Jacob forever; and to his kingdom there shall be no end."
18 Mary said unto the angel, "How shall this be to me when no man has known me?"
19 The angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit will come, and the power of the Most High shall rest upon you, and therefore shall he that is born of you be pure, and shall be called the Son of God. And lo, Elizabeth your kinswoman, she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her, her that is called barren. For nothing is difficult for God."
20 Mary said, "Lo, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according unto your word." And the angel departed from her.
21 And then Mary arose in those days and went in haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah; and entered into the house of Zacharias, and asked for the health of Elizabeth.
22 And when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb.
23 And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit; and cried with a loud voice and said unto Mary, "Blessed are you amongst women, and blessed is the fruit that is in your womb. Where have I this privilege, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me? When the sound of your salutation reached my ears, with great joy rejoiced the babe in my womb. And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her from the Lord would be fulfilled."
24 And Mary said, "My soul does magnify the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, Who has looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden."
25 "Lo, henceforth, all generations shall pronounce blessing on me."
26 "For he has done great things for me, who is mighty,
And holy is his name.
And his mercy embraces them who fear him,"
27 "Throughout the ages and the times.
He wrought the victory with his arm,
And scattered them that prided themselves in their opinions."
28 "He overthrew them that acted haughtily from their thrones,
And raised the lowly."
29 "He satisfied with good things the hungry,
And left the rich without anything."
30 "He helped Israel his servant,
And remembered his mercy
(According as he was speaking with our fathers)
Unto Abraham and unto his seed forever."
31 And Mary abode with Elizabeth about three months, and returned unto her house.
32 And Elizabeth's time of delivery was come; and she brought forth a son.
33 And her neighbours and kinsfolk heard that God had multiplied his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.
34 And when it was the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and called him Zacharias, calling him by the name of his father. And his mother answered and said unto them, Not so; but he shall be called John.
35 And they said unto her, "There is no man of your kindred that is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, saying, "How do you wish to name him?" And he asked for a tablet, and wrote and said, "His name is John." And every one wondered.
36 And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue, and he was speaking and praised God. And fear fell on all their neighbours: and this was spoken of in all the mountains of Judah. And all who heard pondered in their hearts and said, "What shall this child be?" And the hand of the Lord was with him.
37 And Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied and said, "Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has cared for His people, and wrought for it salvation; and has raised for us the horn of salvation."
38 "In the house of David His servant (As He was speaking by the mouth of his holy prophets from eternity), That he might save us from our enemies, And from the hand of all them that hate us."
39 "And he has performed his mercy towards our fathers, And remembered his holy covenants, And the oath which he swore unto Abraham our father, That he would give us deliverance from the hand of our enemies, And without fear we shall serve before him All our days with equity and righteousness."
40 "And as for you, O child, prophet of the Most High shall you be called."
41 "You shall go forth before the face of the Lord to prepare His way, To give the knowledge of salvation unto His people, For the forgiveness of their sins, through the mercy of the compassion of our God, With which He cares for us, to appear from on high To give light to them that sit in darkness and under the shadow of death, And to set straight our feet in the way of peace."
And the child grew and became strong in the spirit, and abode in the desert until the time of his appearing unto the children of Israel.
CHAPTER 2
1 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was on this wise: In the time when his mother was given in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband was a just man and did not wish to expose her, and he purposed to put her away secretly.
2 But when he thought of this, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, and said unto him, "Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary your wife, for that which is begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit."
3 "She shall bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, and he shall save His people from their sins. And all this was that the saying from the Lord by the prophet might be fulfilled:"
4 "'Behold, the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel'", which is, being interpreted, "With us is our God."
5 And when Joseph arose from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife; and knew her not until she brought forth her firstborn son.
6 And in those days there went forth a decree from Augustus Caesar that all the people of his dominion should be enrolled.
7 This first enrolment was while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And every man went to be enrolled in his city.
8 And Joseph went up also from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, to Judaea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem (for he was of the house of David and of his tribe), with Mary his betrothed, she being with child, to be enrolled there.
9 And while she was there the days for her being delivered were accomplished. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them where they were staying.
10 And there were in that region shepherds abiding, keeping their flock in the watch of the night. And behold, the angel of God came unto them, and the glory of the Lord shone upon them; and they were greatly terrified.
11 And the angel said unto them, "Be not terrified; for I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to the whole world; there is born to you this day a Savior, which is the Lord the Messiah, in the city of David. And this is a sign for you: you shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a manger."
12 And there appeared with the angels suddenly many heavenly forces praising God and saying, "Praise be to God in the highest, And on the earth peace, and good hope to men."
13 And when the angels departed from them to heaven, the shepherds was speaking to one another and said, "We will go to Bethlehem and see this word which has been, as the Lord made known unto us."
14 And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe laid in a manger.
15 And when they saw, they reported the word which was spoken to them about the child. And all that heard wondered at the description which the shepherds described to them. But Mary kept these sayings and discriminated them in her heart.
16 And those shepherds returned, magnifying and praising God for all that they had seen and heard, according as it was described unto them.
17 And when eight days were fulfilled that the child should be circumcised, his name was called Jesus, being that by which he was called by the angel before his conception in the womb.
18 And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him before the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male opening the womb shall be called the holy thing of the Lord), and to give a sacrificial victim as it is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of doves or two young pigeons.
19 And there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon; and this man was upright and pious, and expecting the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
20 And it had been said unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death till he had seen with his eyes the Messiah of the Lord.
21 And this man came by the Spirit to the temple; and at the time when his parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might present for him a sacrifice, as it is written in the law, he bare him in his arms and praised God and said, "Now loose you the bonds of your servant, O Lord, in peace, according to your saying; for mine eye has witnessed your mercy, which you have made ready because of the whole world; A light for the unveiling of the nations, And a glory to your people Israel."
22 And Joseph and his mother were marvelling at the things which were being said concerning him.
23 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, He is set for the overthrow and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign of contention; and a spear shall pierce through your own soul; that the thoughts of the hearts of many may be revealed.
24 And Anna the prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, was also advanced in years (and she dwelt with her husband seven years from her virginity, and she remained a widow about eighty-four years); and she left not the temple, and served night and day with fasting and prayer.
25 And she also rose in that hour and thanked the Lord, and she was speaking of him with every one who was expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.
26 And when they had accomplished everything according to what is in the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to Nazareth their city.
CHAPTER 3
1 And after that, the Magi came from the east to Jerusalem, and said, "Where is the King of the Jews which was born? We have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him."
2 And Herod the king heard, and he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And he gathered all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and asked them in what place the Messiah should be born.
3 They said, "In Bethlehem of Judaea: thus it is written in the prophet, 'You also, Bethlehem of Judah, are not contemptible among the kings of Judah: From you shall go forth a king, And he shall be a shepherd to my people Israel.'"
4 Then Herod called the Magi secretly, and inquired of them the time at which the star appeared to them.
5 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said unto them, "Go and search about the child diligently; and when you have found him, come and make known to me, that I also may go and worship him."
6 And they, when they heard the king, departed; and lo, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, until it came and stood above the place where the child was. And when they beheld the star, they rejoiced with very great joy.
7 And they entered the house and beheld the child with Mary his mother, and fell down worshipping him, and opened their saddle-bags and offered to him offerings, gold and myrrh and frankincense.
8 And they saw in a dream a that they should not return to Herod, and they travelled by another way in going to their country.
9 And when they had departed, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, and said unto him, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be you there until I speak to you; for Herod is determined to seek the child to slay him."
10 And Joseph arose and took the child and his mother in the night, and fled into Egypt, and remained in it until the time of the death of Herod: that that might be fulfilled which was said by the Lord in the prophet, which said, "From Egypt did I call my son."
11 And Herod then, when he saw that he was mocked of the Magi, was very angry, and sent and killed all the male children which were in Bethlehem and all its borders, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had inquired from the Magi.
12 Then was fulfilled the saying in Jeremiah the prophet, which said, "A voice was heard in Ramah. Weeping and much lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, And not willing to be consoled for their loss."
13 But when Herod the king died, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said unto him, Rise and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they have died who sought the child's life.
14 And Joseph rose and took the child and his mother, and came to the land of lsrael. But when he heard that Archelaus had become king over Judaea instead of Herod his father, he feared to go there; and he saw in a dream that he should go into the land of Galilee, and that he should abide in a city called Nazareth: that the saying in the prophet might be fulfilled, that he should be called a Nazarene.
15 And the child grew, and became strong in spirit, becoming filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
16 And his kinsfolk used to go every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to their custom, to the feast.
17 And when the days were accomplished, they returned; and the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not: and they supposed that he was with the children of their company.
18 And when they had gone one day's journey, they sought him beside their people and those who knew them, and they found him not; so they returned to Jerusalem and sought him again.
19 And after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, hearing them and asking them questions; and all who heard him wondered at his wisdom and his words.
20 And when they saw him they wondered, and his mother said unto him, My son, why have you dealt with us thus? Behold, I and your father have been seeking for you with much anxiety.
21 And He said unto them, "Why were you seeking me? Know you not that I must be in the house of my Father?
22 And they understood not the word which he was speaking unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He was obedient to them: and His mother used to keep all these sayings in her heart.
23 And Jesus grew in his stature and wisdom, and in grace with God and men.
24 And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor in Judaea, and one of the four rulers, Herod, in Galilee; and Philip his brother, one of the four rulers, in Ituraea and in the district of Trachonitis; and Lysanias, one of the four rulers, in Abilene; in the chief-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the command of God went forth to John the son of Zacharias in the desert.
25 And he came into all the region which is about Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance unto the forgiveness of sins.
26 And he was preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, "Repent you; the kingdom of heaven is come near."
27 This is he that was spoken of in Isaiah the prophet, "The voice which cries in the desert, 'Prepare you the way of the Lord, And make straight in the plain, paths for our God.'"
28 "All the valleys shall become filled, And all the mountains and hills shall become low; And the rough shall become plain, And the difficult place, easy; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."
29 This man came to bear witness, that he might bear witness to the light, that every man might believe through his mediation. He was not the light, but that he might bear witness to the light, which was the light of truth, that gives light to every man coming into the world.
30 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. And those who received him, to them gave he the power that they might be sons of God, -- those which believe in his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.
31 And the Word became flesh, and took up His abode among us; and we saw His glory as the glory of the only Son from the Father, which is full of grace and equity.
32 John bare witness of him, and cried, and said, This is he that I said comes after me and was before me, because he was before me. And of his fullness received we all grace for grace.
33 For the law was given through the mediation of Moses, but truth and grace were through Jesus Christ.
CHAPTER 4
1 No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, God, which is in the bosom of His Father, He has told of Him.
2 And this is the witness of John when the Jews sent to him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, "Who are you?" And he acknowledged, and denied not; and he confessed that he was not the Messiah.
3 And they asked him again, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not he." "Are you a prophet?" He said, "No." They said unto him, "Then who are you, that we may answer them that sent us? What say you of yourself?"
4 And he said, "I am the voice that cries in the desert, 'Repair you the way of the Lord', as said Isaiah the prophet."
5 And they that were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him and said unto him, "Why baptize you now, when you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor a prophet?"
6 John answered and said unto them, "I baptize with water: among you is standing One whom you know not: this is He who I said comes after me and was before me, the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose." And this occured in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
7 Now John's raiment was camel's hair, and he was girded with skins, and his food was of locusts and honey of the wilderness.
8 Then went out unto him the people of Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region which is about the Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
9 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he said unto them, "You children of vipers, who has led you to flee from the wrath to come? Do now the fruits which are worthy of repentance; and think and say not within yourselves, We have a father, even Abraham; for I say unto you, that God is able to raise up of these stones children unto Abraham. Behold, the axe has been laid at the roots of the trees, and so every tree that bears not good fruit shall be taken and cast into the fire."
10 And the multitudes were asking him and saying, "What shall we do?" He answered and said unto them, "He that has two tunics shall give to him that has not; and he that has food shall do likewise."
11 And the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said unto him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
12 He said unto them, "Seek not more than what you are commanded to seek."
13 And the servants of the guard asked him and said, "And we also, what shall we do?"
14 He said unto them, "Do not violence to any man, nor wrong him; and let your allowances satisfy you."
15 And when the people were conjecturing about John, and all of them thinking in their hearts whether he were haply the Messiah, John answered and said unto them, "I baptize you with water; there comes one after me who is stronger than I, the latchets of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire: who takes the fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing floors, and the wheat he gathers into his garners, while the straw he shall burn in fire which cannot be put out."
16 And other things he taught and preached among the people.
17 Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized of him. And Jesus was about thirty years old, and it was supposed that he was the son of Joseph.
18 And John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, "This is the Lamb of God, that takes on itself the burden of the sins of the world! This is he concerning whom I said, 'There comes after me a man who was before me, because he was before me.' And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I to baptize with water."
19 And John was hindering him and saying, I have need of being baptized by You, and come You to me?
20 Jesus answered him and said, "Suffer this now: thus it is our duty to fulfill all righteousness." Then he suffered Him.
21 And when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And immediately He went up out of the water, and heaven opened to him, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the similitude of the body of a dove; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
22 And John bare witness and said, "I beheld the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove; and it abode upon him. But I knew Him not; but He that sent me to baptize with water, He said unto me, 'Upon whomsoever you shall behold the Spirit descending and lighting upon Him, the same is He that baptized with the Holy Spirit.' And I have seen and born witness that this is the Son of God."
23 And Jesus returned from the Jordan, filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately the Spirit took him out into the wilderness, to be tried of the devil; and he was with the beasts.
24 And he fasted forty days and forty nights. And he ate nothing in those days, and at the end of them he hungered.
25 And the tempter came and said unto him, "If you are the Son of God, speak, and these stones shall become bread."
26 He answered and said, "It is written, 'Not by bread alone shall man live, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
27 Then the devil brought him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: And they shall take you on their arms, So that your foot shall not stumble against a stone."
28 Jesus said unto him, And it is written also, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
29 And the devil took him up to a high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory, in the least time; and the devil said unto him, "To You will I give all this dominion, and its glory, which is delivered to me that I may give it to whomsoever I will. If then You will worship before me, all of it shall be Your."
30 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Get you away, Satan: for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve.'"
31 And when the devil had completed all his temptations, he departed from Him for a season. And behold, the angels drew near and ministered unto Him.
CHAPTER 5
1 And next day John was standing, and two of his disciples; and he saw Jesus as he was walking, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" And his two disciples heard him saying this, and they followed Jesus.
2 And Jesus turned and saw them coming after Him, and said unto them, "What seek you?" They said unto Him, "Our master, where are You staying?" And He said unto them, "Come and see."
3 And they came and saw His place, and abode with Him that day: and it was about the tenth hour.
4 One of the two which heard from John, and followed Jesus, was Andrew the brother of Simon. And he saw first Simon his brother, and said unto him, "We have found the Messiah." And he brought him unto Jesus. And Jesus looked upon him and said, "You are Simon, son of Jonah: you shall be called Cephas."
5 And on the next day Jesus desired to go forth to Galilee, and he found Philip, and said unto him, "Follow me."
6 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Simon. And Philip found Nathanael, and said unto him, "He of whom Moses did write in the law and in the prophets, we have found that he is Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth." Nathanael said unto him, "Is it possible that there can be any good thing from Nazareth?" Philip said unto him, "Come and see."
7 And Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, "This is indeed a son of Israel in whom is no guile." And Nathanael said unto Him, "Where know you me?" Jesus said unto him, "Before Philip called You, while You were under the fig tree, I saw You."
8 Nathanael answered and said unto Him, "My Master, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.
9 Jesus said unto him, "Because I said unto you, 'I saw you under the fig tree', have you believed? You shall see what is greater than this. And He said unto him, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Henceforth you shall see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."
10 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.
11 And on the third day there was a feast in Cana, a city of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also and his disciples were invited to the feast.
12 And they lacked wine: and his mother said unto Jesus, "They have no wine." And Jesus said unto her, "What have I to do with you, woman? Has not mine hour come?" And his mother said unto the servants, "What He says unto you, do."
13 And there were there six vessels of stone, placed for the Jews' purification, such as would contain two or three jars. And Jesus said unto them, "Fill the vessels with water." And they filled them to the top.
14 He said unto them, "Draw out now, and present to the ruler of the feast." And they did so.
15 And when the ruler of the company tasted that water which had become wine, and knew not where it was (but the servants knew, because they filled up the water), the ruler of the company called the bridegroom, and said unto him, "Every man presents first the good wine, and on intoxication he brings what is poor; but you have kept the good wine until now."
16 And this is the first sign which Jesus did in Cans of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him. And His fame spread in all the country which was around them. And He taught in their synagogues, and was glorified by every man.
17 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and entered, according to His custom, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read. And he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. And Jesus opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and for this anointed he me, to preach good tidings to the poor; and He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, And to proclaim forgiveness to the evil-doers, and sight to the blind, And to bring the broken into forgiveness, and to proclaim an acceptable year of the Lord."
18 And He rolled up the book and gave it to the servant, and went and sat down: and the eyes of all that were in the synagogue were observing Him.
19 And He began to say unto them, "Today has this scripture been fulfilled which you have heard with your ears." And they all bare Him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which were proceeding from His mouth.
20 And from that time began Jesus to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God, and to say, "Repent you, and believe in the gospel. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of heaven has come near."
21 And while He was walking on the shore of the sea of Galilee, He saw two brethren, Simon who was called Cephas, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into the sea; for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." And they immediately left their nets there and followed Him.
22 And when He went on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and Jesus called them. And they immediately forsook the ship and their father Zebedee, and followed him.
23 And when the multitude gathered unto Him to hear the word of God, while he was standing on the shore of the sea of Gennesaret, He saw two boats standing beside the sea, while the two fishers which were gone out of them were washing their nets. And one of them belonged to Simon Cephas.
24 And Jesus went up and sat down in it, and commanded that they should move away a little from the land into the water. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
25 And when He had left off His speaking, he said unto Simon, "Put out into the deep, and cast your net for a draught." And Simon answered and said unto him, "My Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing; now at your word I will cast the net."
26 And when they did this, there were enclosed a great many fishes; and their net was on the point of breaking. And they beckoned to their comrades that were in the other boat, to come and help them. And when they came, they filled both boats, so that they were on the point of sinking.
CHAPTER 6
1 But when Simon Cephas saw this he fell before the feet of Jesus, and said unto him, My Lord, I beseech of you to depart from Me, for I am a sinful man. And amazement took possession of him, and of all who were with him, because of the draught of the fishes which they had taken.
2 And thus also were James and John the sons of Zebedee overtaken, who were Simon's partners.
3 And Jesus said unto Simon, "Fear not; henceforth you shall be a fisher of men unto life." And they brought the boats to the land; and they left everything, and followed Him.
4 And after that came Jesus and His disciples into the land of Judaea; and He went about there with them, and baptized.
5 And John also was baptizing in AEnon, which is beside Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. And John was not yet come into prison.
6 And there was an inquiry between one of John's disciples and one of the Jews about purifying. And they came unto John, and said unto him, "Our master, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you have born witness, behold, He also baptized, and many come to Him."
7 John answered and said unto them, "A man can receive nothing of himself, except it be given him from heaven. You are they that bear witness unto me that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I am one sent before him.' And he that has a bride is a bridegroom: and the friend of the bridegroom is he that stands and listens to him, and rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. Lo now, behold, my joy becomes complete. And he must increase and I decrease. For he that is come from above is higher than everything; and he that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaks; and he that came down from heaven is higher than all. And He bears witness of what He has seen and heard: and no man receives His witness. And He that has received His witness has asserted that He is truly God. And he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: God gave not the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has put everything in his hands. Whosoever believes in the Son has eternal life; but whosoever obeys not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God comes upon him."
8 And Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that He had received many disciples, and that He was baptizing more than John (not that Jesus was Himself baptizing, but His disciples); and so He left Judaea.
9 And Herod the governor, because he used to be rebuked by John because of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, and for all the sins which he was committing, added to all that also this, that he shut up John in prison.
10 And when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, He went away to Galilee. And He entered again into Cana, where He had made the water wine.
11 And there was at Capernaum a king's servant, whose son was sick. And this man heard that Jesus was come from Judaea to Galilee; and he went to Him, and besought of Him that He would come down and heal his son; for he had come near unto death.
12 Jesus said unto him, "Except you see signs and wonders, you do not believe." The king's servant said unto him, "My Lord, come down, that the child die not." Jesus said unto him, "Go; for your son is alive." And that man believed the word which Jesus was speaking, and went.
13 And when he went down, his servants met him and told him, and said unto him, "Your son is alive." And he asked them at what time he recovered. They said unto him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." And his father knew that that was at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, "Your son is alive." And he believed, he and the whole people of his house.
14 And this is the second sign which Jesus did when he returned from Judaea to Galilee. And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
15 And He left Nazareth, and came and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea shore, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: that it might be fulfilled which was said in Isaiah the prophet, who said, "The land of Zebulun, the land of Naphtali, The way of the sea, the passage of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: The people sitting in darkness Saw a great light, And those sitting in the region and in the shadow of death, There appeared to them a light."
16 And he taught them on the sabbaths. And they wondered because of His doctrine: for His word was as if it were authoritative.
17 And there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean devil, and he cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Let me alone; what have I to do with You, You Jesus of Nazareth? Are You come for our destruction? I know You who You are, You Holy One of God."
18 And Jesus rebuked him, and said, "Stop up your mouth, and come out of him." And the demon threw him in the midst and came out of him, having done him no harm.
19 And great amazement took hold upon every man. And they talked one with another, and said, "What is this word that orders the unclean spirits with power and authority, and they come out?" And the news of him spread abroad in all the region which was around them.
20 And when Jesus went out of the synagogue, He saw a man sitting among the tax collectors, named Matthew: and He said unto him, Come after me. And he rose, and followed Him.
21 And Jesus came to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother was oppressed with a great fever, and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her and rebuked her fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and ministered to them.
22 And at even they brought to Him many that had demons: and he cast out their devils with the word. And all that had sick, their diseases being divers and malignant, brought them unto Him. And He laid His hand on them one by one and healed them: that that might be fulfilled which was said in the prophet Isaiah, who said, "He takes our pains and bears our diseases."
23 And all the city was gathered together unto the door of Jesus. And he cast out devils also from many, as they were crying out and saying, "You are the Messiah, the Son of God"; and He rebuked them. And He suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew Him that He was the Lord the Messiah.
CHAPTER 7
1 And in the morning of that day He went out very early, and went to a desert place, and was there praying. And Simon and those that were with Him sought Him.
2 And when they found Him, they said unto Him, All the people seek for You. He said unto them, "Let us go into the adjacent villages and towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end did I come."
3 And the multitudes were seeking Him, and came till they reached Him; and they took hold of Him, that He should not go away from them.
4 But Jesus said unto them, "I must preach of the kingdom of God in other cities also: for because of this gospel was I sent."
5 And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, and teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all the diseases and all the sicknesses, and casting out the devils.
6 And his fame became known that he was teaching in every place and being glorified by every man. And when he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting among the tax gatherers; and he said unto him, "Follow me", and he rose and followed Him.
7 And the news of Him was heard of in all the land of Syria: and they brought unto Him all those whom grievous ills had befallen through divers diseases, and those that were enduring torment, and those that were possessed, and lunatics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
8 And after some days Jesus entered into Capernaum again. And when they heard that He was in the house, many gathered, so that it could not hold them, even about the door; and He made known to them the word of God.
9 And there were there some of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, sitting, come from all the villages of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
10 And some men brought a bed with a man on it who was paralytic. And they sought to bring him in and lay him before Him. And when they found no way to bring him in because of the multitude of people, they went up to the roof, and let him down with his bed from the roofing, into the midst before Jesus.
11 And when Jesus saw their faith, He said unto the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven you."
12 And the scribes and Pharisees began to think within their hearts, "Why does this man blaspheme? Who is it that is able to forgive sins, but God alone?"
13 And Jesus knew by the Spirit that they were thinking this within themselves, and He said unto them, "Why do you think this within your heart? Which is better, that it should be said to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you', or that it should be said to him, 'Arise, and take your bed, and walk?' That you may know that the Son of man is empowered on earth to forgive sins" (and he said to the paralytic), "I say unto you, Arise, take your bed, and go to your house."
14 And he rose forthwith, and took his bed, and went out in the presence of all. And he went to his house praising God.
15 And when those multitudes saw, they feared; and amazement took possession of them, and they praised God, who had given such power to men. And they said, "We have seen marvellous things today, of which we have never before seen the like."
16 And after that, Jesus went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting among the tax collectors: and he said unto him, "Follow me." And he left everything, and rose, and followed him.
17 And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And there was a great multitude of the tax collectors and others sitting with him. And the scribes and Pharisees murmured, and said unto his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"
18 Jesus answered and said unto them, "The physician seeks not those who are well, but those that are afflicted with grievous sickness. I came not to call the righteous, but the sinners, to repentance."
19 And they said unto him, "Why do the disciples of John fast always, and pray, and the Pharisees also, but your disciples eat and drink?"
20 He said unto them, "You cannot make the sons of the marriage feast fast, while the bridegroom is with them. Days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them; then will they fast in those days."
21 And He was speaking unto them a parable: "No man inserts a new patch and sews it in a worn garment, lest the newness of the new take from the worn, and there occur a great rent. And no man puts fresh wine into old skins, lest the wine burst the skins, and the skins be destroyed, and the wine spilled; but they put the fresh wine in the new skins, and both are preserved. And no man drinks old wine and straightway desires fresh; for he says, The old is better."
22 And while Jesus was walking on the sabbath day among the sown fields, his disciples hungered. And they were rubbing the ears with their hands, and eating.
23 But some of the Pharisees, when they saw them, said unto him, "See, why do your disciples on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?"
24 But Jesus said unto them, "Have you not read in olden time what David did, when he had need and hungered, he and those that were with him? How he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the table of the Lord, which it was not lawful that any should eat, save the priests; and gave to them that were with him also?"
25 And He said unto them, "The sabbath was created because of man, and man was not created because of the sabbath. Or have you not read in the law, that the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and yet they are blameless? I say unto you now, that here is what is greater than the temple. If you had known this: I love mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned those on whom is no blame. The Lord of the sabbath is the Son of man." And his relatives heard, and went out to take Him, and said, He has gone out of his mind.
26 And on the next sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and was teaching. And there was there a man whose right hand was withered.
27 And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day, that they might find the means of accusing him. But he knew their thoughts, and said unto the man whose hand was withered, "Rise and come near into the midst of the synagogue."
28 And when he came and stood, Jesus said unto them, "I ask you, which is lawful to be done on the sabbath day, good or evil? Shall lives be saved or destroyed? But they were silent. Regarding them with anger, being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, He said unto the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand became straight.
29 Then he said unto them, "What man of you shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a well on the sabbath day, will not take it and lift it out? And how much is man better than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful on the sabbath to do good."
CHAPTER 8
1 And the Pharisees went out, and consulted together concerning Him, that they might destroy Him. And Jesus perceived, and removed there: and great multitudes followed Him; and He healed all of them: and He forbade them that they should not make Him known: that the saying in Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which said, "Behold, My servant with whom I am pleased; My beloved in whom my soul has delighted:
My spirit have I put upon Him, And He shall proclaim to the nations judgment. He shall not dispute, nor cry out; And no man shall hear His voice in the marketplace. And a bruised reed shall he not break, And a smoking lamp shall he not extinguish, until he shall bring forth judgment unto victory. And the nations shall rejoice in his name."
2 And in those days Jesus went out to the mountain that He might pray, and He spent the night there in prayer to God.
3 And when the morning was come, He called the disciples. And He went towards the sea: and there followed Him much people from Galilee that He might pray, and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan, and from Tyre, and from Sidon, and from Decapolis; and great multitudes came unto Him, which had heard what He did.
4 And He was speaking to His disciples to bring Him the boat because of the multitudes, that they might not throng Him.
5 And He healed many, so that they were almost falling on Him on account of their seeking to get near Him.
6 And those that had plagues and unclean spirits, as soon as they beheld Him, would fall, and cry out, and say, "You are the Son of God." And he rebuked them much, that they should not make him known.
7 And those that were under the constraint of unclean spirits were healed. And all of the crowd were seeking to come near Him; because power went out from Him, and He healed them all.
8 And when Jesus saw the multitudes, He went up to the mountain. And He called his disciples, and chose from them twelve; and they are those whom He named apostles: Simon, whom He named Cephas, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew, and Matthew and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon which was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas the Iscariot, being he that had betrayed Him.
9 And Jesus went down with them and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and the great multitude of people. And these twelve He chose to be with Him, and that He might send them to preach, and to have power to heal the sick and to cast out devils.
10 Then He lifted up His eyes unto them, and opened His mouth, and taught them, and said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
11 "Blessed are the sorrowful: for they shall be comforted."
12 "Blessed are the humble: for they shall inherit the earth."
13 "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be satisfied."
14 "Blessed are the merciful: for on them shall be mercy."
15 "Blessed are the pure in their hearts: for they shall see God."
16 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the sons of God."
17 "Blessed are they that were persecuted for righteousness' sake: for the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
18 "Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and separate you from them, and persecute you, and reproach you, and shall speak against you with all evil talk, for my sake, falsely. Then rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets before you."
19 "But woe unto you rich! For you hive received your consolation."
20 "Woe unto you that are satisfied! You shall hunger."
21 "Woe unto you that laugh now! You shall weep and be sad."
22 "Woe unto you when men praise you! For so did their fathers use to do to the false prophets."
23 "Unto you do I say, you which hear, You are the salt of the earth: if then the salt become tasteless, wherewith shall it be salted? For any purpose it is of no use, but is thrown outside, and men tread upon it."
24 "You are the light of the world. It is impossible that a city built on a mountain should be hid. Neither do they light a lamp and place it under a bushel, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. So shall your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
25 "There is nothing secret that shall not be revealed, or hidden that shall not be known. Whoever has ears that hear, let him hear."
26 "Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets; I came not to destroy, but to complete."
27 "Truly I say unto you, Until heaven and earth shall pass, there shall not pass one point or one letter of the law, until all of it shall be accomplished."
28 "Every one who shall violate now one of these small commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called lacking in the kingdom of heaven: every one that shall do and teach shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
29 "I say unto you now, unless your righteousness abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven."
30 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, Do not kill; and every one that kills is worthy of the judgment. But I say unto you that every one who is angry with his brother without a cause is worthy of the judgment; and every one that says to his brother, You foul one, is condemned by the synagogue; and whosoever says to him, You fool, is worthy of the fire of Gehenna."
31 "If you are now offering your gift at the altar, and remember there that your brother has conceived against you any grudge, leave your gift at the altar, and go first and satisfy your brother, and then return and offer your gift."
32 "Join your adversary quickly, and while you are still with him in the way, give a ransom and free yourself from him; lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the tax collector, and you fall into prison. And truly I say unto you, You shall not go out there until you pay the last farthing."
33 "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery: but I now say unto you, that every one that looks at a woman lusting after her has forthwith already committed adultery with her in his heart."
34 "If your right eye injure you, put it out and cast it from you; for it is preferable for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body go into the fire of hell."
35 "And if your right hand injure you, cut it off and cast it from you; and it is better for you that one of your members should perish, and not your whole body fall into Gehenna."
36 "It was said that he that puts away his wife should give her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, that every one that puts away his wife, except for the cause of adultery, has made it lawful for her to commit adultery: and whosoever takes one that is put away commits adultery."
CHAPTER 9
1 "You have heard also that it was said unto the ancients, Lie not, but perform unto God in your oaths: but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is a footstool under his feet; nor yet by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King."
2 "Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can not make in it one lock of hair black or white. But your word shall be either Yes or No, and what is in excess of this is of the evil one."
3 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth': but I say unto you, Stand not in opposition to the evil; but whosoever smites you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other. And he that would sue you, and take your tunic, leave to him also your wrapper. And whosoever compels you one mite, go with him twain. And he that asks you, give unto him: and he that would borrow of you, prevent him not. And prosecute not him that takes your substance. And as you desire that men should do to you, so do you also to them."
4 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy': but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for those that curse you, and deal well with those that hate you, and pray for those who take you with violence and persecute you; that you may be sons of your heavenly Father, who makes his sun to rise on the good and the evil, and sends down his rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
5 "If you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? For the tax collectors and sinners also love those that love them. And if you do a kindness to those who treat you well, where is your superiority? For sinners also do likewise. And if you lend to him of whom you hope for a reward, where is your superiority? For the sinners also lend to sinners, seeking recompense from them."
6 "But love your enemies, and do good to them, and lend, and cut not off the hope of any man; that your reward may be great, and you may be the children of the Highest: for he is lenient towards the wicked and the ungrateful."
7 "Be you merciful, even as your Father also is merciful. And if you inquire for the good of your brethren only, what more have you done than others? Is not this the conduct of the tax collectors also?"
8 "Be you now perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
9 "Consider your alms; do them not before men to let them see you: and if it be not so, you have no reward before your Father which is in the heavens. When then you give an alms now, do not sound a trumpet before you, as do the people of hypocrisy, in the synagogues and the marketplaces, that men may praise them."
10 "And truly say I unto you, They have received their reward. But you, when you do alms, let your left hand not know what your right hand does; that your alms may be concealed: and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly."
11 "And whenever you pray, be not as the hypocrites, who love to stand in the synagogues and in the corners of the marketplaces for prayers, that men may behold them."
12 "And truly say I unto you, They have received their reward. But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and fasten your door, and pray to your Father in secret, and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly."
13 "And whenever you pray, be not babblers, as the heathen; for they think that by the abundance of their words they shall be heard. Then be not you now like unto them: for your Father knows your request before you ask him."
14 One of His disciples said unto him, "Our Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples."
15 Jesus said unto them, "Thus now pray you now: Our Father which are in heaven, Hallowed be your, name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us the food of today. And forgive, us our trespasses, as we forgave those that trespassed against us. And bring us not into temptations, but deliver us from the evil one. For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever."
16 "If you forgive men their wrong-doing, your Father which is in heaven will forgive you. But if you forgive not men, neither will your Father pardon your wrong-doing."
17 "When you fast, do not frown, as the hypocrites; for they make their faces austere, that they may be seen of men that they are fasting." Truly I say unto you, They have received their reward. But when you fast, wash your face and anoint your head; that you make not an appearance to men of fasting, but to your Father which is in secret: and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you."
18 "Be not agitated, little flock; for your Father has delighted to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give in alms; take to yourselves purses that wax not old."
19 "Lay not up treasure on earth, where moth and worm corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and worm do not corrupt, nor thieves break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there also will your heart be."
20 "The lamp of the body is the eye: if then your eye now be sound, your whole body also shall be light. But if your eye be evil, all your body shall be dark. And if the light which is in you is darkness, how great is your darkness! Be watchful that the light which is in you be not darkness. Because that, if your whole body is light, and have no part dark, it shall all be light, as the lamp gives light to you with its flame."
CHAPTER 10
1 "No man can serve two masters; and that because it is necessary that he hate one of them and love the other, and honor one of them and despise the other."
2 "You cannot serve God and possessions. And because of this I say unto you, Be not anxious for yourselves, what you shall eat and what you shall drink; neither for your bodies, what you shall put on. Is not the life better than the food, and the body than the raiment?"
3 "Consider the birds of the heaven, which sow not, nor reap, nor store in barns; and yet your Father which is in heaven feeds them. Are not you better than they?"
4 "Who of you when he tries is able to add to his stature one cubit? If then you are not able for a small thing, why are you anxious about the rest?"
5 "Consider the wild lily, how it grows, although it toils not, nor spins; and I say unto you that Solomon in the greatness of his glory was not clothed like one of them. And if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, how much more shall be unto you, O you of little faith!"
6 "Be not anxious, so as to say, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? Or, With what shall we be clothed? Neither let your minds be perplexed in this: all these things the nations of the world seek; and your Father which is in heaven knows your need of all these things. Seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these shall come to you as something additional for you. Be not anxious for the morrow; for the morrow shall be anxious for what belongs to it. Sufficient unto the day is its evil."
7 "Judge not, that you be not judged: condemn not, that you be not condemned: forgive, and it shall be forgiven you: release, and you shall be released: give, that you may be given unto; with good measure, abundant, full, they shall thrust into your bosoms."
8 "With what measure you measure it shall be measured to you. See to it what you hear: with what measure you measure it shall be measured to you; and you shall be given more."
9 "I say unto those that hear, He that has shall be given unto; and he that has not, that which he regards as his shall be taken from him."
10 And he was speaking unto them a parable, "Can a blind man haply guide a blind man? Shall they not both fall into a hollow?"
11 "A disciple is not better than his master; every perfect man shall be as his master."
12 "Why look you at the chaff which is in the eye of your brother, but consider not the column that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, I will take out the chaff from your eye; and the column which is in your eye you see not? You hypocrite, take out first the column from your eye; and then shall you see to take out the chaff from the eye of your brother."
13 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and return and wound you."
14 And he said unto them, "Who of you, that has a friend, goes to him at midnight, and says unto him, 'My friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to offer to him': and that friend shall answer him from within, and say unto him, 'Trouble me not; for the door is shut, and my children are with me in bed, and I cannot rise and give you?' And truly I say unto you, if he will not give him because of friendship, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him what he seeks."
15 "And I also say unto you, Ask, and you shall be given unto; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Every one that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and he that knocks, it shall be opened to him."
16 "What father of you, shall his son ask for bread -- will he, think you, give him a stone? And if he ask of him a fish, will he, think you, instead of the fish give him a serpent? And if he ask him for an egg, will he, think you, extend to him a scorpion? If you then, although being evil, know the gifts which are good, and give them to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?"
17 "Whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: this is the law and the prophets."
18 "Enter you by the narrow gate; for the wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction, and many they be which go therein. How narrow is the gate and straitened the way leading to life! And few be they that find it."
19 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, while within they are ravening wolves. But by their fruits you shall know them. For every tree is known by its fruit. For figs are not gathered of thorns, neither are grapes plucked of briers. Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit, but the evil tree brings forth evil fruit."
20 "The good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can the evil tree bring forth good fruit. The good man from the good treasures that are in his heart brings forth good things; and the evil man from the evil treasures that are in his heart brings forth evil things: and from the overflowings of the heart the lips speak."
21 "Every tree that bears not good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them."
22 "Not all that say unto Me, 'My Lord, my Lord', shall enter the kingdom of the heavens; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven."
23 "Many shall say unto Me in that day, 'My Lord, my Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out devils, and in your name do many powers?' Then shall I say unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, you servants of iniquity.'"
24 "Every man that comes unto Me, and hears My sayings, and does them, I will show you to what he is like: he is like the wise man which built a house, and digged and went deep, and laid the foundations on a rock: and the rain came down, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and shook that house, and it fell not: for its foundation was laid on rocks."
25 "And every one that hears these My words, and does them not, is like the foolish man which built his house on sand, without foundation: and the rain descended, and the rivers overflowed, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house, and it fell: and the fall of it was great."
CHAPTER 11
1 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the multitudes were astonished at His teaching; and that because He was teaching them as one having authority, not as their scribes and the Pharisees.
2 And when He descended from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
3 And when Jesus entered Capernaum, the servant of one of the chiefs was in an evil case, and he was precious to him, and he was at the point of death. And he heard of Jesus, and came to him with the elders of the Jews; and he besought him, and said, "My Lord, my boy is laid in the house paralysed, and he is suffering grievous torment." And the elders urgently requested of him, and said, "He is worthy that this should be done unto him: for he loves our people, and he also built the synagogue for us."
4 Jesus said unto him, "I will come and heal him."
5 That chief answered and said, "My Lord, I am not worthy that my roof should shade You; but it suffices that You speak a word, and my lad shall be healed. And I also am a man in obedience to authority, having under my hand soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant that he do this, and he does it."
6 And when Jesus heard that, he marveled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude that were coming with him, "Truly I say unto you, I have not found in Israel the like of this faith. I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall recline with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
7 And Jesus said to that chief, "Go your way; as you have believed, so shall it be unto you." And his lad was healed in that hour. And that chief returned to the house and found that sick servant healed.
8 And the day after, he was going to a city called Nain, and his disciples with him, and a great multitude.
9 And when he was come near the gate of the city, He saw a crowd accompanying one that was dead, the only son of his mother; and his mother was a widow: and there was with her a great multitude of the people of the city.
10 And when Jesus saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, "Weep not." And he went and advanced to the bier, and the bearers of it stood still; and he said, "Young man, I say unto you, Arise." And that dead man sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother.
11 And fear came on all the people: and they praised God, and said, "There has risen among us a great prophet" and, "God has had regard to his people." And this news concerning him spread in all Judaea, and in all the region which was about them.
12 And when Jesus saw great multitudes surrounding him, he commanded them to depart to the other side.
13 And while they were going in the way, there came one of the scribes and said unto him, "My Master, I will follow You whithersoever You go." Jesus said unto him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven have nests; but the Son of man has not a place in which to lay his head."
14 And He said unto another, "Follow me." And he said unto him, "My Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." Jesus said unto him, "Leave the dead to bury their dead; but you, follow Me and preach the kingdom of God." And another said unto him, "I will follow you, My Lord; but first suffer me to go and salute my household and come." Jesus said unto him, "There is no one who puts his hand to the plough and looks behind him, and yet is fit for the kingdom of God."
15 And he said to them on that day in the evening, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake," and He left the multitudes. And Jesus went up and sat in the ship, He and His disciples, and there were with them other ships.
16 And there occurred on the sea a great tempest of whirlwind and wind, and the ship was on the point of sinking from the greatness of the waves.
17 But Jesus was sleeping on a cushion in the stern of the ship; and his disciples came and awoke him, and said unto him, "Our Lord, save us; lo, we perish."
18 And He rose, and rebuked the winds and the turbulence of the water, and said to the sea, "Be still, for you are rebuked"; and the wind was still, and there was a great calm.
19 And he said unto them, Why are you thus afraid? And why have you no faith? And they feared greatly. And they marveled, and said one to another, "Who, think you, is this, who commands also the wind and the waves and the sea, and they obey him?"
20 And they departed and came to the country of the Gadarenes, which is on the other side, opposite the land of Galilee.
21 And when He went out of the ship to the land, there met Him from among the tombs a man who had a devil for a long time, and wore no clothes, neither dwelt in a house, but among the tombs. And no man was able to bind him with chains, because any time that he was bound with chains and fetters he cut the chains and loosened the fetters; and he was snatched away of the devil into the desert, and no man was able to quiet him; and at all times, in the night and in the day, he would be among the tombs and in the mountains; and no man was able to pass by that way; and he would cry out and wound himself with stones.
22 And when he saw Jesus at a distance, he hastened and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice and said, What have we to do with you, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, torment me not. And Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man: and he had suffered a long time since the time when he came into captivity to it.
23 And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He said unto him, "Legion"; for there had entered into him many devils. And they besought Him that he would not command them to depart into the depths.
24 And there was there a herd of many swine, feeding in the mountain, and those devils besought Him to give them leave to enter the swine; and he gave them leave. And the devils went out of the man and entered into the swine.
25 And that herd hastened to the summit and fell down into the midst of the sea, about two thousand, and they were choked in the water.
26 And when the keepers saw what happened, they fled, and told those in the cities and villages. And the people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man whose devils had gone out, clothed, modest, seated at the feet of Jesus; and they feared.
27 And they reported what they saw, and how the man was healed who had a devil, and concerning those swine also.
28 And all the multitude of the Gadarenes entreated Him to depart from them, because that great fear took hold upon them. But Jesus went up into the ship, and crossed, and came to His city.
29 And that man from whom the devils went out entreated that he might stay with Him; but Jesus sent him away, and said unto him, "Return to your house, and make known what God has done for you." And he went, and began to publish in Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and they all marveled.
CHAPTER 12
1 And when Jesus had crossed in the ship to that side, a great multitude received Him; and they were all looking for Him.
2 And a man named Jairus, the chief of the synagogue, fell before the feet of Jesus, and besought him much, and said unto Him, I have an only daughter, and she is come nigh unto death; but come and lay Your hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus rose, and his disciples, and they followed him. And there joined him a great multitude, and they pressed him.
3 And a woman, which had a flow of blood for twelve years, had suffered much of many physicians, and spent all that she had, and was not benefited at all, but her trouble increased further. And when she heard of Jesus, she came in the thronging of the crowd behind him, and touched a his garments; and she thought within herself, "If I could reach to touch His garments, I should live."
4 And immediately the fountain of her blood was dried; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.
5 And Jesus straightway knew within himself that power had gone out of Him; and He turned to the crowd, and said, Who approached unto My garments? And on their denying, all of them, Simon Cephas and those with Him said unto Him, "Our Master, the multitudes throng You and press You, and say You, Who approached unto Me?"
6 And He said, Someone approached unto Me; and I knew that power went forth from Me. And that woman, when she saw that she was not hid from Him, came fearing and agitated (for she knew what had happened to her), and fell down and worshipped him, and told, in the presence of all the people, for what reason she touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.
7 And Jesus said unto her, "Be of good courage, daughter; your faith has made you alive; depart in peace, and be whole from your plague."
8 And while He was yet speaking, there came a man from the house of the chief of the synagogue, and said unto him, "Your daughter has died; so trouble not the teacher."
9 But Jesus heard, and said unto the father of the maid, Fear not: but believe only, and she shall live. And he suffered no man to go with him, except Simon Cephas, and James, and John the brother of James.
10 And they reached the house of the chief of the synagogue; and he saw them agitated, weeping and wailing. And he entered, and said unto them, "Why are you agitated and weeping? The maid has not died, but she is sleeping." And they laughed at Him, for they knew that she had died.
11 And he put every man forth without, and took the father of the maid, and her mother, and Simon, and James, and John, and entered into the place where the maid was laid. And he took hold of the hand of the maid, and said unto her, "Maid, arise." And her spirit returned, and straightway she arose and walked: and she was about twelve years of age.
12 And He commanded that there should be given to her something to eat. And her father wondered greatly: and He warned them that they should tell no man what had happened. And this report spread in all that land.
13 And when Jesus crossed over from there, there joined him two blind men, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, You son of David. And when He came to the house, those two blind men came to Him: and Jesus said unto them, "Believe you that I am able to do this?" They said unto him, "Yes, our Lord."
14 Then he touched their eyes, and said, "As you have believed, it shall be unto you." And immediately their eyes were opened.
15 And Jesus forbade them, and said, "See that no man know." But they went out and published the news in all that land.
16 And when Jesus went out, they brought to him a dumb man having a devil. And on the going out of the devil that dumb man was speaking. And the multitudes marveled, and said, "It was never so seen in Israel."
17 And Jesus was going about in all the cities and in the villages, and teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness; and many followed him.
18 And when Jesus saw the multitudes, He had compassion on them, for they were wearied and scattered, as sheep that have no shepherd.
19 And He called His twelve disciples, and gave them power and much authority over all devils and diseases; and sent them two and two, that they might proclaim the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
20 And He charged them, and said, "Walk not in the way of the heathen, nor enter into the cities of the Samaritans. Go especially unto the sheep that are lost of the sons of Israel. And when you go, proclaim and say, 'The kingdom of heaven is come near.' And heal the sick, and cleanse the lepers, and cast out the devils: freely you have received, freely give."
21 "Get you not gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses; and take nothing for the way, except a staff only; nor bag, nor bread; neither shall You have two tunics, nor shoes, nor staff, but be shod with sandals; for the laborer is worthy of his food."
22 "And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and there be until you go out. And when you enter into the house, ask for the peace of the house: and if the house is worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it is not worthy, your peace shall return unto you."
23 "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your sayings, when you go out from that house, or from that village, shake off the dust that is under your feet against them for a testimony. And truly I say unto you, To the land of Sodom and Gomorrah there shall be rest in the day of judgment, rather than to that city."
CHAPTER 13
1 "I am sending you as lambs among wolves: be you now wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Beware of men: they shall deliver you to the councils of the magistrates, and scourge you in their synagogues; and shall bring you before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and against the nations."
2 "And when they deliver you up, be not anxious, nor consider beforehand, what you shall say; but you shall be given in that hour what you ought to speak. You do not speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaks in you."
3 "The brother shall deliver up his brother to death, and the father his son; and the sons shall rise against their parents, and put them to death. And you shall be hated of every man because of my name; but he that endures unto the end of the matter shall be saved."
4 "When they expel you from this city, flee to another. Truly I say unto you, You shall not finish all the cities of the people of Israel, until the Son of man come."
5 "A disciple is not superior to his lord, nor a servant to his master. For it is enough then for the disciple that he be as his lord, and the servant as his master."
6 "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the people of his house! Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; nor hid, that shall not be disclosed and published."
7 "What I say unto you in the darkness, speak you in the light; and what you have told secretly in the ears in closets, let it be proclaimed on the housetops."
8 "I say unto you now, my beloved, be not agitated at those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. I will inform you whom you shall fear: him which is able to destroy soul and body in hell. Yes, I say unto you, Be afraid of him especially."
9 "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing in a bond? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But what concerns you: even the hair of your heads also is numbered. Fear not therefore; you are better than many sparrows."
10 "Every man who confesses me now before men, I also will confess him before my Father which is in heaven; but whosoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father which is in heaven."
11 "Think you that I am come to cast peace into the earth? I came not to cast peace, but to cast dissension."
12 "Henceforth there shall be five in one house, three of them disagreeing with two, and the two with the three. The father shall become hostile to his son, and the son to his father; and the mother to her daughter, and the daughter to her mother; and the mother-in-law to her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law: and a man's enemies shall be the people of his house."
13 "Whosoever loves father or mother better than Me is not worthy of Me; and whosoever loves son or daughter more than his love of Me is not worthy of Me.
14 "And every one that does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whosoever finds his life shall lose it; and whosoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
15 "And whosoever receives you receives Me; and whosoever receives Me receives Him that sent Me."
16 "And whosoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall take a prophet's reward; and whosoever shall receive a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall take a righteous man's reward."
17 "And every one that shall give to drink to one of these least ones a drink of water only, in the name of a disciple, truly I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."
18 And when Jesus finished charging his twelve disciples, he removed there to teach and preach in their cities.
19 And while they were going in the way they entered into a certain village; and a woman named Martha entertained Him in her house. And she had a sister named Mary, and she came and sat at the feet of our Lord, and heard His sayings.
20 But Martha was disquieted by much serving; and she came and said unto him, "My Lord, give you no heed that my sister left me alone to serve? Speak to her that she help me." Jesus answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, you are solicitous and impatient on account of many things: but what is sought is one thing. But Mary has chosen for herself a good portion, and that which shall not be taken from her."
21 And the apostles went forth, and preached to the people that they might repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick with oil, and healed them. And the disciples of John told him of all these things.
22 And when John heard in the prison of the doings of the Messiah, he called two of his disciples, and sent them to Jesus, and said, "Are you He that comes, or look we for another?" And they came to Jesus, and said unto him, John the Baptist has sent us unto you, and said, "Are you he that comes, or look we for another?"
23 And in that hour He cured many of diseases, and of plagues of an evil spirit; and He gave sight to many blind. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Go and tell John everything you have seen and heard: the blind see, and the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, and the blind hear, and the dead rise, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who doubt not in Me."
24 And when John's disciples departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the winds? And if not, then what went you out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are in magnificent garments and in voluptuousness are in the abode of kings. And if not, then what went you out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, I am sending my messenger before your face To prepare the way before You."
CHAPTER 14
1 "Truly I say unto you, There has not arisen among those whom women have born a greater than John the Baptist; but he that is little now in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
2 "And all the people which heard, and the tax collectors, justified God, for they had been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and the scribes wronged the purpose of God in themselves, in that they were not baptized of him."
3 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven is snatched away by violence."
4 "The law and the prophets were until John; and after that, the kingdom of God is preached, and all press to enter it, and they that exert themselves snatch it away. All the prophets and the law until John prophesied."
5 "And if you will, then receive it, that he is Elijah, which is to come. Whosoever has ears that hear let him hear. Easier is the perishing of heaven and earth, than the passing away of one point of the law."
6 "To whom then shall I liken the people of this generation, and to whom are they like? They are like the children sitting in the market, which call to their companions, and say, "We sang to you, and you danced not; we wailed to you, and you wept not."
7 "John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you said, 'He has demons.' And the Son of man came eating and drinking; and you said, 'Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drinker of wine, and an associate of tax collectors and sinners!' And wisdom was justified of all her children."
8 And when he said that, they came to the house. And there gathered unto him again multitudes, so that they found not bread to eat.
9 And while he was casting out a devil which was dumb, when he cast out that devil, that dumb man was speaking. And the multitudes marveled. And the Pharisees, when they heard, said, "This man does not cast out the devils, except by Beelzebul the chief of the demons, which is in Him." And others requested of him a sign from heaven, to tempt Him.
10 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them in parables, "Every kingdom that withstands itself shall become desolate; and every house or city that disagrees with itself shall not stand. And if a devil cast out a devil, he withstands himself; neither shall he be able to stand, but his end shall be. Then how now shall His kingdom stand? For you said that I cast out devils by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out the devils, then your children, by what do they cast them out? And for this cause they shall be judges against you."
11 "But if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils, then the kingdom of God is come near unto you."
12 "Or how can a man enter into the house of a valiant man, and seize his garments, if he do not beforehand secure himself from that valiant man? And then will he cut off his house."
13 "But when the valiant man is armed, guarding his house, his possessions are in peace. But if one come who is more valiant than he, he overcomes him, and takes his whole armour, on which he relies, and divides his spoil."
14 "Whosoever is not with Me is against Me; and whosoever gathers not with Me scatters abroad. For this reason I say unto you, that all sins and blasphemies with which men blaspheme shall be forgiven them: but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, there is no forgiveness for him forever, but he is deserving of eternal punishment, because they said that He had an unclean spirit."
15 And He said also, "Every one that speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come."
16 "Either you must make a good tree and its fruit good; or you must make an evil tree and its fruit evil: for the tree is known by its fruit."
17 "You children of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? From the overflowings of the heart the mouth speaks."
18 "The good man from the good treasures which are in his heart brings forth good things; and the wicked man from the evil treasures which are in his heart brings forth evils."
19 "I say unto you, that every idle word which men shall speak, they shall give an answer for in the day of judgment: for by your sayings you shall be justified, and by your sayings you shall be judged."
20 And he said to the multitudes, "When you see the clouds appear from the west, straightway you say that there comes rain; and so it comes to pass. And when the south wind blows, you say that there will be heat; and it comes to pass. And when the evening is come, you say, It will be fair weather, for the heaven has become red. And in the morning you say, Today there will be severe weather, for the redness of the heaven is paling. You hypocrites, you know to examine the face of the heaven and the earth; but the signs of this time you know not to discern."
21 Then they brought to Him one possessed of a demon, dumb and blind; and He healed him, so that the dumb and blind began to speak and see. And all the multitudes wondered, and said, "Is this, think you, the son of David?"
22 And the apostles returned unto Jesus, and told Him everything that they had done and wrought. And He said unto them, "Come, let us go into the desert alone, and rest yes little." And many were going and returning, and they had not leisure, not even to eat bread.
CHAPTER 15
1 And after that, there came to Him one of the Pharisees, and besought Him that he would eat bread with Him. And he entered into the house of that Pharisee, and reclined.
2 And there was in that city a woman that was a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting in the house of that Pharisee, she took a box of sweet ointment, and stood behind Him, towards His feet, weeping, and began to wet His feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hair of her head, and to kiss his feet, and anoint them with the sweet ointment. And when that Pharisee saw it, who invited him, he thought within himself, and said, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who she is and what is her history: for the woman which touched him was a sinner."
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Simon, I have something to say unto you. And he said unto Him, "Say on, My Master." Jesus said unto him, "There were two debtors to one creditor; and one of them owed five hundred pence, and the other owed fifty pence. And because they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them ought to love him more?" Simon answered and said, "I suppose, he to whom he forgave most." Jesus said unto him, "You have judged rightly."
4 And he turned to that woman, and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered into your dwelling, and you gave Me not water to wash My feet: but this woman has bathed My feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair. And you kissed me not: but this woman, since she entered, has not ceased to kiss my feet. And you anointed not my head with oil: but this woman has anointed my feet with sweet ointment. And for this, I say unto you, Her many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much; for he to whom little is forgiven loves little."
5 And He said unto that woman, "Your sins are forgiven you."
6 And those that were invited began to say within themselves, "Who is this that forgives sins also?" And Jesus said to that woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
7 And many believed in Him when they saw the signs which He was doing. But Jesus did not trust Himself to them, for He knew every man, and He needed not any man to testify to Him concerning every man; for He knew what was in man.
8 And after that, Jesus set apart from his disciples other seventy, and sent them two and two before his face to every region and city where He was purposing to go.
9 And He said unto them, "The harvest is abundant, and the laborers are few: entreat now the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest. Go you: and lo, I am sending you as lambs among wolves. Take not with you purses, nor a wallet, nor shoes; neither salute any man in the way."
10 "And whatsoever house you enter, first salute that house: and if there be there a son of peace, let your peace rest upon him; but if there be not, your peace shall return to you. And be you in that house eating and drinking what they have: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. And remove not from house to house."
11 "And into whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is presented to you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, 'The kingdom of God is come near unto you.'
12 "But whatsoever city you enter, and they receive you not, go out into the market, and say, Even the dust that clave to our feet from your city, we shake off against you; but know this, that the kingdom of God is come near unto you. I say unto you, that for Sodom there shall be quiet in the day of judgment, but there shall not be for that city."
13 Then began Jesus to rebuke the cities in which there had been many mighty works, and they repented not. And he said, Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! If there had been in Tyre and Sidon the signs which were in you, it may be that they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes. Howbeit I say unto you, that for Tyre and Sidon there shall be rest in the day of judgment, more than for you. And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall sink down unto Hades; for if there had been in Sodom the wonders which were in you, it would have remained until this day. And now I say unto you, that for the land of Sodom there shall be quiet in the day of judgment, more than for you."
14 And he said again unto his apostles, "Whosoever hears you hears Me; and whosoever hears Me hears Him that sent Me: and whosoever wrongs you wrongs Me; and whosoever wrongs Me wrongs Him that sent me."
15 And those seventy returned with great joy, and said unto him, "Our Lord, even the devils also are subject unto us in Your name." He said unto them, "I beheld Satan fallen like lightning from heaven. Behold, I am giving you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and the whole race of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Only you must not rejoice that the devils are subject unto you; but be glad that your names are written in heaven."
16 And in that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I acknowledge You, My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You did hide these things from the wise and understanding, and did reveal them unto children: yes, My Father; so was Your will."
17 And He turned to His disciples, and said unto them, "Everything has been delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knows who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and to whomsoever the Son wills to reveal Him."
18 "Come unto Me, all of you, you that are wearied and bearers of burdens, and I will give you rest. Bear My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am gentle and lowly in My heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is pleasant, and My burden is light."
19 And while great multitudes were going with Him, He turned, and said unto them, "Whosoever comes unto me, and hates not his father, and his mother, and his brethren, and his sisters, and his wife, and his children, and himself also, cannot be a disciple to me. And whosoever does not take his cross, and follow Me, cannot be a disciple to Me."
20 "Which of you desires to build a tower, and does not sit down first and reckon his expenses and whether he has enough to complete it? Lest when he has laid the foundations, and is not able to finish, all that behold him laugh at him, and say, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' Or what king goes to the battle to fight with another king, and does not consider first whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that comes to him with twenty thousand? And if he is not able, he sends unto him while he is afar off, and seeks peace. So shall every man of you consider, that desires to be a disciple to Me; for if He renounces not all that He has, he cannot be a disciple to Me."
CHAPTER 16
1 Then answered certain of the scribes and Pharisees, that they might tempt him, and said, "Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You."
2 He answered and said, "This evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign; and it shall not be given a sign, except the sign of Jonah the prophet. And as Jonah was a sign to the inhabitants of Nineveh, so shall the Son of man also be to this generation. And as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights."
3 "The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with the people of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth that she might hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, here is a better than Solomon."
4 "The men of Nineveh shall stand in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, here is a greater than Jonah."
5 "The unclean spirit, when he goes out of the man, departs, and goes about through places wherein are no waters, that he may find rest for himself; and when he finds it not, he says, I will return to my house where I came out. And if he come and find it adorned and set in order, then he goes, and associates with himself seven other spirits worse than himself; and they enter and dwell in it: and the end of that man shall be worse than his beginning. Thus shall it be unto this evil generation."
6 And while he was saying that, a woman from the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, "Blessed is the womb that bare You, and the breasts that nursed You." But He said unto her, "Blessed is he that hears the word of God, and keeps it."
7 And while he was speaking unto the multitude, there came unto him his mother and his brethren, and sought to speak with Him; and they were not able, because of the multitude; and they stood without and sent, calling Him unto them. A man said unto Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brethren are standing without, and seek to speak with You." But He answered unto him that was speaking unto him, "Who is My mother? And who are My brethren?" And He beckoned with his hand, stretching it out towards His disciples, and said, "Behold, My mother! And behold, My brethren! And every man that shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven is My brother, and My sister, and My mother."
8 And after that, Jesus was going about in the cities and in the villages, and proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, and his; twelve with him, and the women which had been healed of diseases and of evil spirits, Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them of their substance.
9 And after that, Jesus went out of the house, and sat on the sea shore. And there gathered unto Him great multitudes. And when the press of the people was great upon Him, He went up and sat in the boat; and all the multitude was standing on the shore of the sea.
10 And He was speaking to them much in parables, and said, "The sower went forth to sow: and when he sowed, some fell on the beaten highway; and it was trodden upon, and the birds ate it."
11 "And other fell on the rocks: and some, where there was not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no depth in the earth: and when the sun rose, it withered; and because it had no root, it dried up."
12 "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it; and it yielded no fruit."
13 "And other fell into excellent and good ground; and it came up, and grew, and brought forth fruit, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred."
14 And when He said that, He cried, "He that has ears that hear, let him hear." And when they were alone, his disciples came, and asked Him, and said unto Him, "What is this parable? And why spoke you unto them in parables?"
15 He answered and said unto them, "Unto you is given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but it is not given unto them that are without."
16 "He that has shall be given unto, and there shall be added; and he that has not, that which he has shall be taken from him also. For this cause therefore I speak unto them in parables; because they see, and see not; and hear, and hear not, nor understand."
17 "And in them is being fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, who said, 'Hearing they shall hear, and shall not understand; And seeing they shall see, and shall not perceive: The heart of this people is waxed gross, And their hearing with their ears is become heavy, And they have closed their eyes; Lest they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their hearts, And should return, And I should heal them.'"
18 "But you, blessed are your eyes, which see; and your ears, which hear. Blessed are the eyes which see what you see. Truly I say unto you, Many of the prophets and the righteous longed to see what you see, and saw not; and to hear what you hear, and heard not."
19 "When you know not this parable, how shall you know all parables? Hear you the parable of the sower. The sower which sowed, sowed the word of God. Every one who hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, the evil one comes and snatches away the word that has been sown in his heart: and this is that which was sown on the middle of the highway. But that which was sown on the rocks is he that hears the word, and straightway receives it with joy; only, it has no root in his soul, but his belief in it is for a time; and whenever there is distress or persecution because of a word, he stumbles quickly. And that which was sown among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the error of riches, and the rest of the other lusts enter, and choke the word, and it becomes without fruit. And that which was sown in good ground is he that hears my word in a pure and good heart, and understands it, and holds to it, and brings forth fruit with patience, and produces either a hundredfold or sixtyfold or thirty."
20 And He said, "So is the kingdom of God, like a man who casts seed into the earth, and sleeps and rises by night and day, and the seed grows and comes up, where he knows not. And the earth brings it to the fruit; and first it will be blade, and after it ear, and at last perfect wheat in the ear: and whenever the fruit ripens, he brings immediately the sickle, for the harvest has come."
CHAPTER 17
1 And He set forth to them another parable, and said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but when men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. And when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, there were noticed the tares also. And the servants of the master of the house came, and said unto him, 'Our lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where are there tares in it?' He said unto them, 'An enemy has done this.' His servants said unto him, 'Will you that we go and separate it?' He said unto them, 'Perhaps, when you separate the tares, you would root up with them wheat also. Leave them to grow both together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say unto the reapers, Separate the tares first, and bind them in bundles to be burned with fire; and gather the wheat into my barns.'"
2 And He set forth to them another parable, and said, "To what is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I liken it? And in what parable shall I set it forth? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and planted in his field: and of the number of the things that are sown in the earth it is smaller than all of the things which are sown, which are upon the earth; but when it is grown, it is greater than all the herbs, and produces large branches, so that the birds of heaven make their nests in its branches."
3 And He set forth to them another parable: "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like the leaven which a woman took, and kneaded into three measures of flour, until the whole of it was leavened.
4 And Jesus was speaking all that to the multitudes by way of parables, according as they were able to hear. And without parables was speaking he not unto them; that the saying of the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled:
5 "I will open my mouth in parables; And I will utter secrets which were before the foundations of the world."
But He explained to his disciples privately everything.
6 Then Jesus left the multitudes, and came to the house. And His disciples came unto Him, and said unto Him, "Explain unto us that parable about the tares and the field." He answered and said unto them, "He that sowed good seed is the Son of man; and the field is the world; and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; and the tares are the children of the evil one; and the enemy that sowed them is Satan; and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."
7 "And as the tares are separated and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send his angels, and separate from his kingdom all things that injure, and all the doers of iniquity, and they shall cast them into the furnace of fire: and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whosoever has ears that hear, let him hear."
8 "And again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hid in a field: that which a man found and hid; and, for his pleasure in it, went and sold all that he had, and bought that field."
9 "And again the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a merchant seeking excellent pearls; and when he found one pearl of great price, he went and sold everything that he had, and bought it."
10 "And again the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: and when it was filled, they drew it up on to the shore of the sea, and sat down to select; and the good of them they threw into the vessels, and the bad they threw outside. Thus shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall go forth, and separate the wicked from among the good, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
11 Jesus said unto them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said unto him, "Yes, our Lord."
12 He said unto them, "Therefore every scribe that becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, who brings out of his treasures the new and the old."
13 And when Jesus had finished all these parables, He removed there, and came to His city; and He taught them in their synagogues, so that they were perplexed.
14 And when the sabbath came, Jesus began to teach in the synagogue; and many of those that heard marveled, and said, "Where came these things to this man?" And many envied him and gave no heed to him, but said, "What is this wisdom that is given to this man, that there should happen at His hands such as these mighty works? Is not this a carpenter, son of a carpenter? And is not His mother called Mary? And His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, all of them, lo, are they not all with us? Where has this man all these things? And they were in doubt concerning him."
15 And Jesus knew their opinion, and said unto them, "Will you haply say unto me this proverb, 'Physician, heal first yourself', and all that we have heard that You did in Capernaum, do here also in your own city?" And He said, "Truly I say unto you, A prophet is not received in his own city, nor among his brethren: for a prophet is not despised, save in his own city, and among his own kin, and in his own house."
16 "Truly I say unto you, In the days of Elijah the prophet, there were many widows among the children of Israel, when the heaven held back three years and six months, and there was a great famine in all the land; and Elijah was not sent to one of them, save to Zarephath of Sidon, to a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were among the children of Israel in the days of Elisha the prophet; but not one of them was cleansed, save Naaman the Nabathaean."
17 And He was not able to do there many mighty works, because of their unbelief; except that He laid His hand upon a few of the sick, and healed them. And he marveled at their lack of faith.
18 And when those who were in the synagogue heard, they were all filled with wrath; and they rose up, and brought him forth outside the city, and brought him to the brow of the hill upon which their city was built, that they might cast him from its summit: but he passed through among them and went away.
And he went about in the villages which were around Nazareth, and taught in their synagogues.
CHAPTER 18
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and all the things which came to pass at his hand; and he marveled, for he had obtained excellent information concerning him.
2 And some men said that John the Baptist was risen from among the dead; and others said that Elijah had appeared; and others, Jeremiah; and others, that a prophet of the old prophets was risen; and others said that he was a prophet like one of the prophets.
3 Herod said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he whom I beheaded; he is risen from among the dead: therefore mighty works result from him."
4 For Herod himself had sent and taken John, and cast him into prison, for the sake of Herodias his brother Philip's wife, whom he had taken. And John said to Herod, You have no authority to take the wife of your brother. And Herodias avoided him and wished to kill him; and she could not. But Herod feared John, for he knew that he was a righteous man and a holy; and he guarded him, and heard him much, and did, and obeyed him with gladness. And he wished to kill him; but he feared the people, for they adhered to him as the prophet.
5 And there was a celebrated day, and Herod had made a feast for his great men on the day of his anniversary, and for the officers and for the chief men of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias came in and danced in the midst of the company, and pleased Herod and those that sat with him.
6 And the king said to the damsel, "Ask of me what you will, and I will give it you." And he swore unto her, Whatsoever you shall ask, I will give it you, to the half of my kingdom.
7 And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask him? She said unto her, "The head of John the Baptist." And immediately she came in hastily to the king, and said unto him, "I desire in this hour that you give me on a dish the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; but because of the oath and the guests he did not wish to refuse her. But immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded that he should bring the head of John: and he went and cut off the head of John in the prison, and brought it on a dish, and delivered it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.
8 And his disciples heard, and came and took his body, and burried it. And they came and told Jesus what had happened.
9 And for this cause Herod said, "I beheaded John: who is this, of whom I hear these things." And he desired to see Him.
10 And Jesus, when he heard, removed there in a boat to a waste place alone, to the other side of the sea of the Galilee of Tiberias.
11 And many saw them going, and knew them, and hastened by land from all the cities, and came there beforehand; for they saw the signs which He was doing on the sick.
12 And Jesus went up into the mountain, and sat there with His disciples. And the feast of the Passover of the Jews was near. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw great multitudes coming to Him. And He was moved with compassion for them, for they were like sheep that were without a shepherd.
13 And He received them, and was speaking to them concerning the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
14 And when the evening approached, His disciples came to Him, and said unto Him, "The place is desert, and the time is past; send away the multitudes of the people, that they may go to the towns and villages which are around us, and buy for themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat." But He said unto them, "They have no need to go away; give you them what may be eaten."
15 They said unto Him, "We have not here enough." He said unto Philip, "Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?" And He said that proving him; and He knew what he was resolved to do. Philip said unto Him, "Two hundred pennyworth of bread would not suffice them after every one of them has taken a small amount."
16 One of his disciples said unto him (namely, Andrew the brother of Simon Cephas), "Here is a lad having five loaves of barley and two fishes: but this amount, what is it for all these? But will you that we go and buy for all the people what may be eaten? For we have no more than these five loaves and the two fishes. And the grass was plentiful in that place."
17 Jesus said unto them, "Arrange all the people that they may sit down on the grass, fifty people in a company." And the disciples did so. And all the people sat down by companies, by hundreds and fifties.
18 Then Jesus said unto them, "Bring here those five loaves and the two fishes." And when they brought Him that, Jesus took the bread and the fish, and looked to heaven, and blessed, and divided, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and the disciples set for the multitudes the bread and the fish; and they ate, all of them, and were satisfied."
19 And when they were satisfied, He said unto his disciples, "Gather the fragments that remain over, that nothing be lost." And they gathered, and filled twelve baskets with fragments, being those that remained over from those which ate of the five barley loaves and the two fishes. And those people who ate were five thousand, besides the women and children.
CHAPTER 19
1 And straightway he pressed his disciples to go up into the ship, and that they should go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself should send away the multitudes.
2 And those people who saw the sign which Jesus did, said, "Of a truth this is a prophet who has come into the world."
3 And Jesus knew their purpose to come and take Him, and make Him a king; and He left them, and went up into the mountain alone for prayer.
4 And when the nightfall was near, his disciples went down unto the sea, and sat in a boat, and came to the side of Capernaum.
5 And the darkness came on, and Jesus had not come to them. And the sea was stirred up against them by reason of a violent wind that blew. And the boat was distant from the land many furlongs, and they were much damaged by the waves, and the wind was against them.
6 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came unto them, walking upon the water, after they had rowed with difficulty about twenty-five or thirty furlongs.
7 And when he drew near unto their boat, His disciples saw Him walking on the water; and they were troubled, and supposed that it was a false appearance; and they cried out from their fear. But Jesus straightway spoke unto them, and said, "Take courage, for it is I; fear not."
8 Then Cephas answered and said unto him, "My Lord, if it be You, bid me to come unto You on the water." And Jesus said unto him, "Come." And Cephas went down out of the boat, and walked on the water to come unto Jesus.
9 But when he saw the wind strong, he feared, and was on the point of sinking; and he lifted up His voice, and said, My Lord, save me. And immediately our Lord stretched out His hand and took hold of Him, and said unto Him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
10 And when Jesus came near, He went up unto them into the boat, He and Simon, and immediately the wind ceased.
11 And those that were in the ship came and worshipped him, and said, Truly you are the Son of God. And straightway that ship arrived at the land which they made for. And when they came out of the ship to the land, they marveled greatly and were perplexed in themselves: and they had not understood by means of that bread, because their heart was gross.
12 And when the people of that region knew of the arrival of Jesus, they made haste in all that land, and began to bring those that were diseased, born in their beds to the place where they heard that He was.
13 And wheresoever the place might be which He entered, of the villages or the cities, they laid the sick in the markets, and sought of Him that they might touch were it only the edge of His garment: and all that touched Him were healed and lived."
14 And on the day after that, the multitude which was standing on the shore of the sea saw that there was there no other ship save that into which the disciples had gone up, and that Jesus went not up into the ship with his disciples (but there were other ships from Tiberias near the place where they ate the bread when Jesus blessed it): and when that multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor yet his disciples, they went up into those ships, and came to Capernaum, and sought Jesus.
15 And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, "Our Master, when came you here?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, You have not sought Me because of your seeing the signs, but because of your eating the bread and being satisfied. Serve not the food which perishes, but the food which abides in eternal life, which the Son of man will give unto you: him has God the Father sealed."
16 They said unto Him, "What shall we do that we may work the work of God?" Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.
17 They said unto Him, "What sign have You done, that we may see, and believe in You? What have you wrought? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it was written, 'Bread from heaven gave he them to eat.'"
18 Jesus said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Moses gave you not bread from heaven; but my Father gave you the bread of truth from heaven. The bread of God is that which came down from heaven and gave the world life."
19 They said unto Him, "Our Lord, give us at all times this bread."
20 Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: whosoever comes unto Me shall not hunger, and whosoever believes in Me shall not thirst forever. But I said unto you, You have seen Me, and have not believed. And all that my Father has given to Me comes unto Me; and whosoever comes unto Me I shall not cast him forth without."
21 "I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him that sent Me; and this is the will of Him that sent Me, that I should lose nothing of that which He gave Me, but raise it up in the last day. This is the will of My Father, that every one that sees the Son, and believes in Him, should have eternal life; and I will raise Him up in the last day."
22 The Jews therefore murmured against Him because of His saying, "I am the bread which came down from heaven." And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? Then how says this man, 'I came down from heaven?'"
23 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Murmur not one with another. No man is able to come unto Me, except the Father which sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day."
24 "It is written in the prophet, 'They shall all be the taught of God.' Every one who hears from the Father now, and learns of Him, comes unto Me."
25 "No man now sees the Father; but he that is from God, he it is that sees the Father."
26 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Whosoever believes in Me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which came down from heaven, that a man may eat of it, and not die."
27 "I am the bread of life which came down from heaven: and if a man eat of this bread he shall live forever: and the bread which I shall give is My body, which I give for the life of the world."
28 The Jews therefore quarrelled one with another, and said, "How can he give us His body that we may eat it?" Jesus said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, If you do not eat the body of the Son of man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in yourselves. Whosoever eats of My body and drinks of My blood has eternal life; and I will raise him up in the last day. My body truly is meat, and My blood truly is drink. Whosoever eats My body and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in Him -- as the living Father sent Me, and I am alive because of the Father; and whosoever eats Me, he also shall live because of Me."
29 "This is the bread which came down from heaven: and not according as your fathers ate the manna, and died: whosoever eats of this bread shall live forever." This He said in the synagogue, when He was teaching in Capernaum. And many of His disciples, when they heard, said, "This word is hard; who is he that can hear it?"
CHAPTER 20
1 And Jesus knew within Himself that His disciples were murmuring because of that, and He said unto them, "Does this trouble you? What if You should see the Son of man then ascend to the place where He was of old? It is the spirit that quickens, and the body profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that do not believe."
2 And Jesus knew beforehand who they were who should not believe, and who it was that should betray Him. And He said unto them, "Therefore I said unto you, No man can come unto Me, if that has not been given him by the Father."
3 And because of this word many of His disciples turned back and walked not with Him. And Jesus said unto the twelve, "Do you haply also wish to go away?" Simon Cephas answered and said, "My Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have believed and known that You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
4 Jesus said unto them, "Did not I choose you, you company of the twelve, and of you one is a devil?" He said that because of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, being of the twelve, was purposed to betray Him.
5 And while he was speaking, one of the Pharisees came asking of Him that He would eat with him: and He went in, and reclined to meat. And that Pharisee, when he saw it, marveled that he had not first cleansed himself before His eating.
6 Jesus said unto him, "Now do you Pharisees wash the outside of the cup and the dish, and you think that you are cleansed; but your inside is full of injustice and wickedness."
7 "You of little mind, did not He that made the outside make the inside? Now give what you have in alms, and everything shall be clean unto you."
8 And there came to Him Pharisees and scribes, come from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of His disciples eating bread while they had not washed their hands, they found fault. For all of the Jews and the Pharisees, if they wash not their hands thoroughly, eat not; for they held to the ordinance of the elders. And they ate not what was bought from the market, except they washed it; and many other things did they keep of what they had received, such as the washing of cups, and measures, and vessels of brass, and couches.
9 And scribes and Pharisees asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the ordinances of the elders, but eat bread without washing their hands?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Why do you also overstep the command of God by reason of your ordinance? God said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'Whosoever reviles his father and his mother shall surely die.' But you say, 'If a man say to his father or to his mother, "What you receive from me is an offering"' -- and you suffer him not to do anything for his father or his mother; and you make void and reject the word of God by reason of the ordinance that you have ordained and commanded, such as the washing of cups and measures, and what resembles that you do much."
10 And you forsook the command of God, and held to the ordinance of men. Do you well to wrong the command of God in order that you may establish your ordinance? You hypocrites, well did Isaiah the prophet prophesy concerning you, and say, 'This people honors Me with its lips; But their heart is very far from Me. But in vain do they fear Me, In that they teach the commands of men.'"
11 And Jesus called all the multitude, and said unto them."Hear me, all of you, and understand: nothing without the man, which then enters him, is able to defile him; but what goes out of him, that it is which defiles the man. He that has ears that hear, let him hear."
12 Then his disciples drew near, and said unto him, "Know you that the Pharisees which heard this word were angry?" He answered and said unto them, "Every plant which my Father which is in heaven planted not shall be uprooted. Let them alone; for they are blind leading blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both of them shall fall into a hollow."
13 And when Jesus entered the house from the multitude, Simon Cephas asked him, and said unto him, My Lord, explain to us that parable. He said unto them, "Do you also thus not understand? Know you not that everything that enters into the man from without cannot defile him; because it enters not into his heart; it enters into his stomach only, and there is cast forth in the cleansing which makes clean all the food? The thing which goes forth from the mouth of the man proceeds from his heart, and it is that which defiles the man. From within the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, fornication, adultery, theft, false witness, murder, injustice, wickedness, deceit, stupidity, evil eye, calumny, pride, foolishness: these evils all of them from within proceed from the heart, and they are the things which defile the man: but if a man eat while he washes not his hands, he is not defiled."
14 And Jesus went out there, and came to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered into a certain house, and desired that no man should know it; and He could not be hid. But straightway a Canaanitish woman, whose daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him. And that woman was a Gentile of Emesa of Syria. And she came out after Him, crying out, and saying, "Have mercy upon me, my Lord, you son of David; for my daughter is seized in an evil way by Satan." And He answered her not a word.
15 And his disciples came and besought him, and said, "Send her away: for she cries after us." He answered and said unto them, "I was not sent except to the sheep that are gone astray of the house of Israel." But she came and worshipped him, and said, "My Lord, help me, have mercy upon me."
16 Jesus said unto her, "It is not seemly that the children's bread should be taken and thrown to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, my Lord: the dogs also eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables, and live." Then said Jesus unto her, "O woman, great is your faith: it shall be unto you as you have desired. Go then your way; and because of this word, the devil is gone out of your daughter." And her daughter was healed in that hour.
17 And that woman went away to her house, and found her daughter laid upon the bed, and the devil gone out of her.
CHAPTER 21
1 And Jesus went out again from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, towards the borders of Decapolis.
2 And they brought unto Him one dumb and deaf, and entreated Him that he would lay his hand upon Him and heal Him.
3 And He drew him away from the multitude, and went away alone, and spat upon His fingers, and thrust them into his ears, and touched his tongue; and looked to heaven, and sighed, and said unto Him, "Be opened."
4 And in that hour his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he was speaking with ease. And Jesus charged them much that they should not tell this to any man: but the more he charged them, the more they increased in publishing, and marveled much, and said, "This man does everything well: he made the deaf to hear, and those that lacked speech to speak."
5 And while He was passing through the land of Samaria, he came to one of the cities of the Samaritans, called Sychar, beside the field which Jacob gave to Joseph to his son. And there was there a spring of water of Jacob's. And Jesus was fatigued from the exertion of the way, and sat at the spring. And the time was about the sixth hour.
6 And a woman of Samaria came to draw water; and Jesus said unto her, "Give me water, that I may drink." And His disciples had entered into the city to buy for themselves food.
7 And that Samaritan woman said unto Him, "How do you, being a Jew, ask me to give you to drink, while I am a Samaritan woman?" (And the Jews mingle not with the Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said unto her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who this is that said unto you, 'Give me to drink'; you would ask Him, and He would give you the water of life."
8 That woman said unto him, "My Lord, you have no bucket, and the well is deep: from where have you the water of life? Can it be that you are greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well, and drank from it, and his children, and his sheep?" Jesus answered and said unto her, "Every one that drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whosoever drinks of the water which I shall give him shall not thirst forever: but the water which I shall give him shall be in him a spring of water springing up unto eternal life."
9 That woman said unto him, "My Lord, give me of this water, that I may not thirst again, neither come and draw water from here." Jesus said unto her, "Go and call your husband, and come here." She said unto him, "I have no husband." Jesus said unto her, "You said well, 'I have no husband': five husbands have you had, and this man whom you have now is not your husband; and in this you said truly."
10 That woman said unto him, "My Lord, I perceive you to be a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and you say that in Jerusalem is the place in which worship must be." Jesus said unto her, "Woman, believe me, an hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor yet in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. You worship that which you know not: but we worship that which we know: for salvation is of the Jews. But an hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: and the Father also seeks such as these worshippers. For God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
11 That woman said unto him, "I know that the Messiah comes: and when he is come, he will teach us everything." Jesus said unto her, "I that speak unto you am He."
12 And while He was speaking, His disciples came; and they wondered how He would speak with a woman; but not one of them said unto Him, "What seek you?" or, "What speak you with her?"
13 And the woman left her waterpot, and went to the city, and said to the people, "Come, and see a man who told me all that ever I did: perhaps then He is the Messiah." And people went out from the city, and came to Him.
14 And in the mean while His disciples besought Him, and said unto Him, "Our Master, eat." And He said unto them, "I have food to eat that you know not." And the disciples said amongst themselves, "Can any one have brought him aught to eat?"
15 Jesus said unto them, "My food is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work. Said you not that after four months comes the harvest? Behold, I therefore say unto you, lift up your eyes, and behold the lands, that they have become white, and the harvest is already come. And he that reaps receives his wages, and gathers the fruit of eternal life; and the sower and the reaper rejoice together. For in this is found the word of truth, One sows, and another reaps. And I sent you to reap that in which you have not labored: others labored, and you have entered on their labor."
16 And from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the words of that woman, who testified and said, "He told me all that ever I did."
17 And when those Samaritans came unto Him, they besought Him to abide with them; and He abode with them two days. And many believed in Him because of His word; and they said to that woman, "Now not because of your saying have we believed in Him: we have heard and known that this truly is the Messiah, the Savior of the world."
18 And after two days Jesus went out there and departed to Galilee. And Jesus testified that a prophet is not honored in his own city.And when he came to Galilee, the Galilaeans received him.
CHAPTER 22
1 And when Jesus came to a certain village, there drew near to Him a leper, and fell at His feet, and besought Him, and said unto Him, "If You will, You are able to cleanse me." And Jesus had mercy upon him, and stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and said, "I will cleanse you." And immediately his leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
2 And He sternly charged him, and sent him out, and said unto him, "See that you tell not any man: but go and show yourself to the priests, and offer an offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded for their testimony." But he, when he went out, began to publish much, and spread abroad the news, so that Jesus could not enter into any of the cities openly, for the extent to which the report of him spread, but He remained without in a desert place.
3 And much people came unto Him from one place and another, to hear His word, and that they might be healed of their pains. And He used to withdraw from them into the desert, and pray.
4 And after that, was the feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
5 And there was in Jerusalem a place prepared for bathing, which was called in Hebrew the House of Mercy, having five porches. And there were laid in them much people of the sick, and blind, and lame, and paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water. And the angel from time to time went down into the place of bathing, and moved the water; and the first that went down after the moving of the water, every pain that he had was healed.
6 And a man was there who had a disease for thirty-eight years. And Jesus saw this man laid, and knew that he had been thus a long time; and he said unto him, "Would you be made whole?" That diseased one answered and said, "Yes, my Lord, I have no man, when the water moves, to put me into the bathing place; but when I come, another goes down before me." Jesus said unto him, "Rise, take your bed, and walk." And immediately that man was healed; and he rose, and carried his bed, and walked.
7 And that day was a sabbath. And when the Jews saw that healed one, they said unto Him, "It is a sabbath: you have no authority to carry your bed." And he answered and said unto them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, 'Take your bed, and walk.'"
8 They asked him therefore, "Who is this man that said unto you, 'Take your bed, and walk?'" But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had removed from that place to another, because of the press of the great multitude which was in that place.
9 And after two days Jesus happened upon him in the temple, and said unto him, "Behold, you are whole: sin not again, lest there come upon you what is worse than the first." And that man went, and said to the Jews that it was Jesus that had healed him.
10 And because of that the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him, because he was doing this on the sabbath.
11 And Jesus said unto them, "My Father works until now, and I also work." And because of this especially the Jews sought to kill him, not because He profaned the sabbath only; but for His saying also that God was His Father, and His making Himself equal with God.
12 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, The Son cannot do anything of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; what the Father does, that the Son also does like Him."
13 "The Father loves his Son, and everything that He does He shows Him: and more than these works will He show Him, that you may marvel. And as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whomsoever He will. And the Father judges no man, but has given all judgment unto the Son; that every man may honor the Son, as He honors the Father. And he that honors not the Son honors not the Father which sent Him."
14 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Whosoever hears My word, and believes in Him that sent Me, has eternal life, and comes not into judgment, but passes from death unto life."
15 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, An hour shall come, and now is also, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those which hear shall live. And as the Father has life in Himself, likewise he gave to the Son also that He might have life in Himself, and authority to do judgment also, because He is the Son of man."
16 "Marvel not then at that: I mean the coming of the hour when all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth: those that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those that have done evil deeds, to the resurrection of judgment."
17 "I am not able of Myself to do anything; but as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; I seek not My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. It is another that bears witness of Me; and I know that the witness which He bears of Me is true."
18 "You have sent unto John, and he has born witness of the truth. But not from man do I seek witness; but I say that you may live. That was a lamp which shines and gives light: and you were pleased to glory now in his light. But I have witness greater than that of John: the works which My Father has given Me to accomplish, those works which I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father which sent Me, He has born witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His appearance. And His word abides not in you; because in Him whom He has sent you do not believe."
19 "Search the scriptures, in which you rejoice that you have eternal life; and they bear witness of Me; and you do not wish to come to Me, that you may have eternal life."
20 "I seek not praise of men. But I know you, that the love of God is not in you. I am come in the name of My Father, and you received Me not; but if another come in his own name, that one will you receive."
21 And how can you believe, while you receive praise one from another, and praise from God, the One, you seek not? Can it be that you think that I will accuse you before the Father? You have one that accuses you, Moses, in whom you have rejoiced. If you believed Moses, you would believe Me also; Moses wrote of Me. And if you believed not his writings, how shall you believe My words?"
CHAPTER 23
1 And Jesus departed there, and came to the side of the sea of Galilee, and went up into the mountain, and sat there. And there came unto Him great multitudes, having with them lame, and blind, and dumb, and maimed, and many others, and they cast them at the feet of Jesus: for they had seen all the signs which he did in Jerusalem, when they were gathered at the feast. And He healed them all.
2 And those multitudes marveled when they saw dumb men speak, and maimed men healed, and lame men walk, and blind men see; and they praised the God of Israel.
3 And Jesus called his disciples, and said unto them, "I have compassion on this multitude, because of their continuing with me three days, having nothing to eat; and to send them away fasting I am not willing, lest they faint in the way, some of them having come from far." His disciples said unto him, "Where have we in the desert bread wherewith to satisfy all this multitude?"
4 Jesus said unto them, "How many loaves have you?" They said unto Him, "Seven, and a few small fishes." And He commanded the multitudes to sit down upon the ground; and He took those seven loaves and the fish, and blessed, and brake, and gave to His disciples to set before them; and the disciples set before the multitudes. And they all ate, and were satisfied: and they took that which remained over of the fragments, seven basketfuls.
5 And the people that ate were four thousand men, besides the women and children. And when the multitudes departed, He went up into the boat, and came to the borders of Magada.
6 And the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Him, and began to seek a discussion with Him. And they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven, tempting Him.
7 And Jesus sighed within himself, and said, "What sign seeks this evil and adulterous generation? It seeks a sign, and it shall not be given a sign, except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not be given a sign." And He left them, and went up into the boat, and went away to that side.
8 And His disciples forgot to take with them bread, and there was not with them in the boat, not even one loaf. And Jesus charged them, and said, "Take heed, and guard yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and from the leaven of Herod."
9 And they reflected within themselves that they had taken with them no bread. And Jesus knew, and said unto them, "Why think you within yourselves, O you of little faith, and are anxious, because you have no bread? Until now do you not perceive, neither understand? Is your heart yet hard? And have you eyes, and yet see not? And have you ears, and yet hear not? And do you not remember when I brake those five loaves for five thousand? And how many baskets full of broken pieces took you up?" They said, "Twelve." He said unto them, "And the seven also for four thousand: how many baskets full of broken pieces took you up?" They said, "Seven." He said unto them, How have you not understood that I was speaking not to you because of the bread, but that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?
10 Then they understood that He was speaking, not that they should beware of the leaven of the bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which He called leaven.
11 And after that, He came to Bethsaida. And they brought to Him a certain blind man, and besought Him that He would touch him. And He took the hand of that blind man, and led Him out without the village, and spat in his eyes, and laid his hand on him, and asked him, "What see you?" And that blind man looked intently, and said unto Him, "I see men as trees walking." And he placed His hand again on his eyes; and they were restored, and he saw everything clearly.
12 And He sent him to his house, and said, "Do not enter even into the village, nor tell any man in the village."
13 And Jesus went forth, and His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And while He was going in the way, and His disciples alone, He asked His disciples, and said, "What do men say of me that I am, the Son of man?" They said unto him, "Some say, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
14 He said unto them, "And you, what say you that I am?" Simon Cephas answered and said, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah: flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in heaven."
15 "And I say unto you also, that you are Cephas, and on this rock will I build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."
16 "To you will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
17 And he sternly charged His disciples, and warned them that they should not tell any man concerning Him, that He was the Messiah.
18 And henceforth began Jesus to show to His disciples that He was determined to go to Jerusalem, and suffer much, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and of the scribes, and be killed, and on the third day rise. And He was speaking plainly.
19 And Simon Cephas, as one grieved for Him, said, "Far be you, my Lord, from that." And He turned, and looked upon His disciples, and rebuked Simon, and said, "Get you behind Me, Satan: for you are a stumblingblock unto Me: for you think not of what pertains to God, but of what pertains to men."
20 And Jesus called the multitudes with His disciples, and said unto them, "Whosoever would come after me, let him deny himself, and take His cross every day, and come after Me. And whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever loses his life for My sake, and for the sake of My gospel, shall save it."
21 "What shall a man profit, if he gain all the world, and destroy his own life, or lose it? Or, what will a man give in ransom for his life? Whosoever shall deny me and my sayings in this sinful and adulterous generation, the Son of man also will deny him, when He comes in the glory of his Father with His holy angels. For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of His Father with His holy angels; and then shall He reward each man according to his works."
CHAPTER 24
1 And He said unto them, "Truly I say unto you, there be here now some standing that shall not taste death, until they see the kingdom of God come with strength, and the Son of man who comes in his kingdom."
2 And after six days Jesus took Simon Cephas, and James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain, the three of them only. And while they were praying, Jesus changed, and became after the fashion of another person; and his face shone like the sun, and his raiment was very white like the snow, and as the light of lightning, so that nothing on earth can whiten like it.
3 And there appeared unto him Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus. And they thought that the time of His decease which was to be accomplished at Jerusalem was come.
4 And Simon and those that were with him were heavy in the drowsiness of steep; and with effort they roused themselves, and saw His glory, and those two men that were standing with Him. And when they began to depart from Him, Simon said unto Jesus, My Master, it is good for us to be here: and if You will, we will make here three tabernacles; one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah; not knowing what he said, because of the fear which took possession of them.
5 And while he was yet saying that, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And when they saw Moses and Elijah that they had entered into that cloud, they feared again. And a voice was heard out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, whom I have chosen; hear you therefore him. And when this voice was heard, Jesus was found alone. And the disciples, when they heard the voice, fell on their faces from the fear which took hold of them. And Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, be not afraid." And they lifted up their eyes, and saw Jesus as He was.
6 And when they went down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, and said unto them, "Tell not what you have seen to any man, until the Son of man rise from among the dead." And they kept the word within themselves, and told no man in those days what they had seen. And they reflected among themselves, What is this word which he was speaking unto us, I, "when I am risen from among the dead?"
7 And his disciples asked Him, and said, "What is that which the scribes say, then, that Elijah must first come?" He said unto them, "Elijah comes first to set in order everything, and as it was written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things, and be rejected. But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they knew him not, and have done unto him whatsoever they desired, as it was written of him. In like manner the Son of man is to suffer of them." Then understood the disciples that He was speaking unto them concerning John the Baptist.
8 And on that day whereon they came down from the mountain, there met him a multitude of many people standing with his disciples, and the scribes were discussing with them. And the people, when they saw Jesus, were perplexed, and in the midst of their joy hastened and saluted him.
9 And on that day came certain of the Pharisees, and said unto Him, "Get you out, and go away; for Herod seeks to kill you." Jesus said unto them, "Go you and say to this fox, 'Behold, I am casting out demons, and I heal today and tomorrow, and on the third day I am perfected. Nevertheless I must be watchful today and tomorrow, and on the last day I shall depart; for it cannot be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.'"
10 And after that, there came to Him a man from that multitude, and fell upon His knees, and said unto Him, "I beseech you, my Lord, look upon my son; he is my only child: and the spirit comes upon him suddenly. A lunacy has come upon him, and he meets with evils. And when it comes upon him, it beats him about; and he foams, and gnashes his teeth, and wastes; and many times it has thrown him into the water and into the fire to destroy him, and it hardly leaves him after bruising him. And I brought him near to your disciples, and they could not heal him."
11 Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, till when shall I be with you? And till when shall I bear with you? Bring your son here. And he brought him unto him: and when the spirit saw him, immediately it beat him about; and he fell upon the ground, and was raging and foaming.
12 And Jesus asked his father, "How long is the time during which he has been thus?" He said unto him, "From his youth until now. But, my Lord, help me wherein you can, and have mercy upon me."
13 Jesus said unto him, If you can believe! All things are possible to him that believes. And immediately the father of the child cried out, weeping, and said, "I believe, my Lord; help my lack of faith." And when Jesus saw the hastening of the people, and their coming at the sound, he rebuked that unclean spirit, and said to it, You dumb spirit that speak not, I command you, come out of him, and enter not again into him. And that spirit, devil, cried out much, and bruised him, and came out; and that child fell as one dead, and many thought that he had died. But Jesus took him by his hand, and raised him up, and gave him to his father; and that child was healed from that hour. And the people all marveled at the greatness of God.
14 And when Jesus entered into the house, His disciples came, and asked him privately, and said unto him, "Why were we not able to heal him?" Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief. Truly I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove away; and it shall remove; and nothing shall overcome you. But it is impossible to cast out this kind by anything except by fasting and prayer.
15 And when he went forth there, they passed through Galilee: and he would not that any man should know it. And he taught His disciples, and said unto them, "Keep you these sayings in your ears and your hearts: for the Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him; and when He is killed, He shall rise on the third day. But they knew not the word which he was speaking unto them, for it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they feared to ask him about this word. And they were exceeding sorrowful."
CHAPTER 25
1 And in that day this thought presented itself to His disciples, and they said, which haply should be the greatest among them.
2 And when they came to Capernaum, and entered into the house, Jesus said unto them, "What were you considering in the way among yourselves?" And they were silent because they had considered that matter.
3 And when Simon went forth without, those that received two dirhams for the tribute came to Cephas, and said unto him, "Does your Master not give his two dirhams?" He said unto them, "Yes."
4 And when Cephas entered the house, Jesus anticipated him, and said unto him, "What think you, Simon? The kings of the earth, from whom do they receive custom and tribute? From their sons, or from strangers?" Simon said unto him, "From strangers." Jesus said unto him, "Children then are free." Simon said unto him, "Yes." Jesus said unto him, "Give you also unto them, like the stranger."
5 "But, lest it trouble them, go you to the sea, and cast a hook; and the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you shall find a stater: take therefore that, and give for Me and you."
6 And in that hour came the disciples to Jesus, and said unto him, "Who, think you, is greater in the kingdom of heaven?" And Jesus knew the thought of their heart, and called a child, and set him in the midst, and took him in His arms, and said unto them, "Truly I say unto you, If you do not return, and become as children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven."
7 Every one that shall receive in My name such as this child has received Me: and whosoever receives Me receives not Me, but Him that sent Me. And he who is little in your company, the same shall be great."
8 "But whosoever shall injure one of these little ones that believe in Me, it were better for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and he should be drowned in the depths of the sea.
9 John answered and said, "Our Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name; and we prevented him, because he followed not you with us." Jesus said unto them, "Prevent him not; for no man does powers in My name, and can hasten to speak evil of Me. Every one who is not in opposition to you is with you."
10 "Woe unto the world because of trials! But woe unto that man by whose hand the trials come If your hand or your foot injure you, cut it off, and cast it from you; for it is better for you to enter into life being halt or maimed, and not that you should have two hands or two feet, and fall into the hell of fire that burns forever; where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched.
11 And if your eye seduce you, pluck it out, and cast it from you; for it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than that you should have two eyes, and fall into the fire of Gehenna; where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched.
12 Every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. How good is salt! But if the salt also be tasteless, wherewith shall it be salted? It is fit neither for the land nor for dung, but they cast it out. He that has ears to hear, let him hear."
13 "Have you salt in yourselves. And be in peace one with another."
14 And He arose from there, and came to the borders of Judaea beyond Jordan: and there went unto Him there great multitudes, and He healed them; and He taught them also, according to His custom.
15 And the Pharisees came unto Him, tempting Him, and asking Him, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?" He said, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses made it allowable for us, saying, 'Whosoever will, let him write a writing of divorcement, and put away his wife.'"
16 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Have you not read, 'He that made them from the beginning made them male and female', and said, 'For this reason shall the man leave his father and his mother, and cleave to his wife; and they both shall be one body?' So then they are not two, but one body; the thing, then, which God has joined together, let no man put asunder."
17 And those Pharisees said unto him, "Why did Moses consent that a man should give a writing of divorcement and put her away?" Jesus said unto them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, gave you leave to divorce your wives; but in the beginning it was not so. I say unto you, Whosoever puts away his wife without fornication, and marries another, has exposed her to adultery."
18 And His disciples, when He entered the house, asked Him again about that. And He said unto them, "Every one who puts away his wife, and marries another, has exposed her to adultery. And any woman that leaves her husband, and becomes another's, has committed adultery. And whosoever marries her that is divorced has committed adultery." And his disciples said unto him, "If there be between the man and the woman such a case as this, it is not good for a man to marry." He said unto them, "Not every man can endure this saying, except him to whom it is given. There are eunuchs which from their mother's womb were born so; and there are eunuchs which through men became eunuchs; and there are eunuchs which made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He that is able to be content, let him be content."
19 Then they brought to Him children, that He should lay his hand upon them, and pray: and His disciples were rebuking those that were bringing them. And Jesus saw, and it was distressing to Him; and he said unto them, "Suffer the children to come unto Me, and prevent them not; for those that are like these have the kingdom of God. Truly I say unto you, whosoever receives not the kingdom of God as this child, shall not enter it. And he took them in his arms, and laid his hand upon them, and blessed them."
CHAPTER 26
1 And there came unto Him tax collectors and sinners to hear His word. And the scribes and the Pharisees murmured, and said, "This man receives sinners, and eats with them."
2 And Jesus, when He beheld their murmuring, was speaking unto them this parable: What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if one of them were lost, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go and seek the straying one till he found it? Truly I say unto you, When he finds it, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that went not astray; and bear it on his shoulders, and bring it to his house, and call his friends and neighbours, and say unto them, 'Rejoice with me, since I have found my straying sheep.' So your Father which is in heaven wills not that one of these little ones that have strayed should perish, and he seeks for them repentance. I say unto you, Thus there shall be rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons that do not need repentance."
3 And what woman having ten drachmas would lose one of them, and not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek it with care till she found it; and when she found it, call her friends and neighbours, and say unto them, 'Rejoice with me, as I have found my drachma that was lost'? I say unto you, Thus there shall be joy before the angels of God over the one sinner that repents, more than over the ninety-nine righteous persons that do not need repentance."
4 And Jesus spoke unto them also another parable: "A man had two sons: and the younger son said unto him, My father, give me my portion that belongs to me of your goods. And he divided between them his property. And after a few days the younger son gathered everything that belonged to him, and went into a far country, and there squandered his property by living prodigally."
5 "And when he had exhausted everything he had, there occurred a great famine in that country. And when he was in want, he went and joined himself to one of the people of a city of that country; and that man sent him into the field to feed the swine. And he used to long to fill his belly with the carob that those swine were eating: and no man gave him. And when he returned unto himself, he said, 'How many hired servants now in my father's house have bread enough and to spare, while I here perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father's house, and say unto him, "My father, I have sinned in heaven and before you, and am not worthy now to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants.'" And he arose, and came to his father. But his father saw him while he was at a distance, and was moved with compassion for him, and ran, and fell on his breast, and kissed him."
6 "And his son said unto him, 'My father, I have sinned in heaven and before you, and am not worthy to be called your son.' His father said unto his servants, 'Bring forth a stately robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and put on him shoes on his feet: and bring and slay a fatted ox, that we may eat and make merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is found.' And they began to be merry."
7 "Now his eider son was in the field; and when he came and drew near to the house, he heard the sound of many singing. And he called one of the lads, and asked him what this was. He said unto him, 'Your brother has arrived; and your father has slain a fatted ox, since he has received him safe and sound.' And he was angry, and would not enter; so his father went out, and besought him to enter. And he said to his father, 'How many years do I serve you in bondage, and I never transgressed a commandment of your; and you have never given me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends? But this your son, when he had squandered your property with harlots, and come, you have slain for him a fatted ox.' His father said unto him, 'My son, you are at all times with me, and everything I have yours. It behooves you to rejoice and make merry, since this your brother was dead, and is alive; and was lost, and is found.'"
8 And he was speaking a parable unto his disciples: "There was a rich man, and he had a steward; and he was accused to him that he had squandered his property. So his lord called him, and said unto him, 'What is this that I hear regarding you? Give me the account of your stewardship; for it is now impossible that you should be a steward for me.' The steward said within himself, 'What shall I do, seeing that my lord takes from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; and to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will do, that, when I go out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.' And he called one after another of his lord's debtors, and said to the first, 'How much owe you my lord?' He said unto him, 'An hundred portions of oil.' He said unto him, 'Take your writing, and sit down, and write quickly fifty portions.' And he said to the next, 'And you, how much owe you my lord?' He said unto him, "An hundred cors of wheat." He said unto him, 'Take your writing, and sit down, and write eighty cors.' And our lord commended the sinful steward because he had done a wise deed; for the children of this world are wiser than the children of the light in this their age."
9 "And I also say unto you, make unto yourselves friends with the wealth of this unrighteousness; so that, when it is exhausted, they may receive you into their tents forever. He who is faithful in a little is faithful also in much: and he who is unrighteous in a little is unrighteous also in much. If then in the wealth of unrighteousness you were not trustworthy, who will intrust you with the truth? If you are not found faithful in what does not belong to you, who will give you what belongs to you?"
CHAPTER 27
1 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. And when he began to make it, they brought to him one who owed him ten talents. And because he had not wherewith to pay, his lord ordered that he should be sold, he, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment be made. So that servant fell down and worshipped him, and said unto him, 'My lord, have patience with me, and I shall pay you everything.' And the lord of that servant had compassion, and released him, and forgave him his debt."
2 "And that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred pence; and he took him, and dealt severely with him, and said unto him, Give me what you owe. So the fellow-servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, and said, 'Grant me respite, and I will pay you.' And he would not; but took him, and cast him into prison, till he should give him his debt. And when their fellow-servants saw what happened, it distressed them much; and they came and told their lord of all that had taken place.
3 Then his lord called him, and said unto him, 'You wicked servant, all that debt I forgave you, because you besought me: was it not then incumbent on you also to have mercy on your fellow-servant, as I had mercy on you?' And his lord became wroth, and delivered him to the scourgers, till he should pay all that he owed. So shall my Father which is in heaven do unto you, if one forgive not his brother his wrong conduct from his heart."
4 "Take heed within yourselves: if your brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he act wrongly towards you seven times in a day, and on that day return seven times unto you, and say, I repent towards you; forgive him."
5 "And if your brother act wrongly towards you, go and reprove him between you and him alone: if he hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he hear you not, take with you one or two, and so at the mouth of two or three every saying shall be established. And if he listen not to these also, tell the congregation; and if he listen not even to the congregation, let him be unto you as a tax collector and a Gentile."
6 "Truly I say unto you, All that you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and what you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. I say unto you also, If two of you agree on earth to ask, everything shall be granted them from My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I amongst them."
7 Then Cephas drew near to Him, and said unto Him, "My Lord, how many times, if my brother act wrongly towards me, should I forgive him? Until seven times?" Jesus said unto him, "I say not unto you, Until seven; but, until seventy times seven, seven. And the servant that knows his lord's will, and makes not ready for him according to his will, shall meet with much punishment; but he that knows not, and does something for which he merits punishment, shall meet with slight punishment. Every one to whom much has been given, much shall be asked of him; and he that has had much committed to him, much shall be required at his hand."
8 "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and I would that it had been kindled already. And I have a baptism to be baptized with, and greatly am I straitened till it be accomplished."
9 "See that you despise not one of these little ones that believe in Me. Truly I say unto you, Their angels at all times see the face of My Father which is in heaven. The Son of man came to save the thing which was lost."
10 And after that, Jesus walked in Galilee; and He did not like to walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. And there came people who told Him of the Galilaeans, those whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus answered and said unto them, "Do you imagine that those Galilaeans were sinners more than all the Galilaeans, so that this thing has come upon them? No. Truly I say unto you now, that you shall all also, if you repent not, likewise perish. Or perchance those eighteen on whom the palace fell in Siloam, and slew them, do you imagine that they were to be condemned more than all the people that dwell in Jerusalem? No. Truly I say unto you, If you do not all repent, you shall perish like them."
11 And he was speaking unto them this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. So he said to the farmer, "Lo, three years do I come and seek fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why does it render the ground unoccupied?" The farmer said unto him, "My lord, leave it this year also, that I may dig about it, and dung it; then if it bear fruit! And if not, then cut it down in the coming year."
12 And when Jesus was teaching on the sabbath day in one of the synagogues, there was there a woman that had a spirit of disease eighteen years; and she was bowed down, and could not straighten herself at all. And Jesus saw her, and called her, and said unto her, "Woman, be loosed from your disease." And He put his hand upon her; and immediately she was straightened, and praised God.
13 And the chief of the synagogue answered with anger, because Jesus had healed on a sabbath, and said unto the multitudes, "There are six days in which work ought to be done; come in them and be healed, and not on the sabbath day." But Jesus answered and said unto him, "You hypocrites, does not each of you on the sabbath day loose his ox or his donkey from the manger, and go and water it? Ought not this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, and whom the devil has bound eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" And when He said this, they were all put to shame, those standing, who were opposing Him: and all the people were pleased with all the wonders that proceeded from His hand.
CHAPTER 28
1 And at that time the feast of tabernacles of the Jews drew near. So the brethren of Jesus said unto Him, "Remove now away, and go to Judaea, that Your disciples may see the deeds that You do. For no man does a thing secretly and wishes to be apparent. If You do this, show yourself to the world." For up to this time not even the brethren of Jesus believed on Him.
2 Jesus said unto them, "My time till now has not arrived; but as for you, your time is alway ready. It is not possible for the world to hate you; but Me it hates, for I bear witness against it, that its deeds are evil. As for you, go you up unto this feast: but I go not up now to this feast; for my time has not yet been completed. He said this, and remained behind in Galilee."
3 But when His brethren went up unto the feast, He journeyed from Galilee, and to came to the borders of Judaea, to the country beyond Jordan; and there came after Him great multitudes, and He healed them all there.
4 And He went out, and proceeded to the feast, not openly, but as one that conceals Himself. And the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "In what place is this man? And there occurred much murmuring there in the great multitude that came to the feast, on His account. For some said, "He is good," and others said, "No, but he leads the people astray. But no man was speaking of him openly for fear of the Jews.
5 But when the days of the feast of tabernacles were half over, Jesus went up to the temple, and taught. And the Jews wondered, and said, "How does this man know writing, seeing He has not learned?" Jesus answered and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me."
6 "Whoever wishes to do His will understands My doctrine, whether it be from God, or whether I speak of Mine own accord. Whosoever speaks of his own accord seeks praise for himself; but whosoever seeks praise for Him that sent him, he is true, and unrighteousness in his heart there is none."
7 "Did not Moses give you the law, and no man of you keeps the law? Why seek you to kill me? The multitude answered and said unto him, "You have demons: who seeks to kill you?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "I did one deed, and you all marvel because of this. Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but it is from the fathers); and you on the sabbath circumcise a man. And if a man is circumcised on the sabbath day, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are you angry at me, because I healed on the sabbath day the whole man? Judge not with hypocrisy, but judge righteous judgment."
8 And some people from Jerusalem said, "Is not this He whom they seek to slay? And lo, He discourse with them openly, and they say nothing unto Him. Think you that our eiders have learned that this is the Messiah indeed? But this man is known where he is; and the Messiah, when he comes, no man knows where he is." So Jesus lifted up His voice as He taught in the temple, and said, "You both know Me, and know where I am; and of My own accord am I not come, but He that sent Me is true, He whom you know not: but I know Him; for I am from Him, and He sent Me." And they sought to seize Him: and no man laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.
9 But many of the multitude believed on Him; and they said, The Messiah, when He comes, can it be that He will do more than these signs that this man does?"
10 And a man of that multitude said unto our Lord, "Teacher, say to my brother that he divide with me the inheritance." Jesus said unto him, "Man, who is it that appointed me over you as a judge and divider?" And He said unto His disciples, "Take heed within yourselves of all inordinate desire; for it is not in abundance of possessions that life shall be."
11 And he gave them this parable: "The ground of a rich man brought forth abundant produce: and he pondered within himself, and said, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my produce?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down the buildings of my barns, and build them, and make them greater; and store there all my wheat and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.' God said unto him, 'O man of little intelligence, this night shall your soul be taken from you; and this that you have prepared, whose shall it be?' So is he that lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich in God."
12 And while Jesus was going in the way, there came near to him a young man of the rulers, and fell on his knees, and asked him, and said, "Good Teacher, what is it that I must do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said unto him, "Why call you Me good, while there is none good but the One, even God?"
13 "You know the commandments. If you would enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man said unto him, "Which of the commandments?" Jesus said unto him, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not kill, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not do injury, Honor your father and your mother: and, Love your neighbor as yourself." That young man said unto him, "All these have I kept from my youth: what then is it that I lack?" And Jesus looked intently at him, and loved him, and said unto him, "If you would be perfect, what you lack is one thing: go away and sell everything that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and take your cross, and follow Me.
14 And that young man frowned at this word, and went away feeling sad; for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw his sadness, he looked towards His disciples, and said unto them, "How hard it is for them that have possessions to enter the kingdom of God!"
CHAPTER 29
1 "Truly I say unto you, It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And I say unto you also, that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And the disciples were wondering at these sayings. And Jesus answered and said unto them again, "My children, how hard it is for those that rely on their possessions to enter the kingdom of God!" And those that were listening wondered more, and said amongst themselves, being agitated, "Who, think you, can be saved?" And Jesus looked at them intently, and said unto them, "With men this is not possible, but with God it is. It is possible for God to do everything."
2 Simon Cephas said unto him, "Lo, we have left everything, and followed you; what is it, think you, that we shall have?" Jesus said unto them, "Truly I say unto you, You that have followed Me, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, and shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel. Truly I say unto you, No man leaves houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or kinsfolk, or lands, because of the kingdom of God, or for my sake, and the sake of my gospel, who shall not obtain many times as much in this time, and in the world to come inherit eternal life: and now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecution; and in the world to come everlasting life. Many that are first shall be last, and that are last shall be first."
3 And when the Pharisees heard all this, because of their love for wealth they scoffed at Him. And Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and said unto them, "You are they that justify yourselves before men; while God knows your hearts: the thing that is lofty with men is base before God."
4 And He began to say, "A certain man was rich, and wore silk and purple, and enjoyed himself every day in splendour: and there was a poor man named Lazarus, and he was cast down at the door of the rich man, afflicted with sores, and he longed to fill his belly with the crumbs that fell from the table of that rich man; yes, even the dogs used to come and lick his sores. And it happened that that poor man died, and the angels conveyed him into the bosom of Abraham: and the rich man also died, and was buried. And while he was being tormented in Hades, he lifted up his eyes from afar, and saw Abraham with Lazarus in his bosom. And he called with a loud voice, and said, 'My father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to wet the tip of his finger with water, and moisten my tongue for me; for, behold, I am burned in this flame.' Abraham said unto him, 'My son, remember that you received your good things in your life, and Lazarus his afflictions: but now, behold, he is at rest here, and you are tormented. And in addition to all this, there is between us and you a great abyss placed, so that they that would cross unto you from away cannot, nor yet from there do they cross unto us.' He said unto him, 'Then I beseech you, my father, to send him to my father's house; for I have five brethren; let him go, that they also sin not, and come to the abode of this torment.' Abraham said unto him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' He said unto him, 'No, my father Abraham: but let a man from the dead go unto them, and they will repent.' Abraham said unto him, 'If they listen neither to Moses nor to the prophets, neither if a man from the dead rose would they believe him.'"
5 "The kingdom of heaven is like a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And he agreed with the laborers on one penny a day for each laborer, and he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out in three hours, and saw others standing in the market idle. He said unto them, 'Go you also into my vineyard, and what is right I will pay you.' And they went. And he went out also at the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise, and sent them. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said unto them, 'Why are you standing the whole day idle?' They said unto him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said unto them, 'Go you also into the vineyard, and what is right you shall receive.' So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, 'Call the laborers, and pay them their wages; and begin with the later ones, and end with the former ones.' And those of eleven hours came, and received each a penny. When therefore the first came, they supposed that they should receive something more; and they also received each a penny. And when they received it, they was speaking angrily against the householder, and said, 'These last worked one hour, and you have made them equal with us, who have suffered the heat of the day, and its burden.' He answered and said unto one of them, 'My friend, I do you no wrong: was it not for a penny that you did bargain with me? Take what yours, and go your way; for I wish to give this last as I have given you. Or am I not entitled to do with what is mine what I choose? Or yours eye perchance evil, because I am good?' Thus shall the last ones be first, and the first last. The called are many, and the chosen are few."
6 And when Jesus entered into the house of one of the chiefs of the Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, and they were watching Him to see what He would do, and there was before Him a man which had the dropsy, Jesus answered and said unto the scribes and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to heal?" But they were silent. So He took him, and healed him, and sent him away. And He said unto them, "Which of you shall have his son or his ox fall on the sabbath day into a well, and not lift him up straightway, and draw water for him?" And they were not able to answer him a word to that.
CHAPTER 30
1 And He was speaking a parable unto those which were bidden there, because He saw them choose the places that were in the highest part of the sitting room: "When a man invites you to a feast, do not go and sit at the head of the room; lest there be there a man more honorable than you, and he that invited you come and say unto you, 'Give the place to this man: and you be ashamed when you rise and take another place.' But when you are invited, go and sit last; so that when he that invited you comes, he may say unto you, 'My friend, go up higher': and you shall have praise before all that were invited with you. For every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and every one that abases himself shall be exalted."
2 And he said also to him that had invited him, "When you make a feast a or a banquet, do not invite your friends, nor even your brethren, nor your kinsmen, nor your rich neighbours; lest haply they also invite you, and you have this reward. But when you make a feast, invite the poor, and those with withered hand, and the lame, and the blind: and blessed are you, since they have not the means to reward you; that your reward may be at the rising of the righteous." And when one of them that were invited heard that, he said unto Him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God."
3 Jesus answered again in parables, and said, "The kingdom of heaven has been likened to a certain king, which made a feast for his son, and prepared a great banquet, and invited many: and he sent his servants at the time of the feast to inform them that were invited, Everything is made ready for you; come. And they would not come, but began all of them with one voice to make excuse."
4 "And the first said unto them, 'Say to him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out to see it: I pray you to release me, for I ask to be excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to examine them: I pray you to release me, for I ask to be excused.' And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
5 And the king sent also other servants, and said, 'Say to those that were invited, that my feast is ready, and my oxen and my fatlings are slain, and everything is ready: come to the feast.' But they made light of it, and went, one to his field, and another to his merchandise: and the rest took his servants, and entreated them shamefully, and killed them. And one of the servants came, and informed his lord of what had happened. And when the king heard, he became angry, and sent his armies; and they destroyed those murderers, and burned their cities. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is prepared, but those that were invited were not worthy. Go out quickly into the markets and into the partings of the ways of the city, and bring in here the poor, and those with pains, and the lame, and the blind.' And the servants did as the king commanded them. And they came, and said unto him, 'Our lord, we have done all that you commanded us, and there is here still room.' So the lord said unto his servants, 'Go out into the roads, and the ways, and the paths, and every one that you find, invite to the feast, and constrain them to enter, till my house is filled. I say unto you, that no one of those people that were invited shall taste of my feast.'
6 "And those servants went out into the roads, and gathered all that they found, good and bad: and the banquet house was filled with guests. And the king entered to see those who were seated, and he saw there a man not wearing a festive garment: and he said unto him, 'My friend, how did you come in here not having on festive garments?' And he was silent. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind his hands and his feet, and put him forth into the outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' The called are many; and the chosen, few."
7 And after that, the time of the feast of unleavened bread of the Jews arrived, and Jesus went out to go to Jerusalem. And as he went in the way, there met him ten persons who were lepers, and stood afar off: and they lifted up their voice, and said, "Our Master, Jesus, have mercy upon us." And when He saw them, He said unto them, "Go and show yourselves unto the priests." And when they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw himself cleansed, returned, and was praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face before the feet of Jesus, giving Him thanks: and this man was a Samaritan. Jesus answered and said, "Were not those that were cleansed ten? Where then are the nine? Not one of them turned aside to come and praise God, but this man who is of a strange people." He said unto him, "Arise, and go your way; for your faith has given you life."
8 And while they were going up in the way to Jerusalem, Jesus went in front of them; and they wondered, and followed Him fearing. And He took his twelve disciples apart, and began to tell them privately what was about to befall him.
9 And he said unto them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things shall be fulfilled that are written in the prophets concerning the Son of man. He shall be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the peoples; and they shall treat Him shamefully, and scourge Him, and spit in His face, and humble Him, and crucify Him, and slay Him: and on the third day He shall rise." But they understood not one thing of this; but this word was hidden from them, and they did not perceive these things that were addressed to them.
10 Then came near to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, she and her sons, and worshipped Him, and asked of Him a certain thing. And He said unto her, "What would you?" And James and John, her two sons, came forward, and said unto him, "Teacher, we would that all that we ask you would do unto us." He said unto them, W"hat would you that I should do unto you?" They said unto him, "Grant us that we may sit, the one on your right, and the other So on your left, in your kingdom and your glory."
11 And Jesus said unto them, "You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink, and with the baptism that I am to be baptized with, will you be baptized?" And they said unto him, "We are able." Jesus said unto them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized you shall be baptized: but that you should sit on my right and on my left is not mine to give; but it is for him for whom my Father has prepared it.
CHAPTER 31
1 And when the ten heard, they were moved with anger against James and John. And Jesus called them, and said unto them, "You know that the rulers of the nations are their lords; and their great men are set in authority over them. Not thus shall it be amongst you: but he amongst you that would be great, let him be to you a servant; and whoever of you would be first, let him be to every man a bond-servant: even as the Son of man also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give himself a ransom in place of the many." He said this, and was going about the villages and the cities, and teaching; and he went to Jerusalem.
2 And a man asked Him, "Are those that shall be saved few?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Strive you to enter at the narrow door: I say unto you now, that many shall seek to enter, and shall not be able -- from the time when the master of the house rises, and closes the door, and you shall be standing without, and shall knock at the door, and shall begin to say, 'Our lord, open unto us'; and he shall answer and say, 'I say unto you, I know you not where you are': and you shall begin to say,
'Before you we did eat and drink, and in our markets did you teach'; and he shall say unto you, 'I know you not where you are; depart from me, you servants of untruth.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, while you are put forth without. And they shall come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And there shall then be last that have become first, and first that have become last."
3 And when Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, there was a man named Zacchaeus, rich, and chief of the tax collectors. And he desired to see Jesus who He was; and he was not able for the pressure of the crowd, because Zacchaeus was little of stature. And he hastened, and went before Jesus, and went up into an unripe fig tree to see Jesus: for He was to pass thus. And when Jesus came to that place, He saw him, and said unto Him, "Make haste, and come down, Zacchaeus: today I must be in your house."
4 And he hastened, and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they all saw, they murmured, and said, "He has gone in and lodged with a man that is a sinner."
5 So Zacchaeus stood, and said unto Jesus, "My Lord, now half of my possessions I give to the poor, and what I have unjustly taken from every man I give him fourfold." Jesus said unto him, "Today is salvation come to this house, because this man also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and save the thing that was lost."
6 And when Jesus went out of Jericho, He and His disciples, there came after Him a great multitude.
7 And there was a blind man sitting by the way side begging. And his name was Bar-Timaeus, the son of Timaeus. And he heard the sound of the multitude passing, and asked, "Who is this?" They said unto him, "Jesus the Nazarene passes by." And when he heard that it was Jesus, he called out with a loud voice, and said, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me." And those that went before Jesus were rebuking him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more, and said, "Son of David, have mercy on me." And Jesus stood, and commanded that they should call him.
8 And they called the blind man, and said unto him, "Be of good courage, and rise; for, behold, he calls you." And the blind man threw away his garment, and rose, and came to Jesus. Jesus said unto him, "What do you wish that I should do unto you?" And that blind man said unto him, "My Lord and Master, that my eyes may be opened, so that I may see You." And Jesus had compassion on him, and touched his eyes, and said unto him, "See; for your faith has saved you." And immediately he received his sight, and came after Him, and praised God; and all the people that saw praised God.
9 And He was speaking a parable because He was nearing Jerusalem, and they supposed that at that time the kingdom of God was about to appear.
10 He said unto them, "A man, a son of a great race, went into a far country, to receive a kingdom, and return. And he called his ten servants, and gave them ten shares, and said unto them, Trade till the time of my coming. But the people of his city hated him, and sent messengers after him, and said, 'We will not that this man reign over us.' And when he had received a kingdom, and returned, he said that the servants to whom he had given the money should be called unto him, that he might know what each of them had traded."
11 "And the first came, and said, 'My lord, your share has gained ten shares.' The king said unto him, 'You good and faithful servant, who have been found faithful in a little, be you set over ten districts.' And the second came, and said, 'My lord, your portion has gained five portions. And he said unto him also, And you shall be set over five districts.' And another came, and said, 'My lord, here is your portion, which was with me laid by in a napkin: I feared you, because you are a hard man, and take what you did not leave, and seek what you did not give, and reap what you did not sow.' His lord said unto him, 'From your mouth shall I judge you, you wicked and idle servant, who were untrustworthy. You knew that I am a hard man, and take what I did not leave, and reap what I did not sow: why did you not put my money at usury, and so I might come and seek it, with its gains?' And he said unto those that were standing in front of him, 'Take from him the share, and give it to him that has ten shares.' They said unto him, 'Our lord, he has ten shares.' He said unto them, 'I say unto you, Every one that has shall be given unto; and he that has not, that which he has also shall be taken from him. And those mine enemies who would not that I should reign over them, bring them, and slay them before me.'"
CHAPTER 32
1 And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went up to the temple of God, and found there oxen and sheep and doves. And when He beheld those that sold and those that bought, and the money-changers sitting, He made for himself a scourge of rope, and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen, and the money-changers; and He threw down their money, and upset their tables, and the seats of them that sold the doves; and He was teaching, and saying unto them, "Is it not written, 'My house is a house of prayer for all peoples'? And you have made it a den for robbers."
2 And He said unto those that sold the doves, "Take this away, and make not My Father's house a house of merchandise." And He suffered not any one to carry vessels inside the temple. And His disciples remembered the scripture, "The zeal of Your house has eaten me up."
3 The Jews answered and said unto him, "What sign have you shown us, that you do this?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "Destroy this temple, and I shall raise it in three days." The Jews said unto him, "This temple was built in forty-six years, and will You raise it in three days?" But He was speaking unto them of the temple of His body, that when they destroyed it, He would raise it in three days. When therefore He rose from among the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the scriptures, and the word that Jesus was speaking.
4 And when Jesus sat down over against the treasury, He observed how the multitudes were casting their offerings into the treasury: and many rich men were throwing in much. And there came a poor widow, and cast in two mites. And Jesus called his disciples, and said unto them, "Truly I say unto you, This poor widow cast into the treasury more than all the people: and all of these cast into the place of the offering of God of the superfluity of their wealth; while this woman of her want threw in all that she possessed."
5 And He was speaking unto them this parable, concerning people who trusted in themselves that they are righteous, and despised every man: "Two men went up to the temple to pray; one of them a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. And the Pharisee stood apart, and prayed thus, 'O Lord, I thank you, since I am not like the rest of men, the unjust, the profligate, the extortioners, or even like this tax collector; but I fast two days a week, and tithe all my possessions.' And the tax collector was standing at a distance, and he would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating upon his breast, and saying, 'O Lord, have mercy on me, me the sinner.' I say unto you, that this man went down justified to his house more than the Pharisee. Every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and every one that abases himself shall be exalted."
6 And when eventide was come, He left all the people, and went outside the city to Bethany, He and His twelve, and He remained there. And all the people, because they knew the place, came to Him, and He received them; and them that had need of healing He healed.
7 And on the morning of the next day, when He returned to the city from Bethany, He hungered. And He saw a fig tree at a distance on the beaten highway, having on it leaves. And He came unto it, expecting to find something on it; and when He came, he found nothing on it but the leaves -- it was not the season of figs -- and he said unto it, "Henceforward forever let no man eat fruit of you." And His disciples heard.
8 And they came to Jerusalem. And there was there a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews. This man came unto Jesus by night, and said unto Him, "My Master, we know that You have been sent from God as a teacher; and no man can do these signs that You do, except him whom God is with."
9 Jesus answered and said unto him, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, if a man be not born a second time, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
10 Nicodemus said unto him, "How can a man who is old be born? Can he, think you, return again to his mother's womb a second time, to enter and be born?"
11 Jesus answered and said unto him, Truly, truly, I say unto you, "If a man be not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. For he that is born of flesh is flesh; and he that is born of Spirit is spirit. Wonder not that I said unto you that you must be born a second time. The wind blows where it lists, and you hear its voice, but you know not from what place it comes, nor where it goes: so is every man that is born of the Spirit."
12 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, "How can that be?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Are you teaching Israel, and yet know not these things? Truly, truly, I say unto you, What we know we say, and what we have seen we witness: and you receive not our witness. If I said unto you what is on earth, and you believed not, how then, if I say unto you what is in heaven, will you believe? And no man has ascended up into heaven, except him that descended from heaven, the Son of man, which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so is the Son of man to be lifted up; so that every man who may believe in him may not perish, but have eternal life. God so loved the world, that he should give his only Son; and so every one that believes on him should not perish, but should have eternal life. God sent not his Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world might be saved by his hand. He that believes in him shall not be judged: but he that believes not is condemned beforehand, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son, the Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light; because their deeds were evil. Whosoever does evil deeds hates the light, and comes not to the light, lest his deeds be reproved. But he that does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be known, that they have been done in God."
13 [no verse]
14 that fig tree which You did curse has dried up. And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Let there be in you the faith of God. Truly I say unto you, if you believe, and doubt not in your hearts, and assure yourselves that that will be which you say, you shall have what you say. And if you say to this mountain, Remove, and fall into the sea, it shall be. And all that you ask God in prayer, and believe, he will give you." And the apostles said unto our Lord, "Increase our faith."
15 He said unto them, "If there be in you faith like a grain of mustard, you shall say to this fig tree, 'Be you torn up, and be you planted in the sea; and it will obey you.'"
16 "Who of you has a servant driving a yoke of oxen or tending sheep, and if he come from the field, will say unto him straightway, 'Go and sit down'? No, he will say unto him, 'Make ready for me wherewith I may sup, and gird your waist, and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterwards you shall eat and drink also.' Does that servant haply, who did what he was bid, receive his praise? I think not. So you also, when you have done all that you were bid, say, We are idle servants; what it was our duty to do, we have done."
17 "For this reason I say unto you, Whatever you pray and ask, believe that you receive, and you shall have. And when you stand to pray, forgive what is in your heart against any man; and your Father which is in heaven will forgive you also your wrong-doings. But if you forgive not men their wrong-doings, neither will your Father forgive you also your wrong-doings."
18 And He was speaking unto them a parable also, that they should pray at all times, and not be slothful: "There was a judge in a city, who feared not God, nor was ashamed for men: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, and said, 'Avenge me of mine adversary.' And he would not for a long time: but afterwards he said within himself, 'If of God I have no fear, and before men I have no shame; yet because this widow vexes me, I will avenge her, that she come not at all times, and annoy me.' And our Lord said, 'Hear you what the judge of injustice said. And shall not God still more do vengeance for His elect, who call upon Him in the night and in the day, and grant them respite? I say unto you, He will do vengeance for them speedily. Think you the Son of man will come and find faith on the earth?"
19 And they came again to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, on one of the days, as Jesus was walking in the temple, and teaching the people, and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came upon Him, and said unto Him, "Tell us: By what power do You this? And who gave you this power to do that?" And Jesus said unto them, "I also will ask you one word, and if you tell me, I also shall tell you by what power I do that. The baptism of John, from what place is it? From heaven or of men? Tell me." And they reflected within themselves, and said, "If we shall say unto Him, 'From heaven'; he will say unto us, 'For what reason did you not believe him?' But if we shall say, 'Of men'; we fear that the people will stone us, all of them. And all of them were holding to John, that he was a true prophet."
20 They answered and said unto Him, "We know not." Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you also by what power I work. What think you? A man had two sons; and he went to the first, and said unto him, 'My son, go today, and till in the vineyard.' And he answered and said, 'I do not wish to': but finally he repented, and went. And he went to the other, and said unto him likewise. And he answered and said, 'Yes, my lord': and went not. Which of these two did the will of his father?" They said unto him, "The first." Jesus said unto them, "Truly I say unto you, The tax collectors and harlots go before you into the kingdom of God. John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not; but the tax collectors and harlots believed him; and you, not even when you saw, did you repent at last, that you might believe in him."
21 "Hear another parable: A man was a householder, and planted a vineyard, and surrounded it with a hedge, and digged in it a winepress, and built in it a tower, and gave it to husbandmen, and went to a distance for a long time. So when the time of the fruits came, he sent his servants unto the husbandmen, that they might send him of the produce of his vineyard. And those husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty."
22 "And he sent unto them another servant also; and they stoned him, and wounded him, and sent him away with shameful handling. And he sent again another; and they slew him. And he sent many other servants unto them. And the husbandmen took his servants, and one they beat, and another they stoned, and another they slew. So he sent again other servants more than the first; and they did likewise with them. So the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will see him and be ashamed.' So at last he sent unto them his beloved son that he had. But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said amongst themselves, 'This is the heir.' And they said, 'We will slay him, and so the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him, and put him forth without the vineyard, and slew him. When then the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do with those husbandmen?" They said unto him, "He will destroy them in the worst of ways, and give the vineyard to other husbandmen, who will give him fruit in its season." Jesus said unto them, "Have you never read in the scripture, 'The stone which the builders declared to be base, the same came to be at the head of the corner: From God was this, And it is wonderful in our eyes'?"
23 "Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a people that will produce fruit. And whosoever falls on this stone shall be broken in pieces: but on whomsoever it falls, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that it was concerning them he was speaking. And they sought to seize Him; and they feared the multitude, because they were holding to Him as the prophet."
CHAPTER 33
1 Then went the Pharisees and considered how they might ensnare Him in a word, and deliver Him into the power of the judge, and into the power of the ruler. And they sent unto Him their disciples, with the kinsfolk of Herod; and they said unto Him, "Teacher, we know that you speak the truth, and teach the way of God with equity, and are not lifted up by any man: for you act not so as to be seen of any man. Tell us now, What is your opinion? Is it lawful that we should pay the tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give?" But Jesus knew their deceit, and said unto them, "Why tempt you me, you hypocrites? Show me the penny of the tribute." So they brought unto him a penny. Jesus said unto them, "To whom belongs this image and inscription?" They said unto him, "To Caesar." He said unto them, "Give what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God." And they could not make Him slip in a single word before the people; and they marveled at His word, and refrained.
2 And on that day came the Sadducees, and said unto Him, "There is no life for the dead." And they asked Him, and said unto Him, "Teacher, Moses said unto us, 'If a man die, not having children, let his brother take his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.' Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children; and the second took his wife, and died without children; and the third also took her; and in like manner the seven of them also, and they died without leaving children. And last of them all the woman died also. At the resurrection, then, which of these seven shall have this woman? For all of them took her." Jesus answered and said unto them, "Is it not for this that you have erred, because you know not the scriptures, nor the power of God? And the sons of this world take wives, and the women become the men's; but those that have become worthy of that world, and the resurrection from among the dead, do not take wives, and the women also do not become the men's. Nor is it possible that they should die; but they are like the angels, and are the children of God, because they have become the children of the resurrection."
3 "For in the resurrection of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, how from the bush God said unto him, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? And God is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all of them are alive with Him. And you have erred greatly."
4 And when the multitudes heard, they were wondering at His teaching. And some of the scribes answered and said unto Him, "Teacher, you have well said." But the rest of the Pharisees, when they saw His silencing the Sadducees on this point, gathered against Him to contend with Him.
5 And one of the scribes, of those that knew the law, when he saw the excellence of His answer to them, desired to try Him, and said unto Him, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" and, "Which of the commandments is greater, and has precedence in the law?"
6 Jesus said unto him, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your thought, and with all your strength. This is the great and preeminent commandment. And the second, which is like it, is, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. And another commandment greater than these two there is not. On these two commandments, then, are hung the law and the prophets."
7 Then scribe said unto him, "Excellent! My Master; You have said truly that He is One, and there is no other outside of Him: and that a man should love Him with all his heart, and with all his thought, and with all his soul, and with all his strength, and that he should love his neighbor as himself, is better than all savors and sacrifices."
8 And Jesus saw him that he had answered wisely; and he answered and said unto him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God. You have spoken rightly: do this, and you shall live."
9 And he, as his desire was to justify himself, said unto Him, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus said unto him, "A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and the robbers fell upon him, and stripped him, and beat him, his life remaining in him but little, and went away."
10 "And it happened that there came down a certain priest that way; and he saw him, and passed by. And likewise a Levite also came and reached that place, and saw him, and passed by. And a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to the place where he was, and saw him, and had compassion on him, and came near, and bound up his strokes, and poured on them wine and oil; and he set him on the donkey, and brought him to the inn, and expended his care upon him. And on the morrow of that day he took out two pence, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said unto him, 'Care for him; and if you spend upon him more, when I return, I shall give you.' Who of these three now, think you, is near to him that fell among the robbers?" And he said unto him, "He that had compassion on him." Jesus said unto him, "Go, and do you also likewise." And no man dared afterwards to ask him anything.
11 And He was teaching every day in the temple. But the chief priests and scribes and the eiders of the people sought to destroy Him: and they could not find what they should do with Him; and all the people were hanging upon Him to hear Him. And many of the multitude believed on Him, and said, 'The Messiah, when He comes, can it be that He will do more than these signs that this man does?' And the Pharisees heard the multitudes say that of him; and the chief priests sent officers to seize him. And Jesus said unto them, "I am with you but a short time yet, and I go to Him that sent Me. And you shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I shall be, you shall not be able to come."
12 The Jews said within themselves, "Where has this man determined to go that we shall not be able to find Him? Can it be that He is determined to go to the regions of the nations, and teach the heathen? What is this word that He said, 'You shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I am, you cannot come'?"
CHAPTER 34
1 And on the great day, which is the last of the feast, Jesus stood, crying out and saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come unto Me, and drink. Every one that believes in Me, as the scriptures said, 'there shall flow from his belly rivers of pure water.'" He said that referring to the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet granted; and because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
2 And many of the multitude that heard His words said, "This is in truth the prophet." And others said, "This is the Messiah." But others said, "Can it be that the Messiah will come from Galilee? Has not the scripture said that from the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village of David, the Messiah comes?" And there occurred a dissension in the multitude because of Him. And some of them were wishing to seize Him; but no man laid a hand upon Him.
3 And those officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees: and the priests said unto them, "Why did you not bring him? The officers said, Never was speaking man thus as speaks this man." The Pharisees said unto them, "Perhaps you also have gone astray? Has any of the rulers or the Pharisees haply believed in him? Except this people which knows not the law; they are accursed."
4 Nicodemus, one of them, he that had come to Jesus by night, said unto them, "Does our law haply condemn a man, except it hear him first and know what he has done?" They answered and said unto him, "Are you also haply from Galilee? Search, and see that a prophet rises not from Galilee."
5 And when the Pharisees assembled, Jesus asked them, and said, "What say you of the Messiah? Whose son is He? They said unto Him, "The son of David." He said unto them, "And how does David in the Holy Spirit call him Lord? For he said, 'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit on my right hand, That I may put your enemies under your feet.' If then David calls him 'Lord', how is he his son?" And no one was able to answer him; and no man dared from that day again to ask him of anything.
6 And Jesus addressed them again, and said, "I am the light of the world; and He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall find the light of life."
7 The Pharisees said unto Him, "You bear witness to Yourself; Your witness is not true." Jesus answered and said unto them, If I bear witness to Myself, My witness is true; for I know where I came, and where I go; but you know not where I came, or where I go. And you judge after the flesh; and I judge no man. And even if I judge, my judgment is true; because I am not alone, but I and My Father which sent Me. And in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true. I am He that bears witness to Myself, and My Father which sent Me bears witness to Me."
8 They said unto Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered and said unto them, "You know not Me, nor My Father: for did you know Me, you would know My Father." He said these sayings in the treasury, where he was teaching in the temple: and no man seized Him; because His hour had not yet come.
9 Jesus said unto them again, "I go truly, and you shall seek Me and not find Me, and you shall die in your sins: and where I go, you cannot come." The Jews said, "Will he haply kill himself, that he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come?'"
10 He said unto them, "You are from below; and I am from above: you are of this world; and I am not of this world. I said unto you, that you shall die in your sins: if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins. The Jews said, "And You, who are You?
11 Jesus said unto them, "If I should begin to speak unto you, I have concerning you many words and judgment: but He that sent me is true; and I, what I heard from Him is what I say in the world." And they knew not that he meant by that the Father.
12 Jesus said unto them again, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you shall know that I am He: and I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, so I speak. And He that sent Me is with Me; and My Father has not left Me alone; because I do what is pleasing to Him at all times. And while He was saying that, many believed in Him.
13 And Jesus said to those Jews that believed in Him, "If you abide in My words, truly you are My disciples: and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
14 They said unto him, "We are the seed of Abraham, and have never served any man in the way of slavery: how then say You, 'You shall be free children?'" Jesus said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Every one that does a sin is a slave of sin. And the slave does not remain forever in the house; but the son remains forever. And if the Son set you free, truly you shall be free children. I know that you are the seed of Abraham; but you seek to slay me, because you are unable for My word. And what I saw with My Father, I say: and what you saw with your father, you do."
15 They answered and said unto him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said unto them, "If you were the children of Abraham, you would do the deeds of Abraham. Now, behold, you seek to kill Me, a man that speaks with you the truth, that I heard from God: this did Abraham not do. And you do the deeds of your father." They said unto him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, who is God." Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love Me: I proceeded and came from God; and it was not of My own self that I came, but He sent Me."
16 "Why then do you not know My word? Because you cannot hear My word. You are from your father, the devil, and the lust of your father do you desire to do, who from the beginning is a slayer of men, and in the truth stands not, because the truth is not in Him. And when he speaks untruth, he speaks from himself: for he is a liar, and the father of untruth. And I who speak the truth, you believe Me not. Who of you rebukes Me for a sin? And if I speak the truth, you do not believe me."
17 "Whosoever is of God hears the words of God: therefore do you not hear, because you are not of God." The Jews answered and said unto Him, "Did we not say well that You are a Samaritan, and have demons?" Jesus said unto them, "As for me, I have not a devil; but My Father do I honor, and you dishonor me. I seek not my glory: here is one who seeks and judges."
CHAPTER 35
1 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Whosoever keeps My word shall not see death forever." The Jews said unto him, "Now we know that you have demons. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'Whosoever keeps my word shall not taste death forever.' Are You haply greater than our father Abraham, who is dead, and than the prophets, which are dead? Whom make You Yourself?"
2 Jesus said unto them, "If I glorify Myself, my glory is nothing: my Father is He that glorifies Me; of whom you say, that He is our God; and yet you have not known Him: but I know Him; and if I should say that I know Him not, I should become a liar like you: but I know Him, and keep His word."
3 "Abraham your father longed to see My day; and he saw, and rejoiced." The Jews said unto him, "You are now not fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
4 Jesus said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am." And they take stones to stone Him: but Jesus concealed himself, and went out of the temple. And He passed through them, and went His way.
5 And as He passed, He saw a man blind from his mother's womb. And his disciples asked him, and said, "Our Master, who sinned, this man, or his parents, so that he was born blind?" Jesus said unto them, "Neither did he sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God may be seen in him. It is incumbent on Me to do the deeds of Him that sent Me, while it is day: a night will come, and no man will be able to busy himself."
6 "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." And when He said that, He spat upon the ground, and made clay of his spittle, and smeared it on the eyes of the blind man, and said unto him, "Go and wash yourself in the pool of Siloam. And he went and washed, and came seeing." And his neighbours, which saw him of old begging, said, "Is not this he that was sitting begging?" And some said, "It is he"; and others said, "No, but he resembles him much." He said, "I am he." They said unto him, "How then yours eyes opened?" He answered and said unto them, "A man named Jesus made clay, and smeared it on my eyes, and said unto me, 'Go and wash in the water of Siloam': and I went and washed, and received sight." They said unto him, Where is He? He said, "I know not."
7 And they brought him that was previously blind to the Pharisees. And the day in which Jesus made clay and opened with it his eyes was a sabbath day. And again the Pharisees asked him, "How did you receive sight?" And he said unto them, "He put clay on mine eyes, and I washed, and received sight." The people of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for He keeps not the sabbath." And others said, "How can a man that is a sinner do these signs?" And there came to be a division amongst them.
8 And again they said to that blind man, "You, then, what say you of Him that opened for you your eyes?" He said unto them, "I say that He is a prophet." And the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he was blind, and received sight, until they summoned the parents of him who received sight, and asked them, "Is this your son, of whom you said that he was born blind? How then, behold, does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: but how he has come to see now, or who it is that opened his eyes, we know not: and he also has reached his prime; ask him, and he will speak for himself." This said his parents, because they were fearing the Jews: and the Jews decided, that if any man should confess of him that he was the Messiah, they would put him out of the synagogue. For this reason said his parents, "He has reached his prime; ask him."
9 And they called the man a second time, him that was blind, and said unto him, "Praise God: we know that this man is a sinner." He answered and said unto them, "Whether he be a sinner, I know not: I know one thing, that I was blind, and I now see."
10 They said unto him again, "What did He unto you? How opened He for you your eyes?" He said unto them, "I said unto you, and you did not hear: what wish you further to hear? You also, do you wish to become disciples to Him? And they reviled him, and said unto him, "You are the disciple of that man; but as for us, we are the disciples of Moses. And we know that God was speaking unto Moses: but this man, we know not where he is." The man answered and said unto them, "From this is the wonder, because you know not where he is, and mine eyes has He opened. And we know that God hears not the voice of sinners: but whosoever fears Him, and does His will, Him He hears. From eternity has it not been heard of, that a man opened the eyes of a blind man, who had been born in blindness. If then this man were not from God, he could not do that." They answered and said unto him, "You were all of you born in sins, and do you teach us?" And they put him forth without.
11 And Jesus heard of his being put forth without, and found him, and said unto him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" He that was made whole answered and said, "Who is He, My Lord, that I may believe in Him?" Jesus said unto him, "You have seen Him, and He that speaks to you is He. And he said, I believe, My Lord. And he fell down worshipping Him.
CHAPTER 36
1 And Jesus said, "To judge the world am I come, so that they that see not may see, and they that see may become blind." And some of the Pharisees which were with Him heard that, and they said unto Him, "Can it be that we are blind?" Jesus said unto them, "If you were blind, you should not have sin: but now you say, 'We see': and because of this your sin remains."
2 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Whosoever enters not into the fold of the sheep by the door, but goes up from another place, that man is a thief and a stealer. But he that enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. And therefore the keeper of the door opens for him the door; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his sheep by their names, and they go forth unto him."
3 "And when he puts forth his sheep, he goes before them, and his sheep follow him: because they know his voice. And after a stranger will the sheep not go, but they flee from him: because they hear not the voice of a stranger." This parable was speaking Jesus unto them: but they knew not what He was saying unto them.
4 Jesus said unto them again, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. And all that came are thieves and stealers: but the sheep heard them not. I am the door: and if a man enter by Me, he shall live, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture."
5 "And the stealer comes not, save that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: but I came that they might have life, and that they might have the thing that is better. I am the good shepherd; and the good shepherd gives himself for his sheep. But the hireling, who is not a shepherd, and whose the sheep are not, when he sees the wolf as it comes, leaves the sheep, and flee, and the wolf comes, and snatches away the sheep, and scatters them: and the hireling flee because he is an hireling, and has no care for the sheep."
6 "I am the good shepherd; and I know what is Mine, and what is Mine knows Me, as My Father knows Me, and I know My Father; and I give Myself for the sheep. And I have other sheep also, that are not of this flock: them also I must invite, and they shall hear My voice; and all the sheep shall be one, and the shepherd one. And therefore does My Father love Me, because I give My life, that I may take it again. No man takes it from me, but l leave it of My own choice. And I have the right to leave it, and have the right also to take it. And this commandment did I receive of My Father."
7 And there occurred a disagreement among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, "He has a devil, and is afflicted with madness; why listen you to him?" And others said, "These sayings are not those of men possessed with demons. Can a demon haply open the eyes of a blind man?"
8 And the feast of the dedication came on at Jerusalem: and it was winter. And Jesus was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. The Jews therefore surrounded Him, and said unto Him, "Until when do You make our hearts anxious? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." He answered and said unto them, "I told you, and you believe not: and the deeds that I do in My Father's name bear witness to Me. But you believe not, because you are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. And my sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they come after Me: and I give them eternal life; and they shall not perish forever, nor shall any man snatch them out of My hands. For the Father, who has given them unto Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to take them from the hand of My Father. I and my Father are one."
9 And the Jews took stones to stone Him. Jesus said unto them, "Many good deeds from my Father have I showed you; because of which of them, then, do you stone Me?" The Jews said unto Him, "Not for the good deeds do we stone You, but because You blaspheme; and, while you are a man, make yourself God." Jesus said unto them, "Is it not thus written in your law, 'I said, You are gods'? And if He called those gods -- for to them came the word of God (and it is not possible in the scripture that anything should be undone) -- He then, whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, do you say that He blasphemes; because I said unto you, 'I am the Son of God'? If then I do not the deeds of my Father, you believe Me not. But if I do, even if you believe not Me, believe the deeds: that you may know and believe that My Father is in Me, and I in My Father." And they sought again to take him, and He went forth out of their hands."
10 And He went beyond Jordan to the place where John was baptizing formerly; and abode there. And many people came unto him; and they said, "John did not work even one sign: but all that John said of this man is truth." And many believed in Him.
11 And there was a sick man, named Lazarus, of the village of Bethany, the brother of Mary and Martha. And Mary was she that anointed with sweet ointment the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair; and Lazarus, who was sick, was the brother of this woman. And his sisters sent unto Jesus, and said unto Him, Our Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick. But Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glorifying of God, that the Son of God may be glorified because of it."
12 And Jesus loved Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus. And when He heard that he was sick, He abode in the place where He was two days. And after that, He said unto his disciples, "Come, let us go into Judaea." His disciples said unto Him, "Our Master, now the Jews desire to stone You; and go You again there?"
13 Jesus said unto them, "Is not the day of twelve hours? If then a man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of the world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no lamp in him."
14 This said Jesus: and after that, He said unto them, "Lazarus our friend has fallen asleep; but I am going to awaken him." His disciples said unto Him, "Our Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." But Jesus said that concerning his death: while they supposed that he was speaking of lying down to sleep. Then Jesus said unto them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. And I am glad that I was not there for your sakes, that you may believe; but let us go there." Thomas, who is called Thama, said to the disciples, his companions, Let us also go, and die with him.
CHAPTER 37
1 And Jesus came to Bethany, and found Him already four days in the grave.
2 And Bethany was beside Jerusalem, and its distance from it was a sum of fifteen furlongs; and many of the Jews came unto Mary and Martha, to comfort their heart because of their brother. And Martha, when she heard that Jesus had come, went out to meet Him: but Mary was sitting in the house.
3 Martha then said unto Jesus, "My Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. But I know now that, whatever You shall ask of God, He will give You." Jesus said unto her, "Your brother shall rise." Martha said unto Him, "I know that he shall rise in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life: whosoever believes in Me, even though he die, he shall live: and every living one that believes in Me shall never die. Believe you this?" She said unto him, "Yes, my Lord: I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, that comes into the world."
4 And when she had said that, she went and called Mary her sister secretly, and said unto her, "Our Master has come, and summons you. And Mary, when she heard, rose in haste, and came unto Him. (And Jesus then had not come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.)
5 And the Jews also that were with her in the house, to comfort her, when they saw that Mary rose up and went out in haste, went after her, because they supposed that she was going to the tomb to weep. And Mary, when she came to where Jesus was, and saw him, fell at His feet, and said unto Him, "If You had been here, My Lord, My brother had not died."
6 And Jesus came; and when he saw her weeping, and the Jews that were with her weeping, He was troubled in Himself, and sighed; and he said, "In what place have you laid him?" And they said unto him, "Our Lord, come and see." And the tears of Jesus came. The Jews therefore said, "See the greatness of his love for him!" But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of that blind man, have caused that this man also should not die?"
7 And Jesus came to the place of burial, being troubled within Himself. And the place of burial was a cave, and a stone was placed at its door. Jesus therefore said, "Take these stones away." Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said unto Him, "My Lord, he has come to stink for some time: he has been four days dead." Jesus said unto her, "Did not I say unto you, If you believe, you shall see the glory of God?"
8 And they removed those stones. And Jesus lifted his eyes on high, and said, "My Father, I thank you Since You did hear Me. And I know that You at all times hear Me: but I say this unto You because of this multitude that is standing, that they may believe that You did send Me." And when he had said that, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." And that dead man came out, having his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped in a scarf. Jesus said unto them, "Loose him, and let him go."
9 And many of the Jews which came unto Mary, when they saw the deed of Jesus, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees, and informed them of all that Jesus did.
10 And the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered, and said, "What shall we do? For lo, this man does many signs. And if we leave Him thus, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take our country and people."
11 And one of them, who was called Caiaphas, the chief priest he was in that year, said unto them, "You know not anything, nor consider that it is more advantageous for us that one man should die instead of the people, and not that the whole people perish." And this he said not of himself: but because he was the chief priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus was to die instead of the people; and not instead of the people alone, but that he might gather the scattered children of God together.
12 And from that day they considered how to kill Him.
13 And Jesus did not walk openly amongst the Jews, but departed there to a place near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim; and He was there, going about with His disciples.
14 And the Passover of the Jews was near: and many went up from the villages unto Jerusalem before the feast, to purify themselves.
15 And they sought for Jesus, and said one to another in the temple, "What think you of His holding back from the feast?" And the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew in what place He was, he should reveal it to them, that they might take Him.
16 And when the days of his going up were accomplished, He prepared himself that he might go to Jerusalem. And He sent messengers before him, and departed, and entered into a village of Samaria, that they might make ready for Him. And they received him not, because he was prepared for going to Jerusalem.
17 And when James and John his disciples saw it, they said unto him, "Our Lord, will you that we speak, and fire come down from heaven, to extirpate them, as did Elijah also?" And Jesus turned, and rebuked them, and said, "You know not of what spirit you are. Truly the Son of man did not come to destroy lives, but to give life." And they went to another village.
CHAPTER 38
1 And Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where was Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from among the dead. And they made a feast for Him there: and Martha was serving; while Lazarus was one of them that sat with Him.
2 And at the time of Jesus' being at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, great multitudes of the Jews heard that Jesus was there: and they came, not because of Jesus alone, but that they might look also on Lazarus, whom he raised from among the dead.
3 And the chief priests considered how they might kill Lazarus also; because many of the Jews were going on his account, and believing in Jesus.
4 And Mary took a case of the ointment of fine nard, of great price, and opened it, and poured it out on the head of Jesus as He was reclining; and she anointed His feet, and wiped them with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.
5 But Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, he that was to betray him, said, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given unto the poor?" This he said, not because of his care for the poor, but because he was a thief, and the chest was with him, and what was put into it he used to bear.
6 And that displeased the rest of the disciples also within themselves, and they said, "Why went this ointment to waste? It was possible that it should be sold for much, and the poor be given it." And they were angry with Mary.
7 And Jesus perceived it, and said unto them, "Leave her; why molest you her? A good work has she accomplished on Me: for the day of My burial kept she it. At all times the poor are with you, and when you wish you can do them a kindness: but I am not at all times with you. And for this cause, when she poured this ointment on My body, it is as if she did it for My burial, and anointed My body beforehand. And truly I say unto you, In every place where this My gospel shall be proclaimed in all the world, what she did shall be told for a memorial of her."
8 And when Jesus said that, He went out leisurely to go to Jerusalem, and when he arrived at Bethphage and at Bethany, beside the mount which is called the mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, and he said unto them, "Go into this village that is opposite you: and when you enter it, you shall find an donkey tied, and a colt with him, which no man ever yet mounted: loose him, and bring them unto Me."
9 "And if any man say unto you, "Why loose you them?" say unto him thus, "We seek them for our Lord; and straightway send them here." All this was, that what was said in the prophet might be fulfilled, which said, "Say you unto the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King comes unto you, Meek, and riding upon an donkey, and upon a colt the foal of an donkey.'"
10 And the disciples did not know this at that time: but after that Jesus was glorified, His disciples remembered that these things were written of Him, and that this they had done unto Him. And when the two disciples went, they found as He had said unto them, and they did as Jesus charged them. And when they loosed them, their owners said unto them, "Why loose you them?" They said unto them, "We seek them for our Lord." And they let them go.
11 And they brought the donkey and the colt, and they placed on the colt their garments; and Jesus mounted it.
12 And most of the multitudes spread their garments on the ground before Him: and others cut branches from the trees, and threw them in the way. And when he neared His descent from the mount of Olives, all the disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice for all the powers which they had seen; and they said, "Praise in the highest; Praise to the Son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; and blessed is the kingdom that comes, that of our father David: Peace in heaven, and praise in the highest." And a great multitude, that which came to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took young palm branches, and went forth to meet Him, and cried and said, "Praise: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel."
13 Certain therefore of the Pharisees from among the multitudes said unto Him, "Our Master, rebuke Your disciples." He said unto them, Truly I say unto you, if these were silent, the stones would cry out."
14 And when He drew near, and saw the city, He wept over it, and said, "Would that you had known the things that are for your peace, in this your day! Now that is hidden from your eyes. There shall come unto you days when your enemies shall encompass you, and straiten you from every quarter, and shall get possession of you, and your children within you; and they shall not leave in you a stone upon another; because you knew not the time of your visitation."
15 And when he entered into Jerusalem, the whole city was agitated, and they said, "Who is this?" And the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet that is from Nazareth of Galilee. And the multitude which was with him bare witness that He called Lazarus from the grave, and raised Him from among the dead. And for this cause great multitudes went out to meet Him, because they heard the sign which He did.
CHAPTER 39
1 And when Jesus entered the temple, they brought unto him blind and lame: and He healed them.
2 But when the chief priests and the Pharisees saw the wonders that He did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, "Praise be to the Son of David": it distressed them, and they said, "Hear you not what these say?" Jesus said unto them, "Yes: did you not read long ago, 'From the mouths of children and infants you have chosen my praise'?"
3 And the Pharisees said one to another, "Behold, do you not see that nothing avails us? For lo, the whole world has followed Him."
4 And there were among them certain Gentiles also, which had come up to worship at the feast: these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked Him, and said unto Him, My lord, we wish to see Jesus. And Philip came and told Andrew: and Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, "The hour is come nigh, in which the Son of man is to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say unto you, A grain of wheat, if it fall not and die in the earth, remains alone; but if it die, it bears much fruit. He that loves his life destroys it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto the life eternal. If a man serve Me, he will follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant be also: and whosoever serves Me, the Father will honor him."
6 Now is My soul troubled: and what shall I say? My Father, deliver Me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour. My Father, glorify Your name. And a voice was heard from heaven, "I have glorified it, and shall glorify it." And the multitude that were standing heard, and said, "This is thunder": and others said, "An angel speaks to Him." Jesus answered and said unto them, "Not because of Me was this voice, but because of you."
7 "Now is the judgment of this world; and the prince of this world shall now be cast forth. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, shall draw every man unto Me." This He said, that He might show by what manner of death He should die.
8 The multitudes said unto Him, "We have heard out of the law that the Messiah abides forever: how then say You, that the Son of man is to be lifted up? Who is this, the Son of man?"
9 Jesus said unto them, "Another little while is the light with you. Walk so long as you have light, lest the darkness overtake you; for he that walks in the darkness knows not where he goes. So long as you have light, believe the light, that you may be the children of the light."
10 And when certain of the Pharisees asked of Jesus, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered and said unto them, "The kingdom of God comes not with expectation: neither shall they say, 'Lo, it is here!' Nor, 'Lo, it is there!' For the kingdom of God is within you."
11 And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he used to go out, and pass the night in the mount called the mount of Olives. And all the people came to Him in the morning in the temple, to hear His word.
12 Then spoke Jesus unto the multitudes and His disciples, and said unto them, "On the seat of Moses are seated the scribes and Pharisees: everything that they say unto you now to keep, keep and do: but according to their deeds do you not; for they say, and do not. And they bind heavy burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of the people; while they with one of their fingers will not come near them. But all their deeds they do to make a show before men." And all the multitude were hearing that with pleasure.
13 And in the course of His teaching He said unto them, "Guard yourselves from the scribes, who desire to walk in robes, and love salutation in the marketplaces, and sitting in the highest places of the synagogues, and at feasts in the highest parts of the rooms: and they broaden their amulets, and lengthen the cords of their cloaks, and love that they should be called by men, 'My master', and devour widows' houses, because of their prolonging' their prayers; these then shall receive greater judgment."
14 "But you, be you not called masters: for your master is One; all you are brethren. Call not then to yourselves any one father on earth: for your Father is One, who is in heaven. And be not called directors: for your director is One, even the Messiah."
15 "He that is great among you shall be unto you a minister. Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and whosoever shall abase himself shall be exalted."
16 "Woe unto you, Pharisees, because you love the highest places in the synagogues, and salutation in the marketplaces."
17 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, because of your prolonging your prayers: for this reason then you shall receive greater judgment."
18 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you have shut the kingdom of God before men.
Woe unto you that know the law! For you concealed the keys of knowledge: you enter not, and those that are entering you suffer not to enter."
19 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you compass land and sea to draw one proselyte; and when he is become so, you make him a son of hell twice as much as yourselves."
20 "Woe unto you, you blind guides, because you say, 'Whosoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gold that is in the temple, shall be condemned.' You blind foolish ones: which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold? And, 'Whosoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the offering that is upon it, shall be condemned.' You blind foolish ones: which is greater, the offering, or the altar which sanctifies the offering? Whosoever then swears by the altar, has sworn by it, and by all that is upon it. And whosoever swears by the temple, has sworn by it, and by Him that is dwelling in it. And whosoever swears by heaven, has sworn by the throne of God, and by Him that sits upon it."
21 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe mint and rue and dill and cummin and all herbs, and you leave the important matters of the law, judgment, and mercy, and faith, and the love of God: this ought you to do, and not to leave that undone. You blind guides, which strain out a gnat, and swallow camels."
22 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, while the inside of them is full of injustice and wrong. You blind Pharisees, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, then shall the outside of them be cleansed."
23 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you resemble whited sepulchres, which appear from the outside beautiful, but within full of the bones of the dead, and all uncleanness. So you also from without appear unto men like the righteous, but within you are full of wrong and hypocrisy."
24 One of the scribes answered and said unto him, "Teacher, in this saying of Your, You are casting a slur on us." Jesus said, "And to you also, you scribes, woe! For you load men with heavy burdens, and you with one of your fingers come not near those burdens."
25 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets, which your fathers killed, and adorn the burying places of the righteous, and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.' Wherefore, behold, you witness against yourselves, that you are the children of those that slew the prophets. And you also, you fill up the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you children of vipers, where shall you flee from the judgment of Gehenna?'"
CHAPTER 40
1 "Therefore, behold, I, the wisdom of God, am sending unto you prophets, and apostles, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall slay and crucify; and some of them you shall beat in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: that there may come on you all the blood of the righteous that has been poured upon the ground from the blood of Abel the pure to the blood of Zachariah the son of Barachiah, whom you slew between the temple and the altar. Truly I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."
2 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, slayer of the prophets, and stoner of them that are sent unto her! How many times did I wish to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! Your house shall be left over you desolate."
3 "Truly I say unto you, you shall not see Me henceforth, till you shall say Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord."
4 And many of the rulers also believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they be put out of the synagogue: and they loved the praise of men more than the praising of God.
5 And Jesus cried and said, "Whosoever believes in Me, believes not in Me, but in Him that sent Me. And whosoever sees Me has seen Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, and so every one that believes in Me abides not in the darkness."
6 "And whosoever hears my sayings, and keeps them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to give the world life. Whosoever wrongs Me, and receives not My sayings, there is one that judges Him: the word that I was speaking, it shall judge Him at the last day. I from myself did not speak: but the Father which sent Me, He has given me commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak; and I know that His commandment is eternal life. The things that I say now, as My Father has said unto Me, even so I say."
7 And when He said that unto them, the scribes and Pharisees began their evil doing, being angry with Him, and finding fault with His sayings, and harassing Him in many things; seeking to catch something from His mouth, that they might be able to calumniate Him.
8 And when there gathered together myriads of great multitudes, which almost trode one upon another, Jesus began to say unto his disciples, "Preserve yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing concealed, that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known. Everything that you have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what you have spoken secretly in the ears in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed on the roofs."
9 This said Jesus, and He went and hid himself from them. But notwithstanding His having done all these signs before them, they believed not in Him: that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, who said, "My Lord, who is he that has believed to hear us? And the arm of the Lord, to whom has it appeared?"
10 And for this reason, it is not possible for them to believe, because Isaiah also said, "They have blinded their eyes, and made dark their heart; That they may not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, And turn, So that I should heal them." This said Isaiah when he saw His glory, and was speaking of Him.
11 And when Jesus went out of the temple, certain of His disciples came forward to show Him the buildings of the temple, and its beauty and greatness, and the strength of the stones that were laid in it, and the elegance of its building, and that it was adorned with noble stones and beautiful colors. Jesus answered and said unto them, "See you these great buildings? Truly I say unto you, Days will come, when there shall not be left here a stone upon another, that shall not be cast down."
12 And two days before the Passover of unleavened bread, the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by deceit, and kill Him: and they said, It shall not be at the feast, lest the people be agitated.
13 And when Jesus sat on the mount of Olives opposite the temple, His disciples, Simon Cephas and James and John and Andrew, came forward unto Him, and said unto Him between themselves and Him, "Teacher, tell us when that shall be, and what is the sign of your coming and the end of the world."
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, "Days will come, when you shall long to see one of the days of the Son of man, and shall not behold. Take heed lest any man lead you astray. Many shall come in My name, and say, 'I am the Messiah'; and they shall say, 'The time is come near', and shall lead many astray: go not therefore after them. And when you hear of wars and tidings of insurrections, see to it, be not agitated: for these things must first be; only the end is not yet come."
15 "Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in one place and another, and there shall be famines and deaths and agitations: and there shall be fear and terror and great signs that shall appear from heaven, and there shall be great storms. All these things are the beginning of travail. But before all of that, they shall lay hands upon you, and persecute you, and deliver you unto the synagogues and into prisons, and bring you before kings and judges for My name's sake. And that shall be unto you for a witness. But first must My gospel be preached unto all nations."
16 "And when they bring you into the synagogues before the rulers and the authorities, be not anxious beforehand how you shall answer for yourselves, or what you shall say: because it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit. Lay it to your heart, not to be anxious before the time what you shall say: and I shall give you understanding and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay."
17 "And then shall they deliver you unto constraint, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations because of My name. And then shall many go astray, and they shall hate one another, and deliver one another unto death."
18 "And your parents, and your brethren, and your kinsfolk, and your friends shall deliver you up, and shall slay some of you. But a lock of hair from your heads shall not perish. And by your patience you shall gain your souls."
19 "And many men, false prophets, shall arise, and lead many astray. And because of the abounding of iniquity, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. And this, the gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in all the world for a testimony to all nations; and then shall come the end of all."
CHAPTER 41
1 "But when you see Jerusalem with the army compassing it about, then know that its desolation is come near. Those then that are in Judaea at that time shall flee to the mountain; and those that are within her shall flee; and those that are in the villages shall not enter her. For these days are the days of vengeance, that all that is written may be fulfilled."
2 "And when you see the unclean sign of desolation, spoken of in Daniel the prophet, standing in the pure place, he that reads shall understand, and then he that is in Judaea shall flee in to the mountain: and let him that is on the roof not go down, nor enter in to take anything from his house: and let him that is in the field not turn behind him to take his garment."
3 "Woe to them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! There shall be great distress in the land, and wrath against this nation. And they shall fall on the edge of the sword, and shall be taken captive to every land: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the nations, until the times of the nations be ended."
4 "Then if any man say unto you, 'The Messiah is here'; or, 'Lo, He is there'; believe him not: there shall rise then false Messiahs and prophets of lying, and shall do signs and wonders, in order that they may lead astray even the elect also, if they be able."
5 "But as for you, beware: for I have acquainted you with everything beforehand. If then they say unto you, 'Lo, he is in the desert'; go not out, lest you be taken: and if they say unto you, 'Lo, he is in the chamber'; believe not. And as the lightning appears from the east, and is seen unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. But first He must suffer much and be rejected by this generation."
6 "Pray therefore that your flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath: there shall be then great tribulation, the like of which there has not been from the beginning of the world till now, nor shall be. And except the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would have lived: but because of the elect, whom He elected, He shortened those days. And there shall be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and upon the earth affliction of the nations, and rubbing of hands for the confusion of the noise of the sea, and an earthquake: the souls of men shall go forth from fear of that which is to come upon the earth."
7 "And in those days, straightway after the distress of those days, the sun shall become dark, and the moon shall not show its light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be convulsed: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and at that time all the tribes of the earth shall wail, and look unto the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and much glory."
8 "And He shall send his angels with the great trumpet, and they shall gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. But when these things begin to be, be of good cheer, and lift up your heads; for your salvation is come near."
9 "Learn the example of the fig tree: when it lets down its branches, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is come; so you also, when you see these things begun to be, know you that the kingdom of God has arrived at the door. Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things shall be. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My sayings shall not pass away."
10 "Take heed to yourselves, that your hearts become not heavy with inordinate desire, and drunkenness, and the care of the world at any time, and that day come upon you suddenly: for it is as a shock that shocks all the inhabitants that are on the face of the whole earth."
11 "Watch at all times, and pray, that you may be worthy to escape from all the things that are to be, and that you may stand before the Son of man. Of that day and of that hour has no man learned, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. See you, and watch and pray: for you know not when that time will be."
12 "It is as a man, who journeyed, and left his house, and gave his authority to his servants, and appointed every man to his work, and charged the porter to be wakeful. Be wakeful then: since you know not when the lord of the house comes, in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or when the cock crows, or in the morning; lest he come unexpectedly, and find you sleeping. The thing that I say unto you, unto all of you do I say it, 'Be you watchful.'"
13 "For as it was in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be. As they were before the flood eating and drinking, and taking wives, and giving wives to men, until the day in which Noah entered into the ark, and they perceived not till the flood came, and took them all; so shall the coming of the Son of man be."
14 "And as it was in the days of Lot; they were eating and drinking, and selling and buying, and planting and building, on the day in which Lot went out from Sodom, and the Lord rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: so shall it be in the day in which the Son of man is revealed."
15 "And in that day, whosoever is on the roof, and his garments in the house, let him not go down to take them: and he that is in the field shall not turn behind him. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall desire to save his life shall destroy it: but whosoever shall destroy his life shall save it."
16 "Truly I say unto you, In that night there shall be two on one bed; one shall be taken, and another left. And two women shall be grinding at one mill; one shall be taken, and another left. And two shall be in the field; one shall be taken, and another left."
17 "They answered and said unto him, To what place, our Lord? He said unto them, Where the body is, there will the eagles gather. Be attentive now: for you know not at what hour your Lord comes. Know this: if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have been attentive, and would not make it possible that his house should be broken through. Therefore be you also ready: for in the hour that you think not the Son of man comes."
CHAPTER 42
1 Simon Cephas said unto him, "Our Lord, is it to us that You have spoken this parable, or also to every man?" Jesus said unto him, "Who, think you, is the servant, the master of the house, trusted with control, whom his lord set over his household, to give them their food in its season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord shall come and find having done so. Truly I say unto you, He will set him over all that he has. But if that evil servant say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat his servants and the maidservants of his lord, and shall begin to eat and to drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in the day that he thinks not, and in the hour that he knows not, and shall judge him, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites, and with those that are not faithful: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
2 "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like unto ten virgins, those that took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom and the bride. Five of them were wise, and five foolish. And those foolish ones took their lamps, and took not with them oil: but those wise ones took oil in vessels along with their lamps. When then the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But in the middle of the night there occurred a cry, 'Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go forth therefore to meet him.' Then all those virgins arose, and made ready their lamps."
3 "The foolish said unto the wise, 'Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.' But those wise answered and said, 'Perhaps there will not be enough for us and you: but go you to the sellers, and buy for yourselves.' And when they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut. And at last those other virgins also came and said, 'Our Lord, our Lord, open unto us.' He answered and said unto them, 'Truly I say unto you, I know you not.' Watch then, for you know not that day nor that hour."
4 "It is as a man, who went on a journey, and called his servants, and delivered unto them his possessions. And unto one he gave five talents, and another two, and another one; every one according to his strength; and went on his journey forthwith. He then that received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained other five. And so also he of the two gained other two. But he that received the one went and digged in the earth, and hid the money of his lord."
5 "And after a long time the lord of those servants came, and took from them the account. And he that received five talents came near and brought other five, and said, 'My lord, you gave me five talents: lo, I have gained other five in addition to them.' His lord said unto him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant: over a little have you been faithful, over much will I set you: enter into the joy of your lord.' And he that had the two came near and said, My lord, you gave me two talents: lo, other two have I gained in addition to them.' His lord said unto him, 'Good, you faithful servant: over a little have you been faithful, over much will I set you: enter into the joy of your lord.'"
6 "And he also that received the one talent came forward and said, 'My lord, I knew you that you are a severe man, who reap where you sow not, and gather where you did not scatter: and so I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth: lo, you have what yours.' His lord answered and said unto him, 'You wicked and slothful servant, you knew me that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; it was incumbent on you to put my money to the bank, and then I should come and seek it with its gains. Take now from him the talent, and give it to him that has ten talents. Whosoever has shall be given, and he shall have more: but he that has not, even what he has shall be taken from him. And the unprofitable servant, put him forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
7 "Your loins shall be girded, and your lamps lit; and you shall be like the people that are looking for their lord, when He shall return from the feast; so that, when He comes and knocks, they may at once open unto Him. Blessed are those servants, whom their lord shall come and find attentive: truly I say unto you, that He will gird his waist, and make them sit down, and pass through them and serve them. And if He come in the second watch, or the third, and find thus, blessed are those servants."
8 "But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all His pure angels with Him, then shall He sit on the throne of His glory: and He will gather before Him all the nations, and separate them the one from the other, like the shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats; and will set the sheep on his right, and the goats on his left."
9 "Then shall the King say to those that are at his right, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world: I hungered, and you gave Me to eat; and I thirsted, and you gave Me to drink; and I was a stranger, and you took Me in; and I was naked, and you clothed Me; and I was sick, and you visited Me; and I was in prison, and you cared for Me.' Then shall those righteous say unto Him, 'Our Lord, when saw we You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You to drink? And when saw we You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? And when saw we You sick, or imprisoned, and cared for You?' The King shall answer and say unto them, 'Truly I say unto you, What you did to one of these My brethren, the little ones, you did unto Me.'"
10 "Then shall he say unto those that are on His left also, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his hosts: I hungered, and you fed Me not; and I thirsted, and you did not give Me to drink; and I was a stranger, and you took Me not in; and I was naked, and you clothed Me not; and I was sick, and imprisoned, and you visited Me not.' Then shall those also answer and say, 'Our Lord, when saw we You hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or a stranger, or sick, or imprisoned, and did not minister unto You?' Then shall He answer and say unto them, 'Truly I say unto you, When you did it not unto one of these little ones, you did it not unto Me also.' And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.
CHAPTER 43
1 And when Jesus finished all these sayings, He said unto His disciples, "You know that after two days will be the Passover, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified."
2 Then gathered together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the chief priest, who was called Caiaphas; and they took counsel together concerning Jesus, that they might seize Him by subtilty, and kill Him. But they said, Not during the feast, lest there take place a disturbance among the people; for they feared the people.
3 And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went away, and communed with the chief priests, and the scribes, and those that held command in the temple, and said unto them, 'What would you pay me, and I will deliver Him unto you? And they, when they heard it, were pleased, and made ready for him thirty pieces of money. And he promised them, and from that time he sought an opportunity that he might deliver unto them Jesus without the multitude.
5 And on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, and said unto Him, Where will you that we go and make ready for You that You may eat the Passover?
6 And before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knew that the hour was arrived for His departure from this world unto his Father; and He loved His own in this world, and to the last He loved them.
7 And at the time of the feast, Satan put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to deliver Him up. And Jesus, because He knew that the Father had delivered into His hands everything, and that He came forth from the Father, and goes unto God, rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded His waist, and poured water into a bason, and began to wash the feet of His disciples, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith His waist was girded. And when he came to Simon Cephas, Simon said unto him, "Do You, my Lord, wash for me my feet?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do, now you know not; but afterwards you shall learn.
8 Simon said unto him, "You shall never wash for me my feet." Jesus said unto him, "If I wash You not, you have no part with Me." Simon Cephas said unto Him, "Then, my Lord, wash not for me my feet alone, but my hands also and my head." Jesus said unto him, "He that bathes needs not to wash save his feet, whereas his whole body is clean: and you also are clean, but not all of you." For Jesus knew him that should betray Him; therefore said He, "You are not all clean."
9 So when he had washed their feet, He took His garments, and sat down, and said unto them, "Know you what I have done unto you? You call Me, Master, and, Lord: and you say well; so I am. If then I, now, who am your Lord and Master, have washed for you your feet, how needful is it that you should wash one another's feet! This have I given you as an example, that as I have done to you so you should do also."
10 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, no servant is greater than his lord; nor an apostle greater than he that sent him. If you know that, you are happy if you do it. My saying this is not for all of you: for I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'He that eats with Me bread lifted against Me his heel.' Henceforth I say unto you before it come to pass, that, when it comes to pass, you may believe that I am he."
11 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, whosoever receives whomsoever I send receives Me; and whosoever receives Me receives Him that sent Me."
12 "Who is the great one, he that sits, or he that serves? Is it not he that sits? I am among you as he that serves.
13 "But you are they that have continued with Me in My temptations; I promise you, as My Father promised Me, the kingdom, that you may eat and drink at the table of My kingdom."
14 And the first day came, the feast of unleavened bread, on which the Jews were wanting to sacrifice the Passover.
15 And Jesus sent two of his disciples, Cephas and John, and said unto them, "Go and make ready for us the Passover, that we may eat." And they said unto Him, "Where will you that we make ready for you?" He said unto them, "Go, enter the city; and at the time of your entering, there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him, and the place where he enters, say to such an one, the master of the house, 'Our Master says, My time is come, and at your house I keep the Passover. Where then is the lodging place where I shall eat with my disciples?' And he will show you a large upper room spread and made ready: there then make ready for us." And his two disciples went out, and came to the city, and found as He had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover as He had said unto them.
16 And when the evening was come, and the time arrived, Jesus came and reclined, and the twelve apostles with Him.
17 And He said unto them, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: I say unto you, that henceforth I shall not eat it, until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
18 Jesus said that, and was agitated in His spirit, and testified, and said, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, One of you, He that eats with Me, shall betray Me." And they were very sorrowful; and they began to say unto Him, one after another of them, "Can it be Lord?"
19 He answered and said unto them, "One of the twelve, he that dips his hand with Me in the dish, will betray Me. And lo, the hand of him that betrays Me is on the table. And the Son of man goes, as it is written of him: woe then to that man by whose hand the Son of man is betrayed! For it would have been better for that man had he not been born." And the disciples looked one on another, for they knew not to whom he referred; and they began to search among themselves, who that might be who was to do this.
CHAPTER 44
1 And one of his disciples was sitting in His bosom, he whom Jesus loved. To him Simon Cephas beckoned, that he should ask Him who this was, concerning whom He was speaking. And that disciple leaned on Jesus' breast, and said unto Him, "My Lord, who is this?" Jesus answered and said, "He to whom I shall dip bread, and give it." And Jesus dipped bread, and gave to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the bread, Satan entered him. And Jesus said unto him, "What you desire to do, hasten the doing of it." And no man of them that sat knew why he said this unto him. And some of them thought, because Judas had the box, that He was bidding him buy what would be needed for the feast; or, that he might pay something to the poor. Judas the betrayer answered and said, "Can it be I, my Master?" Jesus said unto him, "You have said." And Judas took the bread straightway, and went forth without: and it was still night.
2 And Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man being glorified, and God is being glorified in Him; and if God is glorified in Him, God also will glorify Him in Him, and straightway will glorify Him."
3 And while they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and divided; and he gave to His disciples, and said unto them, "Take and eat; this is My body." And He took a cup, and gave thanks, and blessed, and gave them, and said, "Take and drink of it, all of you." And they drank of it, all of them. And He said unto them, "This is my blood, the new covenant, that is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins. I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this, the juice of the vine, until the day in which I drink with you new wine in the kingdom of God. And thus do you in remembrance of Me."
4 And Jesus said unto Simon, "Simon, behold, Satan asks that he may sift you like wheat: but I entreat for you, that you lose not your faith: and do you, at some time, turn and strengthen your brethren."
5 "My children, another little while am I with you. And you shall seek Me, and as I said unto the Jews, Where I go, you cannot come; I say unto you now also. A new commandment I give you, that you may love one another; and as I have loved you, so shall you also love one another. By this shall every man know that you are my disciples. If you have love one to another."
6 Simon Cephas said unto him, "Our Lord, where go You?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "Where I go, you can not now follow Me; but later You shall come."
7 Then said Jesus unto them, "You all shall desert me this night: it is written, 'I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.' But after My rising, I shall go before you into Galilee."
8 Simon Cephas answered and said unto him, "My Lord, if every man desert You, I shall at no time desert You. I am with You ready for imprisonment and for death. And my life will I give up for You." Jesus said unto him, "Will you give up Your life for me? Truly, truly, I say unto you, You shall today, during this night, before the cock crow twice, three times deny Me, that you know Me not." But Cephas said the more, "Even if it lead to death with You, I shall not deny You, My Lord." And in like manner said all the disciples also.
9 Then Jesus said unto them, "Let not your hearts be troubled: believe in God, and believe in Me. The stations in My Father's house are many, else I should have told you. I go to prepare for you a place. And if I go to prepare for you a place, I shall return again, and take you unto Me: and so where I am, there you shall be also. And the place that I go you know, and the way you know."
10 Thomas said unto him, "Our Lord, we know not where You go; and how is the way for us to the knowledge of that?" Jesus said unto him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: and no man comes unto My Father, but through Me. And if you had known Me, you should have known My Father: and from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him."
11 Philip said unto him, "Our Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us." Jesus said unto him, "Have I been all this time with you, and do you not know Me, Philip? Whosoever has seen Me has seen the Father; how then say You, 'Show us the Father?' Believe you not that I am in My Father, and My Father in Me? And the saying that I say, I say not of Myself: but My Father who dwells in Me, He does these deeds. Believe that I am in My Father, and My Father in Me: or else believe for the sake of the deeds."
12 "Truly, truly, I say unto you, whosoever believes in Me, the deeds that I do shall he do also; and more than that shall he do. I go unto the Father. And what you shall ask in My name, I shall do unto you, that the Father may be glorified in His Son. And if you ask Me in My name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments."
13 "And I will entreat of my Father, and he will send unto you another Paraclete, that He may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it has not seen Him, nor known Him: but you know Him; for He has dwelt with you, and is in you. I will not leave you orphans: I will come unto you."
14 "Another little while, and the world sees Me not; but you see Me that I live, and you shall live also. And in that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
CHAPTER 45
1 "Whosoever has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will show Myself unto him.
2 Judas (not Iscariot) said unto Him, "My Lord, what is the purpose of your intention to show Yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered and said unto Him, "Whosoever loves Me will keep My word: and My Father will love him, and to him will we come, and make Our abode with him. But he that loves Me not keeps not My word: and this word that you hear is not My word, but the Father's which sent Me. This have I spoken unto you, while I was yet with you. But the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom My Father will send in My name, He will teach you everything, and He will bring to your remembrance all that I say unto you."
3 "Peace I leave you; My peace I give unto you: and not as this world gives, give I unto you. Let your heart not be troubled, nor fearful. You heard that I said unto you, that I go away, and come unto you. If you loved Me, you would rejoice, that I go away to My Father: for My Father is greater than I. And now I say unto you before it come to pass, that, when it comes to pass, you may believe Me. Now I will not speak with you much: the Archon of the world will come, and he will have nothing in Me: but that the world may know that I love My Father, and as My Father charged Me, so I do."
4 And he said unto them, "When I sent you without purses, or wallets, and shoes, lacked you perchance anything?" They said unto him, "Nothing." He said unto them, "Henceforth, whosoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise the wallet also: and whosoever has not a sword, shall sell his garment, and buy for himself a sword. I say unto you, that this scripture also must be fulfilled in me, that I should be reckoned with the transgressors: for all that is said of Me is fulfilled in Me."
5 His disciples said unto Him, "Our Lord, lo, here are two swords." He said unto them, "They are sufficient. Arise, let us go away." And they arose, and praised, and went forth, and went, according to their custom, to the mount of Olives, He and His disciples.
6 And he said unto them, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the Farmer. Every branch that produces not fruit in Me, He takes it: and that which gives fruit, He cleanses it, that it may give much fruit. You are already clean because of the word that I have spoken unto you. Abide in Me, and I in you. And as the branch of the vine cannot produce fruit of itself, if it be not abiding in the vine; so too you also, if you abide not in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches: He then that abides in Me, and I in him, he gives much fruit: for without Me you cannot do anything. And if a man abide not in Me, he is cast without, like a withered branch; and it is gathered, and cast into the fire, that it may be burned."
7 "If you abide in Me, and My word abide in you, everything that you desire to ask shall be done unto you. And herein is the Father glorified, that you may give much fruit; and you shall be My disciples. And as my Father loved Me, I loved you also: abide in My love. If you keep My commands, you shall abide in My love; as I have kept My Father's commands, and abode in His love. I have spoken that unto you, that My joy may be in you, and your joy be fulfilled."
8 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I loved you. And no love is greater than this, namely, that a man should give his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do all that I command you. I call you not now servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: my friends have I now called you; for everything that I heard from My Father I have made known unto you."
9 "You did not choose Me, but I chose I you, and appointed you, that you also should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide; and that all that you shall ask My Father in My name, He may give you."
10 "This I command you, that you love one another. And if the world hate you, know that before you it hated Me. If then you were of the world, the world would love its own: but you are not of the world: I chose you out of the world: therefore the world hates you."
11 "Remember the word that I said unto you, that 'no servant is greater than his lord.' And if they persecuted Me, you also will they persecute; and if they kept My word, your word also will they keep. But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake, for they have not known Him that sent Me. And if I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sins."
12 "Whosoever hates Me, also hates My Father. And if I had not done the deeds before them that no other man did, they would not have had sin: but now they have seen and hated Me and My Father also: that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated Me for nothing."
13 "But when the Paraclete is come, whom I will send unto you from My Father, even the Spirit of truth, which goes forth from My Father, He shall bear witness of Me: and you also bear witness, because from the beginning you have been with Me.
I have said that unto you, that you may not stumble. And they shall put you out of their synagogues: and there comes an hour when every one that kills you shall think that he has offered unto God an offering. And they will do that, because they do not know Me, nor My Father. I have said that unto you, so that when its time is come, you may remember it, that I told you. And this hitherto I said not unto you, because I was with you. But now I go unto Him that sent Me; and no man of you asks Me where I go. I have said that unto you now, and grief has come and taken possession of your hems. But I say the truth unto you; it is better for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Paraclete will not come unto you; but if I go away, I will send Him unto you. And when He comes, He will reprove the world for sin, and for righteousness, and for judgment: for sin, because they have not believed in Me; and for righteousness, because I go to My Father; and for judgment, because the Archon of this world has been judged."
14 "And further have I many things to speak unto you, but you cannot tarry now. Howbeit when the Spirit of truth is come, He will remind you of all the truth: He will say nothing from Himself; but everything that He hears, that shall He say: and He shall make known unto you the things that are to be. And He shall glorify Me; for from Me shall he take and show you. All that My Father has is mine: therefore said I unto you, that He takes of mine, and shall show you.
CHAPTER 46
1 A little while, and you shall not behold Me; and a little while again, and you shall behold Me; because I go to the Father." His disciples therefore said one to another, "What is this that He has said unto us, 'A little while, and you shall not behold Me; and a little while again, and you shall behold Me: and, I go to My Father?" And they said, "What is this little while that He has said? We know not what He speaks. And Jesus perceived that they were seeking to ask Him, and said unto them, "Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said unto you, 'A little while, and you behold Me not, and a little while again, and you shall behold Me?' Truly, truly, I say unto you, that you shall weep and grieve, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be sorrowful, but your grief shall turn to joy."
2 For, a woman when the time is come for her that she should bring forth, the arrival of the day of her bringing forth distresses her: but whenever she has brought forth a son, she remembers not her distress, for joy at the birth of a man into the world. And you now also grieve: but I shall see you, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you. And in that day you shall ask Me nothing."
3 "And truly, truly, I say unto you, all that you ask My Father in My name, He will give you. Hitherto you have asked nothing in My name: ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be complete."
4 "I have spoken unto you now in enigmas: but there will come an hour when a I shall not speak to you in enigmas, but shall reveal unto you the Father plainly, in that day when you shall ask in My name: and I say not unto you, that I shall entreat the Father for you; for the Father loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from My Father."
5 "I came forth from My Father, and came into the world: and I leave the world, and go unto My Father." His disciples said unto him, "Lo, Your speech is now plain, and You have not said one thing in an enigma. Now, lo, we know that You know everything, and need not that any man should ask You: and by this we believe that You came forth from God."
6 Jesus said unto them, "Believe that an hour comes, and lo, it has come, and you shall be scattered, every one of you to his place, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. This have I said unto you, that in Me you may have peace. And in the world trouble shall overtake you: but be of good courage; for I have overcome the world."
7 This said Jesus, and lifted up his eyes unto heaven, and said, "My Father, the hour is come; glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You: as you gave Him authority over all flesh, that all that You have given Him, He might give them eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they should know that You alone are true God, and that He whom you did send is Jesus the Messiah."
8 "I glorified You in the earth, and the work which You gave Me to do I have accomplished. And now glorify You Me, O Father, beside You, with that glory which I had with You before the world was. I made known Your name to the men whom you gave Me out of the world: Your they were, and You gave them to Me; and they have kept Your word. Now they know that all that You have given Me is from You: and the sayings which you gave Me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from You, and believed that You did send Me."
9 "And I ask for their sake: and My asking is not for the world, but for those whom You have given Me; for they yours: and all that is Mine yours, and all that yours is Mine: and I am glorified in them."
10 "And now I am not in the world, and they are in the world, and I come to You. My holy Father, keep them in Your name which you have given unto Me, that they may be one, as We are. When I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name: and I kept those whom You gave unto Me: and no man of them has perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."
11 "Now I come to You: and this I say in the world, that My joy may be complete in them. I have given them Your word; and the world hated them, because they were not of the world, as I was not of the world. And I ask not this, that You take them from the world, but that You keep them from the evil one. They were not of the world, as I was not of the world. O Father, sanctify them in Your truth: for Your word is truth."
12 "And as You did send Me into the world, I also send them into the world. And for their sake I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified in the truth. Neither for these alone do I ask, but for the sake of them that believe in Me through their word; that they may be all one; as You are in Me, and I in You, and so they also shall be one in Us: that the world may believe that You did send Me. And the glory which you have given unto Me I have given unto them; that they may be one, as We are one; I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfect into one; and that the world may know that You did send Me, and that I loved them, as You loved Me. Father, and those whom You have given Me, I wish that, where I am, they may be with Me also; that they may behold My glory, which you have given Me: for you loved Me before the foundation of the world."
13 "My righteous Father, and the world knew You not, but I know you; and they knew that You did send Me; and I made known unto them Your name, and will make it known to them; that the love wherewith You loved Me may be in them, and I shall be in them."
CHAPTER 47
1 This said Jesus, and went forth with his disciples to a place which was called Gethsemane, on the side that is in the plain of Kidron, the mountain, the place in which was a garden; and he entered there, He and His disciples. And Judas the betrayer knew that place: for Jesus often-times met with his disciples there.
2 And when Jesus came to the place, he said to His disciples, Sit you here, so that I may go and pray; and pray you, that you enter not into temptations.
3 And He took with him Cephas and the sons of Zebedee together, James and John; and He began to look sorrowful, and to be anxious. And He said unto them, "My soul is distressed unto death: abide you here, and watch with Me." And He withdrew from them a little, the space of a stone's throw; and He kneeled, and fell on His face, and prayed, so that, if it were possible, this hour might pass Him.
4 And He said, "Father, You are able for all things; if You will, let this cup pass Me: but let not My will be done, but let Your will be done. And He came to His disciples, and found them sleeping; and He said unto Cephas, Simon, "Did you sleep? Could you thus not for one hour watch with Me? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptations: the spirit is willing and ready, but the body is weak."
5 And He went again a second time, and prayed, and said, "My Father, if it is not possible with regard to this cup that it pass, except I drink it, Your will be done." And He returned again, and found His disciples sleeping, for their eyes were heavy from their grief and anxiety; and they knew not what to say to Him. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed a third time, and said the very same word.
6 And there appeared unto Him an angel from heaven, encouraging Him. And being afraid He prayed continuously: and His sweat became like a stream of blood, and fell on the ground.
7 Then he rose from his prayer, and came to his disciples, and found them sleeping. And he said unto them, "Sleep now, and rest: the end has arrived, and the hour has come; and behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us go: for he has come that betrays Me.
8 And while he was still speaking, came Judas the betrayer, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude carrying lanterns and torches and swords and staves, from the chief priests and scribes and eiders of the people, and with him the foot soldiers of the Romans.
9 And Judas the betrayer gave them a sign, and said, "He whom I shall kiss, He is He: take Him with care, and lead Him away.
10 And Jesus, because He knew everything that should come upon Him, went forth unto them. And immediately Judas the betrayer came to Jesus, and said, "Peace, My Master"; and kissed Him. And Jesus said unto him, "Judas, with a kiss betray you the Son of man? Was it for that You came, My friend?"
11 And Jesus said to those that came unto Him, "Whom seek you?" They said unto him, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said unto them, "I am He." And Judas the betrayer also was standing with them. And when Jesus said unto them, "I am He", they retreated backward, and fell to the ground. And Jesus asked them again, "Whom seek you?" They answered, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus said unto them, "I told you that I am He": and if you seek Me, let these go away": that the word might be fulfilled which He was speaking, "Of those whom You have given Me I lost not even one." Then came those that were with Judas, and seized Jesus, and took Him.
12 And when His disciples saw what happened, they said, "Our Lord, shall we smite them with swords?" And Simon Cephas had a sword, and he drew it, and struck the servant of the chief priest, and cut off his right ear. And the name of that servant was Malchus.
13 Jesus said unto Cephas, "The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? Put the sword into its sheath: for all that take with the sword shall die by the sword. Think You that I am not able to ask of My Father, and He shall now raise up for Me more than twelve tribes of angels? Then how should the scriptures which were spoken be fulfilled, that thus it must be? Your leave in this." And he touched the ear of him that was struck, and healed it.
14 And in that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "As they come out against a thief, are you come out against Me with swords and staves to take Me? Daily was I with you in the temple sitting teaching, and you took Me not: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. And that was, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then the disciples all left Him, and fled.
15 And the footsoldiers and the officers and the soldiers of the Jews seized Jesus, and came. And a certain young man followed Him, and he was wrapped in a towel, naked: and they seized Him; so he left the towel, and fled naked.
16 Then they took Jesus, and bound Him, and brought Him to Annas first; because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year. And Caiaphas was he that counselled the Jews, that it was necessary that one man should die instead of the people.
17 And Simon Cephas and one of the other disciples followed Jesus. And the chief priest knew that disciple, and he entered with Jesus into the court; but Simon was standing without at the door.
18 And that other disciple, whom the chief priest knew, went out and was speaking unto her that kept the door, and she brought Simon in. And when the maid that kept the door saw Simon, she looked steadfastly at him, and said unto him, "Are not you also one of the disciples of this man, I mean Jesus the Nazarene?" But he denied, and said, "Woman, I know Him not, neither know I even what you say." And the servants and the soldiers rose, and made a fire in the middle of the court, that they might warm themselves; for it was cold. And when the fire burned up, they sat down around it. And Simon also came, and sat down with them to warm himself, that he might see the end of what should happen.
CHAPTER 48
1 And the chief priest asked Jesus about His disciples, and about His doctrine. And Jesus said unto Him, "I was speaking openly to the people; and I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, where all the Jews gather; and I have spoken nothing in secret. Why ask you Me? Ask those that have heard, what I was speaking unto them: for they know all that I said."
2 And when He had said that, one of the soldiers which were standing there struck the cheek of Jesus, and said unto Him, "Do you thus answer the chief priest?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of evil: but if well, why did you smite me?" And Annas sent Jesus bound unto Caiaphas the chief priest.
3 And when Jesus went out, Simon Cephas was standing in the outer court warming himself. And that maid saw him again, and began to say to those that stood by, "This man also was there with Jesus the Nazarene." And those that stood by came forward and said to Cephas, "Truly you are one of His disciples." And he denied again with an oath, "I know not the man." And after a little one of the servants of the chief priest, the kinsman of him whose ear Simon cut off, saw him; and he disputed and said, Truly this man was with Him: and he also is a Galilaean; and his speech resembles. And he said unto Simon, "Did not I see you with Him in the garden?" Then began Simon to curse, and to swear, "I know not this man whom you have mentioned." And immediately, while he was speaking, the cock crowed twice.
4 And in that hour Jesus turned, He being without, and looked steadfastly at Cephas. And Simon remembered the word of our Lord, which He said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, you shall deny Me thrice." And Simon went forth without, and wept bitterly.
5 And when the morning approached, the servants of all the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people and all the multitude assembled, and made a plot; and they took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death.
6 And they sought false witnesses who should witness against Him, that they might put Him to death, and they found not; but many false witnesses came, but their witness did not agree. But at last there came two lying witnesses, and said, "We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple of God that is made with hands, and will build another not made with hands after three days." And not even so did their witness agree. But Jesus was silent.
7 And the chief priest rose in the midst, and asked Jesus, and said, "Answer you not a word concerning anything?" What do these witness against You?" But Jesus was silent, and answered him nothing.
8 And they took Him up into their assembly, and said unto Him, "If You are the Messiah, tell us." He said unto them, "If I tell you, you will not believe Me: and if I ask you, you will not answer Me a word, nor let Me go."
9 And the chief priest answered and said unto Him, "I adjure you by the living God, that You tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus said unto him, "You have said that I am He." They all said unto Him, "Then you are now the Son of God?" Jesus said, "You have said that I am He. I say unto you, that henceforth you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the chief priest rent his tunic, and said, "He has blasphemed." And they all said, "Why should we seek now witnesses?" We have heard now the blasphemy from his mouth. What then think you? They all answered and said, "He is worthy of death."
10 Then some of them drew near, and spat in His face, and struck Him, and scoffed at Him. And the soldiers struck Him on his cheeks, and said, "Prophesy unto us, you Messiah: who is he that struck You?" And many other things was speaking they falsely, and said against Him.
11 And all of their assembly arose, and took Jesus, and brought Him bound to the praetorium, and delivered Him up to Pilate the judge; but they entered not into the praetorium, that they might not be defiled when they should eat the Passover.
12 And Jesus stood before the judge. And Pilate went forth unto them without, and said unto them, "What accusation have you against this man?" They answered and said unto him, "If he had not been doing evils, neither should we have delivered Him up unto you. We found this man leading our people astray, and restraining from giving tribute to Caesar, and saying of Himself that he is the King, the Messiah." Pilate said unto them, "Then take you Him, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said unto him, "We have no authority to put a man to death": that the word might be fulfilled, which Jesus was speaking, when he made known by what manner of death he was to die.
13 And Pilate entered into the praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus said unto him, "Of yourself said you this, or did others tell it you concerning Me?" Pilate said unto him, "Am I, forsooth, a Jew? The sons of Your nation and the chief priests delivered You unto me: what have You done?"
14 Jesus said unto him, "My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: now My kingdom is not from away." Pilate said unto Him, "Then You are a king?" Jesus said unto him, "You have said that I am a king. And for this was I born, and for this came I into the world, that I should bear witness of the truth. And every one that is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said unto him, "And what is the truth?" And when he said that, he went out again unto the Jews.
CHAPTER 49
1 And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitude, "I have not found against this man anything." But they cried out and said, "He has disquieted our people with His teaching in all Judaea, and He began from Galilee and unto this place. And Pilate, when he heard the name of Galilee, asked, "Is this man a Galilaean?" And when he learned that He was under the jurisdiction of Herod, he sent Him to Herod: for he was in Jerusalem in those days.
2 And Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced exceedingly: for he had desired to see Him for a long time, because he had heard regarding Him many things; and he counted on seeing some sign from Him. And he questioned Him with many words; but Jesus answered him not a word.
3 And the scribes and chief priests were standing by, and they accused him vehemently. And Herod scoffed at Him, he and his servants; and when he had scoffed at Him, he clothed Him in robes of scarlet, and sent Him to Pilate. And on that day Pilate and Herod became friends, there having been enmity between them before that.
4 And Pilate called the chief priests and the rulers of the people, and said unto them, "You brought unto me this man, as the perverter of your people: and I have tried Him before you, and have not found in this man any cause of all that you seek against Him: nor yet Herod, for I sent Him unto him; and He has done nothing for which he should deserve death. So now I will chastise Him, and let Him go."
5 The multitude all cried out and said, "Take Him from us, take Him." And the chief priests and the eiders accused him of many things. And during their accusation he answered not a word. Then Pilate said unto him, "Hear You not how many things they witness against You?" And He answered him not, not even one word: and Pilate marveled at that.
6 And when the judge sat on his tribune, his wife sent unto him, and said unto him, "See that you have nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have suffered much in my dream today because of Him."
7 And at every feast the custom of the judge was to release to the people one prisoner, him whom they would. And there was in their prison a well-known prisoner, called Barabbas. And when they assembled, Pilate said unto them, "You have a custom, that I should release unto you a prisoner at the Passover: will you that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" And they all cried out and said, "Release not unto us this man, but release unto us Barabbas." And this Barabbas was a robber, who for sedition and murder, which was in the city, was cast into the prison.
8 And all the people cried out and began to ask him to do as the custom was that he should do with them. And Pilate answered and said unto them, "Whom will you that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Messiah, the King of the Jews?" For Pilate knew that envy had moved them to deliver him up. And the chief priests and the elders asked the multitudes to deliver Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus. The judge answered and said unto them, "Whom of the two will you that I release unto you?" They said, "Barabbas." Pilate said unto them, "And Jesus which is called the Messiah, what shall I do with Him?" They all cried out and said, "Crucify Him." And Pilate was speaking to them again, for he desired to release Jesus; but they cried out and said, "Crucify Him, crucify Him, and release unto us Barabbas." And Pilate said unto them a third time, "What evil has this man done? I have not found in Him any cause to necessitate death: I will chastise Him and let Him go." But they increased in importunity with a loud voice, and asked him to crucify Him. And their voice, and the voice of the chief priests, prevailed.
9 Then Pilate released unto them that one who was cast into prison for sedition and murder, Barabbas, whom they asked for: and he scourged Jesus with whips.
10 Then the footsoldiers of the judge took Jesus, and went into the praetorium, and gathered unto Him all of the footsoldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet cloak. And they clothed Him in garments of purple, and plaited a crown of thorns, and placed it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and while they mocked at him and laughed, they fell down on their knees before Him, and bowed down to Him, and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
11 And they spat in His face, and took the reed from His hand, and struck Him on His head, and smote His cheeks. And Pilate went forth without again, and said unto the Jews, I bring Him forth to you, that you may know that I do not find, in examining him, even one crime.
12 And Jesus went forth without, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garments. Pilate said unto them, "Behold, the man!" And when the chief priests and the soldiers saw Him, they cried out and said, "Crucify him, crucify him." Pilate said unto them, "Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find not a cause against Him."
13 The Jews said unto him, "We have a law, and according to our law He deserves death, because He made Himself the Son of God." And when Pilate heard this word, his fear increased; and he entered again into the porch, and said to Jesus, "Where are You?" But Jesus answered him not a word. Pilate said unto Him, "Speak You not unto me? Know You not that I have authority to release You, and have authority to crucify you?" Jesus said unto him, you have not any authority over Me, if you were not given it from above: therefore the sin of him that delivered Me up unto you is greater than your sin. And for this word Pilate wished to release Him: but the Jews cried out, "If you let Him go, you art not a friend of Caesar: for every one that makes himself a king is against Caesar."
CHAPTER 50
1 And when Pilate heard this saying, he took Jesus out, and sat on the tribune in the place which was called the pavement of stones, but in the Hebrew called Gabbatha. And that day was the Friday of the Passover: and it had reached about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" And they cried out, "Take Him, take Him, crucify Him, crucify Him." Pilate said unto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests said unto him, "We have no king except Caesar."
2 And Pilate, when he saw it, and he was gaining nothing, but the tumult was increasing, took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, and said, I am innocent of the blood of this innocent man: you shall know. And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us, and on our children." Then Pilate commanded to grant them their request; and delivered up Jesus to be crucified, according to their wish.
3 Then Judas the betrayer, when he saw Jesus wronged, went and returned the thirty pieces of money to the chief priests and the eiders, and said, "I have sinned in my betraying innocent blood." And they said unto him, "And we, what must we do? Know you."
4 And he threw down the money in the temple, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the money, and said, We have not authority to cast it into the place of the offering, for it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with it the plain of the potter, for the burial of strangers. Therefore that plain was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
5 Therein was fulfilled the saying in the prophet which said, "I took thirty pieces of money, the price of the precious One, which was fixed by the children of Israel; and I paid them for the plain of the potter, as the Lord commanded me."
6 And the Jews took Jesus, and went away to crucify Him. And when He bare His cross and went out, they stripped Him of those purple and scarlet garments which He had on, and put on Him His own garments.
7 And while they were going with Him, they found a man, a Cyrenian, coming from the country, named Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus: and they compelled this man to bear the cross of Jesus. And they took the cross and laid it upon him, that he might bear it, and come after Jesus; and Jesus went, and His cross behind Him.
8 And there followed Him much people, and women which were lamenting and raving. But Jesus turned unto them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me: weep for yourselves, and for your children. Days are coming, when they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the womb's that bare not, and the breasts that gave not suck.' Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us'. For if they do so in the green tree, what shall be in the dry?
And they brought with Jesus two others of the malefactors, to be put to death.
9 And when they came unto a certain place called The Skull, and called in the Hebrew, Golgotha, they crucified Him there: they crucified with Him these two malefactors, one on his right, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which says, "He was numbered with the transgressors."
10 And they gave him to drink wine and myrrh, and vinegar which had been mixed with the myrrh; and He tasted, and would not drink; and He received it not.
11 And the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, and cast lots for them in four parts, to every party of the soldiers a part; and his tunic was without sewing, from the top woven throughout. And they said one to another, "Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be": and the scripture was fulfilled, which says, "They divided my garments among them, And cast the lot for my vesture."
12 This the soldiers did. And they sat and guarded Him there. And Pilate wrote on a tablet the cause of His death, and put it on the wood of the cross above His head. And there was written upon it thus: "This Is Jesus The Nazarene, The King Of The Jews". And this tablet read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city: and it was written in Hebrew and Greek and Latin.
13 And the chief priests said unto Pilate, "Write not, 'The King of the Jews'; but, 'He it is that said, "I am the King of the Jews"'." Pilate said unto them, "What has been written has been written."
14 And the people were standing beholding; and they that passed by were reviling him, and shaking their heads, and saying, "You that destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross."
15 And in like manner the chief priests and the scribes and the elders and the Pharisees derided Him, and laughed one with another, and said, "The savior of others cannot save Himself. If He is the Messiah, the Chosen of God, and the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, that we may see, and believe in Him. He that relies on God -- let Him deliver Him now, if he is pleased with Him: for He said, 'I am the Son of God'."
16 And the soldiers also scoffed at Him in that they came near unto Him, and brought Him vinegar, and said unto Him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."
17 And likewise the two robbers also that were crucified with Him reproached Him. And one of those two malefactors who were crucified with Him reviled Him, and said, "If You are the Messiah, save Yourself, and save us also." But his comrade rebuked him, and said, "Do you not even fear God, being yourself also in this condemnation? And we with justice, and as we deserved, and according to our deed, have we been rewarded: but this man has not done anything unlawful."
18 And he said unto Jesus, "Remember me, my Lord, when You come in Your kingdom." Jesus said unto him, "Truly I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in Paradise."
19 And there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary that was related to Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. And Jesus saw His mother, and that disciple whom He loved standing by; and He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" And He said to that disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her unto himself.
20 And from the sixth hour darkness was on all the land unto the ninth hour, and the sun became dark. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Yail, Yaili, why have You forsaken Me? Which is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And some of those that stood there, when they heard, said, "This man called Elijah."
CHAPTER 51
1 And after that, Jesus knew that all things were finished; and that the scripture might be accomplished, He said, "I thirst." And there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and in that hour one of them hasted, and took a sponge, and filled it with that vinegar, and fastened it on a reed, and brought it near His mouth to give Him a drink. And when Jesus had taken that vinegar, he said, "Everything is finished." But the rest said, "Let be, that we may see whether Elijah comes to save Him."
2 And Jesus said, "My Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and said, "My Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit." He said that, and bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
3 And immediately the face of the door of the temple was rent into two parts from top to bottom; and the earth was shaken; and the stones were split to pieces; and the tombs were opened; and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose and came forth; and after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.
4 And the officer of the footsoldiers, and they that were with Him who were guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things which came to pass, feared greatly, and praised God, and said, "This man was righteous"; and, "Truly He was the Son of God." And all the multitudes that were come together to the sight, when they saw what came to pass, returned and smote upon their breasts.
5 And the Jews, because of the Friday, said, Let these bodies not remain on their crosses, because it is the morning of the sabbath (for that sabbath was a great day); and they asked of Pilate that they might break the legs of those that were crucified, and take them down. And the soldiers came, and brake the legs of the first, and that other which was crucified with him: but when they came to Jesus, they saw that he had died before, so they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers pierced him in his side with a spear, and immediately there came forth blood and water.
6 And he that has seen has born witness, and his witness is true: and he knows that he has said the truth, that you also may believe.
7 This he did, that the scripture might be fulfiled, which says, "A bone shall not be broken in Him"; and the scripture also which says, "Let them look upon Him whom they pierced".
8 And there were in the distance all the acquaintance of Jesus standing, and the women that came with him from Galilee, those that followed him and ministered. One of them was Mary Magdalene; and Mary the mother of James the little and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee, and Salome, and many others which came up with Him unto Jerusalem; and they saw that.
9 And when the evening of the Friday was come, because of the entering of the sabbath, there came a rich man, a noble of Ramah, a city of Judah, named Joseph, and he was a good man and upright; and he was a disciple of Jesus, but was concealing himself for fear of the Jews. And he did not agree with the accusers in their desire and their deeds: and he was looking for the kingdom of God. And this man went boldly, and entered in unto Pilate, and asked of him the body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered how he had died already: and he called the officer of the footsoldiers, and asked him concerning his death before the time. And when he knew, he commanded him to deliver up his body unto Joseph.
10 And Joseph bought for Him a winding cloth of pure linen, and took down the body of Jesus, and wound it in they came and took it.
11 And there came unto Him Nicodemus also, who of old came unto Jesus by night; and he brought with him perfume of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. And they took the body of Jesus, and wound it in the linen and the perfume, as was the custom of the Jews to bury.
12 And there was in the place where Jesus was crucified a garden; and in that garden a new tomb cut out in a rock wherein was never man yet laid. And they left Jesus there because the sabbath had come in, and because the tomb was near. And they pushed a great stone, and thrust it against the door of the sepulchre, and went away.
13 And Mary Magdalene and Mary that was related to Joses came to the sepulchre after them, and sat opposite the sepulchre, and saw the body, how they took it in and laid it there. And they returned, and ointment and perfume, and prepared it, that they might come and anoint Him. And on the day which was the sabbath day they desisted according to the command.
14 And the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered unto Pilate, and said unto him, "Our lord, we remember that that misleader said, while he was alive, 'After three days I rise.' And now send beforehand and guard the tomb until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him by night, and they will say unto the people that he is risen from the dead: and the last error shall be worse than the first. He said unto them, "And have you not guards? Go, and take precautions as you know how." And they went, and set guards at the tomb, and sealed that stone, with the guards.
15 And in the evening of the sabbath, which is the morning of the first day, and in the dawning while the darkness yet remained, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and other women to see the tomb. They brought with them the perfume which they had prepared, and said among themselves, "Who is it that will remove for us the stone from the door of the tomb?" For it was very great. And when they said thus, there occurred a great earthquake; and an angel came down from heaven, and came and removed the stone from the door. And they came and found the stone removed from the sepulchre, and the angel sitting upon the stone. And his appearance was as the lightning, and his raiment white as the snow: and for fear of him the guards were troubled, and became as dead men.
16 And when He went away, the women entered into the sepulchre; and they found not the body of Jesus. And they saw there a young man sitting on the right, strayed in a white garment; and they were amazed. And the angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear you not: for I know that you seek Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He is not here; but He is risen, as He said. Come and see the place where our Lord lay.
CHAPTER 52
1 And while they marveled at that, behold, two men standing above them, their raiment shining: and they were seized with fright, and bowed down their face to the earth: and they said unto them, "Why seek you the living one with the dead? He is not here; He is risen: remember what He was speaking unto you while He was in Galilee, and saying, 'The Son of man is to be delivered up into the hands of sinners, and to be crucified, and on the third day to rise.' But go in haste, and say to His disciples and to Cephas, 'He is risen from among the dead'; and lo, he goes before you into Galilee; and there you shall see Him, where He said unto you: lo, I have told you." And they remembered His sayings; and they departed in haste from the tomb with joy and great fear, and hastened and went; and perplexity and fear encompassed them; and they told no man anything, for they were afraid.
2 And Mary hastened, and came to Simon Cephas, and to that other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, "They have taken our Lord from the sepulchre, and I know not where they have laid Him." And Simon went out, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. And they hastened both together: and that disciple outran Simon, and came first to the sepulchre; and he looked down, and saw the linen laid; but he went not in.
3 And Simon came after him, and entered into the sepulchre, and saw the linen laid; and the scarf with which his head was bound was not with the linen, but wrapped and laid aside in a certain place. Then entered that disciple which came first to the sepulchre, and saw, and believed. And they knew not yet from the scriptures that the Messiah was to rise from among the dead. And those two disciples went to their place.
4 But Mary remained at the tomb weeping: and while she wept, she looked down into the tomb; and she saw two angels sitting in white raiment, one of them toward His pillow, and the other toward His feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. And they said unto her, "Woman, why weep you?" She said unto them, "They have taken my Lord, and I know not where they have left him." She said that, and turned behind her, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Jesus said unto her, "Woman, why weep you? Whom seek you?" And she supposed Him to be the gardener, and said, "My lord, if you have taken Him, tell me where you have laid Him, that I may go and take Him."
6 Jesus said unto her, "Mary." She turned, and said unto Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni"; which is, being interpreted, Teacher.
7 Jesus said unto her, "Touch Me not; for I have not ascended yet unto My Father: go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and My God and your God."
8 And on the first day on which he rose, he appeared first unto Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
9 And some of those guards came to the city, and informed the chief priests of all that had happened. And they assembled with the elders, and took counsel; and they gave money, not a little, to the guards, and said unto them, "Say you, 'His disciples came and stole him by night, while we were sleeping.' And if the judge hear that, we will make a plea with him, and free you of blame."
10 And they, when they took the money, did according to what they taught them. And this word spread among the Jews unto this day.
11 And then came Mary Magdalene, and announced to the disciples that she had seen our Lord, and that He had said that unto her.
12 And while the first women were going in the way to inform His disciples, Jesus met them, and said unto them, "Peace unto you." And they came and took hold of His feet, and worshipped Him.
13 Then said Jesus unto them, "Fear not: but go and say to My brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there they shall see Me."
14 And those women returned, and told all that to the eleven, and to the rest of the disciples; and to those that had been with Him, for they were saddened and weeping. And those were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the rest who were with them: and they were those that told the apostles.
15 And they, when they heard them say that He was alive and had appeared unto them, did not believe them: and these sayings were before their eyes as the sayings of madness.
16 And after that, He appeared to two of them, on that day, and while they were going to the village which was named Emmaus, and whose distance from Jerusalem was sixty furlongs. And they were talking the one of them with the other of all the things which had happened.
17 And during the time of their talking and inquiring with one another, Jesus came and reached them, and walked with them. But their eyes were veiled that they should not know Him.
18 And He said unto them, "What are these sayings which you address the one of you to the other, as you walk and are sad?"
19 One of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered and said unto him, "Are you perchance alone a stranger to Jerusalem, since you know not what was in it in these days?" He said unto them, "What was?"
20 They said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus, He who was from Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, and powerful in speech and deeds before God and before all the people: and the chief priests and the elders delivered Him up to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we supposed that He was the one who was to deliver Israel. And since all these things happened there have passed three days."
21 "But certain women of us also informed us that they had come to the sepulchre; and when they found not His body, they came and told us that they had seen there the angels, and they said concerning him that He was alive. And some of us also went to the sepulchre, and found the matter as the women had said: only they saw Him not."
22 Then said Jesus unto them, "You lacking in discernment, and heavy in heart to believe! Was it not in all the sayings of the prophets that the Messiah was to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?"
23 And he began from Moses and from all the prophets, and interpreted to them concerning Himself from all the scriptures.
24 And they drew near unto the village, where they were going: and He was leading them to imagine that He was as if going to a distant region. And they pressed Him, and said unto Him, "Abide with us: for the day has declined now to the darkness. And He went in to abide with them.
25 And when He sat with them, He took bread, and blessed, and brake, and gave to them. And straightway their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He was taken away from them. And they said the one to the other, "Was not our heart heavy within us, while He was speaking to us in the way, and interpreting to us the scriptures?"
26 And they rose in that hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered, and those that were with them, saying, "Truly our Lord is risen, and has appeared to Simon." And they related what happened in the way, and how they knew Him when he brake the bread. Neither believed they that also.
CHAPTER 53
1 And while they talked together, the evening of that day arrived which was the First-day; and the doors were shut where the disciples were, because of the fear of the Jews; and Jesus came and stood among them, and said unto them, "Peace be with you: I am he; fear not." But they were agitated, and became afraid, and supposed that they saw a spirit.
2 Jesus said unto them, "Why are you agitated? And why do thoughts rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that I am he: feel me, and know that a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me having that." And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet and His side. And they were until this time unbelieving, from their joy and their wonder.
3 He said unto them, "Have you anything here to eat?" And they gave him a portion of broiled fish and of honey. And He took it, and ate before them.
4 And He said unto them, "These are the sayings which I was speaking unto you, while I was with you, that everything must be fulfilled, which is written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning Me."
5 Then opened He their heart, that they might understand the scriptures; and He said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it is necessary that the Messiah suffer, and rise from among the dead on the third day; and that repentance unto the forgiveness of sins be preached in His name among all the peoples; and the beginning shall be from Jerusalem. And you shall be witnesses of that. And I send unto you the promise of My Father." And when the disciples heard that, they were glad.
6 And Jesus said unto them again, "Peace be with you: as my Father has sent Me, I also send you."
7 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, "Receive you the Holy Spirit: and if you forgive sins to any man, they shall be forgiven him; and if you retain them against any man, they shall be retained."
8 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Thama, was not there with the disciples when Jesus came. The disciples therefore said unto him, "We have seen our Lord." But he said unto them, "If I do not see in his hands the places of the nails, and put on them my fingers, and pass my hand over his side, I will not believe."
9 And after eight days, on the next First-day, the disciples were assembled again within, and Thomas with them. And Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said unto them, "Peace be with you."
10 And he said to Thomas, "Bring here your finger, and behold My hands; and bring here your hand, and spread it on My side: and be not unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said unto Him, "My Lord and my God."
11 Jesus said unto him, "Now since you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen Me, and have believed."
12 And many other signs did Jesus before His disciples, and they are they which are not written in this book: but these that are written also are that you may believe in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God; and that when you have believed, you may have in his name eternal life.
13 And after that, Jesus showed himself again to His disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and He showed Himself unto them thus. And there were together Simon Cephas, and Thomas which was called Twin, and Nathanael who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of the disciples.
14 Simon Cephas said unto them, "I go to catch fish." They said unto him, "And we also come with you." And they went forth, and went up into the boat; and in that night they caught nothing.
15 And when the morning arrived, Jesus stood on the shore of the sea: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. And Jesus said unto them, "Children, have you anything to eat?" They said unto Him, No.
16 He said unto them, "Cast your net from the right side of the boat, and you shall find. And they threw, and they were not able to draw the net for the abundance of the fish that were come into it.
17 And that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Cephas, "This is our Lord." And Simon, when he heard that it was our Lord, took his tunic, and girded it on his waist (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea to come to Jesus. But some others of the disciples came in the boat (and they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits), and drew that net of fish.
18 And when they went up on the land, they saw live coals laid, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
19 And Jesus said unto them, "Bring of this fish which you have now caught."
20 Simon Cephas therefore went up, and dragged the net to the land, full of great fish, a hundred and fifty-three fishes: and with all this weight that net was not rent.
21 And Jesus said unto them, "Come and sit down." And no man of the disciples dared to ask him who he was, for they knew that it was our Lord. But He did not appear to them in His own form.
22 And Jesus came, and took bread and fish, and gave unto them. This is the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples, when he had risen from among the dead.
23 And when they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Cephas, "Simon, son of Jonah, love you Me more than these?" He said unto Him, "Yes, my Lord; You know that I love You." Jesus said unto him, "Feed for Me My lambs."
24 He said unto him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, love you Me? He said unto Him, "Yes, my Lord; You know that I love You." He said unto him, "Feed for Me My sheep."
25 He said unto him again the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, love you Me?" And it grieved Cephas that He said unto him three times, "Love you Me?" He said unto him, "My Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You." Jesus said unto him, "Feed for me my sheep. Truly, truly, I say unto you, when you were a child, you did gird your waist for yourself, and go where you would: but when you shall be old, you shall stretch out your hands, and another shall gird your waist, and take you where you would not."
26 He said that to him to explain by what death he was to glorify God. And when He had said that, He said unto him, "Come after Me." And Simon Cephas turned, and saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following Him; he which at the supper leaned on Jesus' breast, and said, "My Lord, who is it that betrays you?" When therefore Cephas saw him, he said to Jesus, "My Lord, and this man, what shall be in his case?" Jesus said unto him, "If I will that this man remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow you me."
27 And this word spread among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: but Jesus said not that he should not die; but, "If I will that this man remain until I come, what is that to you?"
28 This is the disciple which bare witness of that, and wrote it: and we know that his witness is true.
CHAPTER 54
1 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain s where Jesus had appointed them.
2 And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but there were of them who doubted. And while they sat there He appeared to them again, and upbraided them for their lack of faith and the hardness of their hearts, those that saw Him when He was risen, and believed not.
3 Then said Jesus unto them, "I have been given all authority in heaven and earth; and as my Father has sent Me, so I also send you. Go now into all the world, and preach my gospel in all the creation; and teach all the peoples, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and teach them to keep all whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the world."
4 "For whosoever believes and is baptized shall be saved; but whosoever believes not shall be rejected. And the signs which shall attend those that believe in Me are these: that they shall cast out devils in My name; and they shall speak with new tongues; and they shall take up serpents, and if they drink deadly poison, it shall not injure them; and they shall lay their hands on the diseased, and they shall be healed. But you, abide in the city of Jerusalem, until you be clothed with power from on high."
5 And our Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, took them out to Bethany: and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And while He blessed them, He was separated from them, and ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and at all times they were in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
6 And from there they went forth, and preached in every place; and our Lord helped them, and confirmed their sayings by the signs which they did.
7 And here are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written every one of them, not even the world, according to my opinion, would contain the books which should be written.