Matthew 21 Cross References - MNT

¹ And when they approached Jerusalem, and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them. ² "Go on into the village facing you, and at once you will find an ass tied, and her colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me. ³ "And if any one says anything to you, tell him, 'The Master needs them,' and he will send them without delay." ⁴ This happened in fulfilment of the word spoken though the prophet. ⁵ Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold thy King cometh to thee, Gentle and sitting upon an ass, And upon a colt, the fool of a beast of burden." ⁶ So the disciples went and did as Jesus told them; ⁷ they led back the ass and her colt, and placed their cloaks on them. ⁸ Then Jesus seated himself upon them, and most of the crowd kept spreading their cloaks on the road, and others began cutting branches off the trees, and spreading them in the road. ⁹ And the crowds who preceded and those who followed after him shouted again and again, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" ¹⁰ And as he came into Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred. "Who is this?" they said. ¹¹ And the crowds answered, "This is the Prophet Jesus, from Nazareth, in Galilee." ¹² Then Jesus entered into the Temple courts, and cast out all who were buying and selling there, and overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹³ "It is written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves." ¹⁴ Then the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple courts, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful works he did, and the boys who were shouting in the Temple Courts and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" ¹⁶ they asked him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" "Surely," said Jesus, "and have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" ¹⁷ So he left them and went outside the city, to Bethany, and spent the night there. ¹⁸ At dawn, when he was on his way back into the city, he was hungry; ¹⁹ and when he saw a solitary fig tree beside the road, he went to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, "Let no man gather fruit from you forever." And at once the fig tree withered away. ²⁰ When his disciples saw this, they were astonished. "How instantaneously," they said, "the fig tree withered!" ²¹ In reply Jesus said to them, "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Up, cast yourself into the sea!' it shall be done; ²² "and everything that you ask for in your prayers you shall have, if you believe." ²³ When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" ²⁴ Jesus answered. "I also will put a question to you, which, if you tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ²⁵ John's baptism, whence was it, from heaven or from man?" So they began debating about it among themselves. ²⁶ "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you in what authority I do these deeds. ²⁸ "But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "'Son, go work today in my vineyard!' ²⁹ "'I will go, sir,' he answered; yet he did not go. ³⁰ "Then he went to the second, and said the same thing to him. "'I will not,' he answered; but afterward he changed his mind and went. ³¹ "Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you! ³² "For John came to you in the road of righteousness, and you did not give credence to him; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots gave credence to him. But you, although you saw this, did not even then change your minds and give credence to him. ³³ "Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. ³⁴ When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. ³⁵ And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. ³⁶ Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷ And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. ³⁸ But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' ³⁹ "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" ⁴¹ "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season." ⁴² "Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes? ⁴³ "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it. ⁴⁴ "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as dust." ⁴⁵ As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them; ⁴⁶ but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

³ When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"

³⁰ So after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

¹ Now when they were approaching Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, ² Jesus sent two of his disciples and told them. "Go to that village in front of you, and immediately on entering it you will find a colt tied, upon which no man has ever sat; untie him and bring him here. ³ And if any man asks you, 'Why are you doing that?" answer, 'The Lord has need of him, and he will immediately send him back.'" ⁴ So they went and found a colt tied outside a door, in the open street, and untied it. ⁵ And some of the bystanders began to say to them, "What are you trying to do, untying that colt?" ⁶ So they answered them just as Jesus had told them, and they let them take it. ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had thrown cloaks upon it, Jesus seated himself on it. ⁸ Then many spread their cloaks on the road, and others, soft leafy branches, which they had cut from the fields; ⁹ and those who went before him and those who came after kept shouting. "Hosanna! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed be the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna, in the highest!"

²⁶ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

²⁸ When he had so spoken he went on before, going up to Jerusalem. ²⁹ When he was come near Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called The Olive Orchard, ³⁰ he sent two of his disciples saying. "Go into the village in the front, and on entering it you will find an ass's colt tied, on which no one has ever ridden. ³¹ "Untie it and bring it here. And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' Simply say, 'The Master needs it.'" ³² Then those who were sent out and found it as he had told them. ³³ For as they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" ³⁴ They answered, "The Master needs it." ³⁵ So they led it to Jesus, and, after throwing their outer garments on the colt, they placed Jesus on it. ³⁶ So he rode on, while they kept throwing their garments in the way. ³⁷ And when now he was coming near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud voice for the almighty works they had seen. ³⁸ They cried, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the Highest"

³⁷ And each day he was habitually in the Temple teaching, and at night he used to go out and lodge on the mount called the Olives Orchards.

³⁹ Then he went out, and began to go to the Mount of Olives, as was his wont; and his disciples followed him.

¹ Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, about a Sabbath Day's journey distant.

¹⁸ "Go into the city," he answered, "to a certain man, and tell him. "'The Teacher says. "My time is near. I am going to keep the Passover at your house, with my disciples."'"

² Jesus sent two of his disciples and told them. "Go to that village in front of you, and immediately on entering it you will find a colt tied, upon which no man has ever sat; untie him and bring him here. ³ And if any man asks you, 'Why are you doing that?" answer, 'The Lord has need of him, and he will immediately send him back.'"

¹³ Then he sent two of his disciples, and told them. "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. ¹⁴ Follow him; and whatever house he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher asks, "Where is your guest-chamber, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' ¹⁵ He will himself show you a large, upper room, furnished and ready. there make preparation for us." ¹⁶ So the disciples went off, and came into the city, and found everything as he had told them.

³⁰ he sent two of his disciples saying. "Go into the village in the front, and on entering it you will find an ass's colt tied, on which no one has ever ridden. ³¹ "Untie it and bring it here. And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' Simply say, 'The Master needs it.'" ³² Then those who were sent out and found it as he had told them.

⁵ His mother said to the attendants, "Whatever he may tell you to do, do it." ⁶ Now there were six stone water-jars standing there, according to the Jewish rites of purification, each holding about twenty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said, "Fill up the jars with water." ⁸ So they filled them brimful. Then he said, "Draw some out now, and carry it to the master of the feast."

³⁵ the Father loves the Son and has committed everything into his hands.

² since thou hast given him authority over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.

²⁵ "neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.

¹ Now, brothers, I wish to tell you about the grace of God which has been manifest in the churches of Macedonia. ² For although in heavy trial of affliction, their overbrimming happiness, even in spite of their deep poverty, abounded to the opulence of their unselfishness.

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹⁶ But thanks be to God who has inspired in the heart of Titus the same zeal on your behalf that I have.

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above, and is ever coming down to us from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom is no variation nor shadow of eclipse.

²² All this happened that the word of the Lord spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled.

⁵⁶ "But all this has happened in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."

¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Zion, Behold thy King cometh seated upon an ass's colt.

³⁶ For this happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Not one of his bones shall be broken. ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

² "Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him."

⁶ "And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, Thou are not least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come a ruler Who shall shepherd my people, Israel."

²⁹ "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

¹⁹ He will not strive nor cry aloud, Nor shall anyone hear is voice in the streets. ²⁰ The bruised reed will not break; The dimly burning wick will not quench; Till he has led justice on to victory.

⁴ So they went and found a colt tied outside a door, in the open street, and untied it. ⁵ And some of the bystanders began to say to them, "What are you trying to do, untying that colt?" ⁶ So they answered them just as Jesus had told them, and they let them take it. ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had thrown cloaks upon it, Jesus seated himself on it. ⁸ Then many spread their cloaks on the road, and others, soft leafy branches, which they had cut from the fields; ⁹ and those who went before him and those who came after kept shouting. "Hosanna! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed be the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna, in the highest!" ¹¹ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple, and after he had looked around at everything, as the hour was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

⁴⁹ "Rabbi," answered Nathanael, "you are the Son of God; you are King of Israel."

¹⁵ Then they shouted. "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" "Crucify your King?" said Pilate. The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!" ¹⁶ So then he gave him over to them to be crucified. ¹⁷ So they took Jesus, who went forth bearing his own cross, to a place called The Place of a Skull—in the Hebrew tongue, Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him; and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹ And Pilate moreover wrote an inscription and placed it above the cross. What he wrote was, "JESUS, THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS" ²⁰ This inscription was read by many of the Jews, because the place where they crucified Jesus was near the city, and the inscription was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. ²¹ So the high priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'King of the Jews,' but 'He said, I am King of the Jews.'" ²² Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written!"

¹ Now I Paul, myself, appeal to you by the humble-heartedness and selflessness of Christ—Paul who "in your presence is humble, but bold enough when he is absent"—

³ Do nothing out of strife, nothing out of vanity, but let each one in true humility consider the others to be of more account than himself. ⁴ Let each have an eye not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

¹⁴ "You are my friends if you do what I command you.

⁴ So they went and found a colt tied outside a door, in the open street, and untied it. ⁵ And some of the bystanders began to say to them, "What are you trying to do, untying that colt?" ⁶ So they answered them just as Jesus had told them, and they let them take it. ⁷ Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had thrown cloaks upon it, Jesus seated himself on it. ⁸ Then many spread their cloaks on the road, and others, soft leafy branches, which they had cut from the fields;

³² Then those who were sent out and found it as he had told them. ³³ For as they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" ³⁴ They answered, "The Master needs it." ³⁵ So they led it to Jesus, and, after throwing their outer garments on the colt, they placed Jesus on it.

¹³ and taking branches from the palm trees went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. Even Israel's King!"

²⁷ And as he went on from thence two blind men followed Jesus, crying, "Have pity on us, Son of David!"

¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful works he did, and the boys who were shouting in the Temple Courts and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

³⁹ "For I tell you that never shall you see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." "nor did they know until the deluge came and swept them away; so will be the coming of the Son of man.

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, And in earth peace among men who please him"

¹³ and taking branches from the palm trees went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. Even Israel's King!" ¹⁴ And Jesus found a young ass and seated himself on it, as it is written, ¹⁵ Fear not, daughter of Zion, Behold thy King cometh seated upon an ass's colt.

³ When King Herod heard this he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

²¹ And the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil. "Who is this?" they asked, "speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁴⁹ Then the other guest began to say among themselves, "Who is this even to forgive sins?"

⁹ So Herod said, "I beheaded John, but who is this of whom I am hearing such reports," And he kept seeking to see him.

² They spoke to him saying. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things? Who is it that gave you this authority?"

¹⁸ Then the Jews asked Jesus, "What sign are you going to show us, seeing that you do these things?"

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus had been glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written concerning him, and what they had done to him. ¹⁷ Meanwhile the crowd which was with him when he summoned Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead, kept witnessing. ¹⁸ For this reason, too, the crowd came to meet him, because they had heard about this sign which he had done. ¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said among themselves. "You see! You can do nothing! Look! The world is gone after him!"

⁵ And he said, "Who are you Lord?"

²³ in fulfilment of the word spoken through the Prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

¹³ When Jesus came into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of man is?" ¹⁴ They replied, "Some say 'John the Baptist'; others, however, say that 'He is Elijah'; others, 'Jeremiah,' or 'One of the Prophets.'"

¹⁵ "He is Elijah," said others. And still others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets."

¹⁶ And awe took hold on them all, and they began to glorify God saying. "A great prophet has risen among us;" and, "God has visited his people."

³⁹ When he noticed this the Pharisee, who had invited him, said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet he would have perceived who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and would know that she is a sinner."

³³ "Yet I must continue my journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it would never do for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!

¹⁹ "What kind of things?" he answered. And they said: "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

²¹ "What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied.

²⁵ so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

⁴⁵ Then Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found him about whom Moses wrote in the Law, as did the prophets—Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph's son." ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

¹⁹ "I see, Sir, that you are a prophet," replied the woman.

¹⁴ So when the people saw the sign which he had performed, they said, "This is in the truth the Prophet who is to come into the world."

⁴⁰ Some of the crowd who had been listening to these discourses began to say, "Without a doubt this man is a Prophet."

¹⁷ So there was a difference of opinion among them. Accordingly they said to the blind man, "What have you to say about him, now that he has opened your eyes?" "He is a prophet," he answered.

²² "Moses, for example, said: "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you; ²³ "and it shall be that every soul who will not listen to that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.

³⁷ "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me.

¹¹ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple, and after he had looked around at everything, as the hour was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

¹⁵ Presently they reached Jerusalem, and, after entering the Temple courts, Jesus began to drive out those who were buying and selling there, and to upset the tables of the money-changers, and the stalls of those who sold doves, ¹⁶ and he would not allow any one to carry a vessel through the Temple courts, Then he began to teach. ¹⁷ "Is it not written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers." ¹⁸ The chief priests and the Scribes heard this, and they began to seek means of destroying him; for they were afraid of him because all the crowd were greatly struck with his teaching.

²⁴ And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord A pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.

⁴⁵ Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out dealers, ⁴⁶ saying, "It is written, “The house of God shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers." ⁴⁷ Day after day he continued to teach in the Temple. The high priests and scribes tried to have him put to death, so did the rulers of the people.

¹⁴ There he found in the temple those who were selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ So he plaited a scourge of rushes, and drove all out of the temple—both the sheep and oxen. He began to pour out the coins of the money-changers, and to overturn their tables, ¹⁶ and said to those who were selling doves. "Take these things away! Make not my Father's house a house of trade! ¹⁷ His disciples recalled that it is written, The zeal of thine house will devour me.

⁵ And they told him. "At Bethlehem in Judea, as it is written in the prophet.

¹⁷ "Is it not written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."

⁴⁶ saying, "It is written, “The house of God shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers."

²⁵ "And so is fulfilled the word written in their Law, 'They hate me without cause.'

²³ Then Jesus went about through Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.

³⁵ And Jesus continued to go throughout all the cities and towns, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity.

⁴ "Go and tell John," was Jesus' answer, "what you hear and see; ⁵ "the lame are walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, and the gospel is being preached to the poor.

¹ One day Peter and John were going up together for the hour of prayer, at three in the afternoon, ² when a man lame from his birth was carried along, who was wont to be laid each day near the gate of the Temple called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those who were going into the Temple. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to go into the Temple, he kept asking them for alms; ⁴ Peter fixed his eyes upon him, as did John, and said, "Look at us." ⁵ So he waited, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said: ⁶ "I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, this I am going to give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!" ⁷ Then taking his right hand he lifted him up. Instantly his feet and ankle-bones were strengthened; ⁸ and leaping forth he stood on his feet, and began to walk, and went with them into the Temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

³⁸ "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about everywhere doing good, and curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.

⁹ And the crowds who preceded and those who followed after him shouted again and again, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"

²³ When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

⁴² "What is your opinion concerning the Christ? Whose Son is he?" "David's," they answered.

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the court of the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas,

⁵⁹ And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed;

¹ And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death.

²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders urged the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus.

¹⁸ The chief priests and the Scribes heard this, and they began to seek means of destroying him; for they were afraid of him because all the crowd were greatly struck with his teaching.

³⁹ And some of the Pharisees said to them out of the crowd, "Teacher reprove your disciples!" ⁴⁰ "I tell you," he answered, "that if these should hold their peace, the very stones would cry out."

¹ On one of the days while he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the gospel, there came up the priest and the Scribes with the elders.

² The high priest and the Scribes continually sought means to put him to death.

⁶⁶ When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying.

¹ Accordingly when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard it said, "Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John,"

⁴² "Does not the Scripture say that the Christ is coming of the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, David's town?"

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ⁴⁸ "What are we going to do?" they said, "now that this man is performing many signs?" If we leave him alone, this way, every one will believe on him, and the Romans will come and rob us of both our sacred place and of our people." ⁴⁹ But one of their number, Caiaphas by name, who was high priest that year, said to them,

⁵⁷ Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if any one knew where he was. he should give information, so that they might arrest him.

¹⁹ Then the Pharisees said among themselves. "You see! You can do nothing! Look! The world is gone after him!"

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and said: "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and wary, and hast revealed them to the children.

³ "Have you not read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was hungry, and his men, too?

⁴ "Have you not read." he answered, "that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,

³¹ "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, did you never read what was spoken to you by God,

²⁵ He answered them. "Have you never read what David did when he was needy and hungry, he and his men?

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ⁴⁸ "What are we going to do?" they said, "now that this man is performing many signs?" If we leave him alone, this way, every one will believe on him, and the Romans will come and rob us of both our sacred place and of our people."

¹⁶ "What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ "But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name." ¹⁸ So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus.

⁴ A wicked and faithless generation is seeking a sign, but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away.

⁶ While Jesus was staying in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper,

⁷ Then Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great crowd of people from Galilee followed.

¹ Now when they were approaching Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives,

¹⁹ Now every evening he used to go outside the city;

³⁷ And the whole populace of Gadarenes and the surrounding territory besought Jesus to go away from them; for they were terror-stricken. So he entered a boat and returned. ³⁸ But the man out of whom the demons had gone kept begging him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away saying,

³⁸ It happened as they went on their way that he entered into a certain village were a woman named Martha received him into her house.

²⁹ When he was come near Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called The Olive Orchard,

⁵⁰ And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

¹ Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha—

¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away;

¹ So then Jesus came six days before the Passover, to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served it; but Lazarus was one of those who reclined with him at table. ³ Then Mary took a pound of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

² And after he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he became hungry,

¹ At that time Jesus walked through the wheat fields one Sabbath Day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck some ears of wheat and to eat them.

¹² The next day after leaving Bethany he was hungry, ¹³ and seeing a fig tree in the distance full of leaves, he came to see if he could find anything on it, and found on it nothing but leaves (for it was not the time of figs). ¹⁴ So, addressing the tree, he said, "Let no man ever more eat fruit from you." And the disciples heard it.

²⁰ and as they (he and his disciples) were passing along in the morning, they saw the fig tree already withered from the root. ²¹ Then Peter remembered, and exclaimed, "Look, Rabbi, the fig tree which you cursed is withered up." ²² "Take hold on God's faithfulness," said Jesus to them in reply. ²³ "In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, 'Up and hurl yourself into the sea!' and shall not doubt in his heart, but on the contrary shall believe that what he says will happen, it will be granted him. ²⁴ That is why I am telling you that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be yours.

² He ate nothing during these days, and at the close of them he was hungry.

¹⁵ For we have not a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁴ So, addressing the tree, he said, "Let no man ever more eat fruit from you." And the disciples heard it.

⁹ And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

⁶ Then he gave them this parable. "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to look for fruit on it, but found none. ⁷ So he said to the gardener. "'See, for years I have come looking for fruit on this tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why should it actually cumber the ground?' ⁸ "But the gardener answered him. 'Lord, let it alone this year also, till I have dug around it, and fertilized it. ⁹ "If after that it bears fruit, well and good; but if not you shall cut it down.'"

⁴² exclaiming. "Oh that at this time you knew, yes, even you, on what your peace depends! But now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ "The time will come for you when your enemies will throw ramparts around you, and encompass you, and shut you in on every side, and raze you to the ground, ⁴⁴ "you and your children within you. And they will not leave in you one stone upon the another. Because you knew not the time of your visitation."

² "He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more.

⁶ "If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned.

⁵ For although they keep up the outward form of religion, they deny its power.

¹⁶ They profess to know God, but by their deeds they disown him; in that they are detestable, disobedient, and reprobate for good work of any sort.

⁷ For land that has drunk the showers that now and again fall upon it, and produced vegetation useful for those for whom it was tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it produces thorns and thistles, it is considered worthless, and is in danger of being cursed, and its end will be to be burned.

²⁰ For if, after having escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, men are again entangled in them and overpowered, their last state is become worse than their first. ²¹ Indeed it would have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them. ²² In their case it has happened according to the true proverb, The dog returns again to his own vomit, and The sow, after washing, to her wallowing in the mire.

¹² These are they who are stains upon your love-feasts; when they feast sumptuously without scruple, looking after none but themselves. They are clouds without water, driven along by the winds; trees of autumn, fruitless, doubly dead, torn up by the roots,

¹¹ He who is wicked, let him be wicked still; He who is filthy, let him be filthy still; He who is righteous, lit him practise righteousness still; And he who is holy, let him be made holy still.

²⁰ and as they (he and his disciples) were passing along in the morning, they saw the fig tree already withered from the root. ²¹ Then Peter remembered, and exclaimed, "Look, Rabbi, the fig tree which you cursed is withered up."

¹⁰ but a rich brother, in his humiliation; because like the flower of the grass the rich man will pass away. ¹¹ For as the sun comes up with a burning heat, it withers the grass, and its flowers fall, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes; so also shall the rich man fade away amid his pursuits.

¹² "but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth."

²⁰ "Because of your little faith," he answered. "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith the size of a mustard-seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from this place to that!' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

²² "Take hold on God's faithfulness," said Jesus to them in reply. ²³ "In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, 'Up and hurl yourself into the sea!' and shall not doubt in his heart, but on the contrary shall believe that what he says will happen, it will be granted him.

⁶ "If your faith," answered Jesus, "were like a grain of mustard-seed, you would say to this tree, 'Tear yourself up and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. ⁷ "But who of you who has a slave plowing or keeping sheep, will say to him, when he is come in from the field, 'Come at once, sit down to dinner,'

¹⁹ Though he was about a hundred years old, his faith did not fail him when he regarded his own body, now as good as dead. and remembered Sarah's barrenness. ²⁰ Nor did he with regard to the promise of God waver in unbelief, but he waxed strong in faith, while he gave God glory,

² Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

⁶ But let him ask in faith, without wavering; for he who wavers is like a surge of the sea, wind-driven and tossed.

⁷ "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

¹¹ "If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?

¹⁹ "And again I tell you that if two of you on earth symphonize your praying concerning anything for which you have asked, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven.

²⁴ That is why I am telling you that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be yours.

⁸ "I tell you that, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunate persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ "So I say to you. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. ¹⁰ "For he that asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door shall be opened.

¹³ "And whatever' you ask in my name I will do; that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

⁷ "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever your will is, and it shall be yours.

²⁴ Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.

¹⁶ So confess your sins one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. For the fervent prayer of a righteous man is mighty in its working.

²² and whatever we ask we are receiving from him, because we are keeping his commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in his sight.

¹⁴ Now the confidence which we have in him is this, that he listens to us whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with his will. ¹⁵ And if we know that he is listening to us in what ever we are asking, we know that we obtain the petitions which we have made to him.

⁵⁵ Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me.

²⁷ Once more they came into Jerusalem; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the high priests and Scribes and elders and asked him. ²⁸ "By what authority do you do these things? or who gave you this authority to do these things?" ²⁹ "And I will put one question to you," replied Jesus. "Answer this, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me!" ³¹ Then they began arguing with one another. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?" ³² On the other hand, if we say, 'From men'!" They were afraid, however, of the people, for every one held that John had been really a prophet. ³³ So their answer to Jesus was, "We do not know." "Neither will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."

⁴⁷ Day after day he continued to teach in the Temple. The high priests and scribes tried to have him put to death, so did the rulers of the people.

⁷ Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?"

²⁷ "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us?

¹⁶ "Behold, it is I who am sending you forth like sheep among wolves. Be then as serpents and as guileless as doves.

⁹ So he rose and stood. Then Jesus said to them. "I ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath Day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to destroy it?"

⁶ Let your speech be always gracious, with a savor of salt, and learn how to give every man a fitting answer.

¹ In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea; ² "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ³ This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." ⁴ This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, ⁶ and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷ But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father'—I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham. ¹⁰ And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. ¹¹ I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. ¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."

⁷ As these men started to go away, Jesus began to speak to the throngs, about John. ⁸ "What did you go out into the desert to behold?" he asked; "A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment dwell in kings' palaces! ⁹ "But why did you go? To see a prophet? I tell you, yes, and more than a prophet; ¹⁰ "for this is he of whom it is written. "Behold, I send my messenger before my face, And he will prepare thy road for thee. ¹¹ "In solemn truth I tell you that there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than John the Baptist; yet one of the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by storm. ¹³ "For the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; ¹⁴ "and, if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ "Let all who have ears, listen!

¹² "Nay, I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they chose. Even so the Son of man also is about to suffer at their hands." ¹³ Then the disciples divined that he had been speaking to them about John, the Baptist.

¹ Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; ² even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face to prepare your way. ³ The voice of one crying aloud. In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. Make his paths straight. ⁴ In the desert came John who baptized, and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; ⁵ and all the land of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. ⁶ And John was clothed with camel's hair, and he had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts, and "honey of the wood." ⁷ He made proclamation. "There is One mightier than I coming after me, and I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten his sandal strap; ⁸ I have baptized you in water, but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit." ⁹ It was at that time that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan; ¹⁰ and as soon as he rose from the water he saw the sky cleft asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him, ¹¹ and a voice from the sky. "Thou art my Son, my beloved; in thee is my delight."

¹¹ Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² And as he saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him. ¹³ But the Angel said to him. "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ "And he shall be to you a joy and an exultation, and many shall rejoice over his birth. ¹⁵ "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth, ¹⁶ "And shall win many of the sons of Israel to the Lord, their God. ¹⁷ "He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

⁶⁷ And his father, Zachariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying. ⁶⁸ "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and redeemed his people, ⁶⁹ "And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰ "As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets Which have been since the world began ⁷¹ To deliver us from our enemies, and from the power Of all who hate us. ⁷² "He showed mercy to our forefathers, He remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³ "The oath which he swore to Abraham, our forefather, ⁷⁴ "That he we should be delivered out of the Hand of our enemies, And should serve him without fear, ⁷⁵ "In holiness and righteousness before him All our days. ⁷⁶ "And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare the way ⁷⁷ "To give to his people a knowledge of salvation Through the remission of their sins, ⁷⁸ "Through the heart of mercy of our God, Whereby the Dayspring from on high shall visit us, ⁷⁹ "To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the paths of peace." ⁸⁰ And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.

² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert. ³ And John went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah. The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way for God, make straight paths for him. ⁵ Every ravine shall be filled up, Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, The crooked shall be made straight, And the rough roads smooth; ⁶ And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ⁷ So John used to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones. ⁹ And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them. ¹¹ "If you have two shirts share with him who has none; and let him who has food do the same." ¹² There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?" ¹³ And he said to them, "Exact no more than the sum allowed you." ¹⁴ The soldiers also repeatedly questioned him, saying, "And we, what shall we do?" "Do not intimidate any one," he replied, "nor lay false charges, and be content with your pay." ¹⁵ And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John, ¹⁶ whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire. ¹⁷ He has his fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire." ¹⁸ With many other exhortations then John declared the gospel to the people; ¹⁹ but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done, ²⁰ added yet this above them all that he shut up John in prison.

²⁸ "I tell you that among all that are born of women not one is greater than John; yet he that is little in the kingdom of God is greater than he." ²⁹ On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John; ³⁰ but the Pharisees and lawyers who had refused his baptism, frustrated God's purpose for themselves. ³¹ "To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? ³² "To What are they like, they are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another. "'We have piped to you,' they say, 'and you have not danced; we have wailed, and you did not cry.' ³³ "For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!' ³⁴ "The son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!' ³⁵ "Nevertheless, wisdom is justified by all her children."

⁵ So they reasoned among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why did you not believe in him?'

⁶ A man came into being, sent from God, whose name was John.

¹⁵ John bore witness concerning him, and cried aloud, saying, "This is he of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me, for he was before me.'"

²⁵ so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ "I indeed am baptizing in water," John said in reply, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not recognize, ²⁷ One who is to come after me, whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ This happened in Bethany, beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said: "Behold, that is God's Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world. ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes One who has been put before me, for he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in order that he might be openly shown to Israel." ³² John also bore this testimony, saying. "I saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven and rest upon him. ³³ And I did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ This I have seen, and I am become a witness to the fact that he is the Son of God."

¹⁸ He who trusts in him is not condemned, but he who does not trust has already been condemned, because he has not put his trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

²⁶ "Rabbi, see! The man who was with you on the other side of Jordan, and to whom you yourself have borne testimony, is now baptizing, and everybody is coming to him." ²⁷ In reply John said: "A man cannot obtain anything unless it has been granted to him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but have been sent before him.' ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So then this joy of mine has now complete fulfilment. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. ³¹ "He that comes from above is above all; but one who is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He bears testimony to what he has heard and seen, yet no one receives his testimony. ³³ Whoever does receive it has set his seal that God is true. ³⁴ For he whom God sent utters the words of God; for God does not give the Spirit sparingly. ³⁵ the Father loves the Son and has committed everything into his hands. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him."

³³ "You yourselves sent to John, and he has been and is a witness to the truth. ³⁴ "(Though for myself I accept no witness from man; I only mention that you may be saved.) ³⁵ "That man was the Lamp-burning and shining—and you were willing for a time rejoice in his light. ³⁶ "But I have testimony greater than that of John; for the work which the Father has given me to bring to completion—the work which I am doing—bears testimony concerning me, that the Father has sent me.

⁴⁴ "How can you believe when you receive glory from, one another, and have no desire for the glory which comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ "Do not imagine that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses is your accuser, on whom you build your hopes. ⁴⁶ "For if you believed Moses you would believe me, for he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ And if you do not believe his writings, how will you ever believe my words?"

²⁵ Jesus answered them. "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works which I am doing in my Father's name, these bear witness concerning me. ²⁶ "But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.

³⁷ With these words Jesus went away and hid himself from them. But although he had wrought such signs in their presence, still they did not believe in him. ³⁸ So the words spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, were fulfilled. Lord, who hath believed our message, And to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed? ³⁹ This was why they could not believe, because Isaiah said again. ⁴⁰ He hath blinded their eyes and make their hearts hard, Lest they should see with their eyes, perceive with their minds, And should turn, and I should heal them. ⁴¹ Isaiah uttered these words because he saw his glory, and he spoke of him. ⁴² Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed on him, but did not confess in on account of the Pharisees, for fear lest they be put out of the Synagogue. ⁴³ For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.

²⁰ and shall persuade our heart in his presence whenever our heart condemns us, because God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

⁹ "But why did you go? To see a prophet? I tell you, yes, and more than a prophet;

⁵ And although he wished to kill John, he feared the people, for they considered John a prophet.

⁴⁶ but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

²⁰ but she could not, for Herod was afraid of John because he knew that he was a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened to John he was much exercised, yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

³² On the other hand, if we say, 'From men'!" They were afraid, however, of the people, for every one held that John had been really a prophet.

¹² And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that he had spoken this parable about them; so they left him and went away.

⁶ "And if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that John was a prophet."

¹⁹ At this the Scribes and the high priests were seeking to arrest him; only they were afraid of the people. For they perceived that he had referred to them in this parable.

³⁵ "That man was the Lamp-burning and shining—and you were willing for a time rejoice in his light.

²² This his parents said because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess that he was the Christ, he should be expelled from the synagogue.

⁴¹ Many who came to him said, "John did not perform any signs, but everything he said about this man was true." ⁴² And many believed on him there.

²⁶ On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them.

¹⁴ "Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch."

³ and at dawn you say, 'It will storm today, for the sky is red and lowering.' You know how to discern the look of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot read.

¹⁶ "Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding. ¹⁷ "You fools and blind; for which is greater, the gold, or the Sanctuary which hallows the gold? ¹⁸ "You say, too, that whoever swears by the offering that is upon it, his oath is binding. ¹⁹ "You blind! Which is greater, the offering or the altar which hallows the offering? ²⁰ "He then, who swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; ²¹ "and he who swears by the Sanctuary swears by it and by Him who dwells therein; ²² "and he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits thereon. ²³ "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law—justice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone. ²⁴ "You blind guides! who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! ²⁵ "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess. ²⁶ "You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also. ²⁷ "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white-washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead men's bones and all rottenness. ²⁸ "Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

⁷ So they answered that they did not know whence it was. ⁸ "Nor will I tell you," Jesus answered, "by whose authority I do these things."

³⁰ "This is truly astonishing," said the man in reply, "that you do not know where he is from, and yet he has opened my eyes.

⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and asked, "We are not blind, are we?" ⁴¹ "If you were blind," Jesus answered them, "you would have no sin. But now you are declaring, 'We see'; so your sin remains.

¹⁸ For God's wrath is ever being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who smother the truth by their unrighteousness. ¹⁹ This is so because that which may be known of God is manifest among them; for God has made it manifest to them. ²⁰ For ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, even his everlasting power and divinity, has been clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made. So they have no excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, yet they did not glorify him as God, nor give him thanks; but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. ²² While they professed to be wise, they became fools,

²⁸ And just as they refused to continue to retain God in their knowledge, so did God cast them out to an outcast mind, to do those things which were indecent.

³ But even if my gospel, too, is "veiled," it is among those who are on the way to perish that it is "veiled."

⁹ even he whose coming is according to the energy of Satan, in every power and sign and lying wonder, ¹⁰ and with all deceit of unrighteousness for those who are perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth for their salvation.

²⁵ "Indeed he does," answered Peter. But on Peter's entering the house, Jesus forestalled him, saying. "How does it seem to you, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect customs or taxes—from their own people, or from aliens?"

¹ "For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.

⁵ "So they went. Again at noon, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same thing. ⁶ "When he went out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "'Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?' ⁷ "'Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "He said to them, 'Do you also go into the vineyard.'

³³ "Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad.

¹⁷ "Give us your advice, then. Is it allowable to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

³⁴ Take heed! Awake! for you never know the time. As a man gone abroad and leaving his house gives authority to his slaves, to each his task; and orders the porter to keep watch;

⁴ "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than the rest of those who lived in Jerusalem?

¹¹ And he said: "There was a man who had two sons. ¹² "The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me.' So he divided his means among them. ¹³ "Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly. ¹⁴ "After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ "So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ "And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any. ¹⁷ "When he came to himself he said: "'How many of my father's hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger! ¹⁸ "'I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight, ¹⁹ "'"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."' ²⁰ "So he arose and went to his father; but while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. ²¹ "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.' ²² "'Fetch the best robe, quick,' said the father to his slaves, 'and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet. ²³ "'Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry, ²⁴ "'for this son of mine was dead and is alive again—he was lost and is found.' ²⁵ "So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing, ²⁶ "and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant. ²⁷ "'Your brother is come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.' ²⁸ "But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father. ²⁹ "'All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might make merry with my friends. ³⁰ "'But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.' ³¹ "'My dear son,' answered his father, 'you are always with me and all that is mine is yours. ³² "'But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found.'"

¹⁵ I am speaking to men of sense; do you yourselves judge what I say.

⁵⁸ So, my brothers beloved, stand firm, immovable, always abounding in work for the Lord, because you know that your toil is not fruitless in the Lord.

² "Repent," said he, "for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ³ This John it was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him." ⁴ This John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem began to go out to him, and all Judea, and the whole neighborhood of the Jordan, ⁶ and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷ But when John saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said: "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Then bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.

³¹ "Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!

¹⁷ "When he came to himself he said: "'How many of my father's hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger! ¹⁸ "'I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight,

²⁰ "but I proceeded to preach, first to those in Damascus, and then in Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they must repent and turn to God and do deeds worthy of repentance.

¹¹ Such were some of you, but you have washed away your stains, you have been consecrated, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

¹ And so God has given life to you Gentiles also, who were once dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you passed your lives after the way of this world, under the sway of the Prince of the Powers of the Air, the spirit who is now working among the sons of disobedience. ³ And among them we all once passed our lives, indulging the passions of our flesh, carrying out the dictates of our senses and temperament, and were by nature the children of wrath like all the rest. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even while we were dead in our trespasses, made us live together with Christ (it is by grace you have been saved). ⁶ together with him He raised us from the dead, and together with Christ Jesus seated us in the heavenly realm, ⁷ in order that he might show to the ages to come the amazing riches of his grace by his goodness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is God's gift. ⁹ It is not of works, so that any one can boast of it; ¹⁰ for we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God predestined us to make our daily way of life. ¹¹ Do not forget then, that you Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "uncircumcision" by the "circumcision" made in flesh by man's hand, ¹² were once upon a time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of the Promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near in the blood of Christ.

¹⁷ This then I tell you and implore you in the Master's name, to pass your lives no longer as the Gentiles do in the perverseness of their minds; ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ These being past feeling have given themselves over to sensuality, in order to practise every form of impurity with greedy zest.

³ "therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.

¹⁷ Now if you bear the name of a Jew, and rely upon law, and boast yourself in God, ¹⁸ and know his will, and can test the things that differ; if you are instructed out of the Law, ¹⁹ and are confident that you yourself are a darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of the young, because you have in the Law the form of knowledge and of the truth—well then, you who are teaching others, do you ever teach yourself? ²¹ You who are preaching that a man should not steal, do you practise theft? ²² You who keep saying that a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who hold idols in abhorrence, are you plundering their temples? ²³ You who are making your boast in the Law, do you habitually dishonor God through your transgressions of the Law? ²⁴ For the name of God is continually blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as the Scripture itself says. ²⁵ Circumcision does indeed profit, if you are obedient to the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision is become uncircumcision.

¹⁸ "In solemn truth I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a comma, will pass from the Law until all has taken place.

⁵ "And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full.

²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

⁹ As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Mathew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

⁵⁰ "Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother."

³ "In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.

¹⁶ "So the last shall be first, and the first, last."

²⁹ On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John;

³⁷ Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume, ³⁸ and standing behind, at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with her hair, while she tenderly kissed his feet, and poured the perfume over them. ³⁹ When he noticed this the Pharisee, who had invited him, said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet he would have perceived who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and would know that she is a sinner." ⁴⁰ Jesus then spoke to him. "Simon, I have a word to say to you." "Rabbi, say on," he replied. ⁴¹ "There were once to men," said Jesus, "in debt to one money-lender. One owed him fifty pounds; the other five. ⁴² "When they had nothing pay he forgave them with such charm. "Tell me, then, which of these will love him most?" ⁴³ "I take it," said Simon, "the one he forgave the most." ⁴⁴ "You have rightly judged." answered Jesus, and turning to the woman, he said to Simon. "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house you gave me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ "You gave me no kiss; but she, since she came in, has never ceased tenderly kissing my feet; ⁴⁶ "you never anointed my head with oil; but she has anointed my feet with my feet with perfume. ⁴⁷ "This is why I tell you that her sins, many as they are, are forgiven, for her love is great; but he who is forgiven little, loves but little. ⁴⁸ "Your sins are forgiven," he said to her. ⁴⁹ Then the other guest began to say among themselves, "Who is this even to forgive sins?" ⁵⁰ But he said to the woman. "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

¹ Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him. ² And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"

¹⁰ "Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."

⁹ "Today is salvation come to this house," said Jesus "since Zaccheus here is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save the lost."

²² "He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow.

³⁰ "The times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men that they should all, everywhere, repent;

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law; so that every mouth may be shut, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.

²⁰ Now law was brought in so that transgression might abound; but where sin abounded, grace super-abounded;

³⁰ What then shall we say? That Gentiles who never pursed righteousness have overtaken it, even the righteousness of faith? ³¹ But that the descendants of Israel, who were in pursuit of a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law? ³² And why? Because they sought it not by faith, but thought to gain it by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling; ³³ even as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; but he that believes on Him shall not be put to shame.

¹³ although I had formerly been a blasphemer and a persecutor and a doer of outrage. But I obtained mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief. ¹⁴ And the grace of our Lord overflowed with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners"! And there is no greater sinner than I! ¹⁶ Yet for this very cause I obtained mercy, so that in me, the chief of sinners, Jesus Christ might display all his boundless patience as an illustration for those who should later believe in him, and so gain life eternal.

⁹ The Lord does not loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loitering; but he is longsuffering toward you, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should pass on to repentance.

¹⁸ "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He has a demon';

²⁵ John's baptism, whence was it, from heaven or from man?" So they began debating about it among themselves.

⁸ Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones. ⁹ And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them. ¹¹ "If you have two shirts share with him who has none; and let him who has food do the same." ¹² There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?" ¹³ And he said to them, "Exact no more than the sum allowed you."

²⁹ On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John; ³⁰ but the Pharisees and lawyers who had refused his baptism, frustrated God's purpose for themselves.

³³ "You yourselves sent to John, and he has been and is a witness to the truth. ³⁴ "(Though for myself I accept no witness from man; I only mention that you may be saved.) ³⁵ "That man was the Lamp-burning and shining—and you were willing for a time rejoice in his light. ³⁶ "But I have testimony greater than that of John; for the work which the Father has given me to bring to completion—the work which I am doing—bears testimony concerning me, that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ "And the Father who sent me has himself borne testimony concerning me. None of you has heard his at any time or seen him, ³⁸ nor had his word dwelling within you, because you do not believe him whom he sent. ³⁹ "You are searching the Scriptures because you suppose that in tem you have eternal life; and though these are they that bear witness concerning me, ⁴⁰ "you will not come to me that you may have life.

²⁵ "And John, when he was finishing his race, repeatedly asked the people. "'Who do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold there comes One after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.' ²⁶ "Brothers, sons of Abraham's race, and all among you who reverence God, to us has the word of this salvation been sent. ²⁷ "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ "Though they found no cause of death in him, yet they asked Pilate to put him to death. ²⁹ "And when they had fulfilled everything which had been written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

²⁵ He must be gentle when instructing opponents; for possibly God may give them a change of mind for the recognition of the truth,

¹² See to it, brothers, that there shall never be in any one of you an evil and unbelieving heart, manifesting itself in apostasy from the living God.

⁶ and then fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. For they repeatedly crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and expose him to an open shame.

²¹ Indeed it would have been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them.

²¹ I have given her time for repentance; but she is determined not to turn from her immorality.

¹⁸ "Listen then, to the parable of the sower.

²⁸ "But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "'Son, go work today in my vineyard!'

² "The Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat;

¹⁴ "For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care. ¹⁵ "To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one—to each according to his individual ability—and then set out on his travels.

¹ Presently Jesus began to speak to them in parables. "There was once a man," he said, "who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and went abroad. ² At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard; ³ but they seized him, and flogged him, and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then he sent another slave to them; and this man they knocked over the head and handled shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another; and him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some. ⁶ He had still one, a Son beloved, He sent him last to them, saying, "'They will reverence my Son.' ⁷ "But those tenants said to themselves. 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' ⁸ "So they took him and killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others." ¹⁰ "Have you not read this Scripture?" (he continued) "The very stone which the builders rejected Has now become the corner-stone; ¹¹ This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes." ¹² And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that he had spoken this parable about them; so they left him and went away.

¹² So he said: "A certain nobleman went abroad to receive for himself royal power and to return.

⁹ Then he began to tell the people this parable. "There was a man who planted a vineyard, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went to another country for a long time. ¹⁰ "At harvest-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers, to ask them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dresser beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ "Then he sent another slave; and him also they flogged and handled shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² "Then he sent yet a third, and him to they wounded and threw him out. ¹³ "Then the master of the vineyard said: "'What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; it may be that they will reverence him.' ¹⁴ "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they reasoned together, saying. 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' ¹⁵ "So they turned him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the master of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ "He will come and destroy those vine-dressers, and will give the vineyard to others." ¹⁷ He looked at them and said: "Then what does this scripture mean. "The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner? ¹⁸ "Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but whoever it falls upon will be scattered as dust." ¹⁹ At this the Scribes and the high priests were seeking to arrest him; only they were afraid of the people. For they perceived that he had referred to them in this parable.

¹ "I am the vine, and my Father the vine-grower.

³ "He sent out his slaves to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they did not want to come.

² At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard; ³ but they seized him, and flogged him, and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Then he sent another slave to them; and this man they knocked over the head and handled shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another; and him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some.

¹² "Rejoice and exult in it, because your reward was great in the heavens; for so did they persecute the prophets before you.

³¹ "So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets! ³² "Fill up then the measure of your fathers! ³³ "You serpents! You vipers brood! How shall you escape the judgment of hell? ³⁴ "For this cause, behold! I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city to city; ³⁵ "that upon your heads may come every drop of innocent blood spilt upon the earth, from the blood of Abel, the just, to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ "In solemn truth I tell you that all these things will come upon this generation. ³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!

³³ "Yet I must continue my journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it would never do for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem! ³⁴ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!

⁵² "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become—

¹⁵ The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out—they are displeasing to God, and are the enemies of all mankind. ¹⁶ They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!

³⁶ Others again bore trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, even of chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, persecuted, tormented—

⁹ And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they bore.

⁴ "Again he sent out other slaves. 'Tell the invited guests,' he said, 'that my luncheon is now ready; my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is ready; come to the wedding-feast.'

¹⁷ while a voice from heaven said, "This is my son, the beloved, In whom I delight."

⁶ He had still one, a Son beloved, He sent him last to them, saying, "'They will reverence my Son.'

¹³ "Then the master of the vineyard said: "'What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; it may be that they will reverence him.'

¹⁸ No man has ever seen God; God, only begotten, who is in the bosom of the Father—he has interpreted him.

³⁴ This I have seen, and I am become a witness to the fact that he is the Son of God."

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever trusts in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

¹ God, who in ancient days spoke to our ancestors in the prophets, at many different times and by various methods, ² has at the end of these days spoken to us in a Son whom he appointed heir of all things; through whom also he made the universe.

¹³ When they were gone an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying; "Rise! Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and there remain until I bring you word; for Herod intends to make a search for the child, in order to put him to death." ¹⁴ So Joseph arose, took the child and his mother, by night, and departed to Egypt. ¹⁵ There he remained until the death of Herod, in order that the word of the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Out of Egypt I called my son. ¹⁶ As soon as Herod saw that he had been mocked by the Magi, he was furious. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and all the neighborhood who were two years old or under, in accordance with the date which he had ascertained from the Magi.

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the court of the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas, ⁴ and they plotted together to get Jesus into their power by a trick, and to put him to death;

¹ And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death. ² After they had bound him, they led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

⁷ "But those tenants said to themselves. 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' ⁸ "So they took him and killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard.

¹⁴ "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they reasoned together, saying. 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.'

⁴⁷ So the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ⁴⁸ "What are we going to do?" they said, "now that this man is performing many signs?" If we leave him alone, this way, every one will believe on him, and the Romans will come and rob us of both our sacred place and of our people." ⁴⁹ But one of their number, Caiaphas by name, who was high priest that year, said to them, ⁵⁰ "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, rather than the whole nation be destroyed." ⁵¹ now he did not say this of his own accord; but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die in behalf of the nation, ⁵² and not in behalf of the nation alone, but in order that he might gather into one the widely scattered children of God. ⁵³ So from that day they plotted to kill him.

²⁷ "In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed—Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel— ²⁸ "to do all that thy power and thy will had predetermined should be done.

²⁴ When the officer in charge of the Temple and the high priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, wondering what would come of it. ²⁵ And some one came and told them that the very men whom they had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching to the people. ²⁶ On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them. ²⁷ So they brought them, and stood them before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest questioned them. ²⁸ "We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach about this Name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

² has at the end of these days spoken to us in a Son whom he appointed heir of all things; through whom also he made the universe.

⁵⁰ "Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him.

⁵⁷ Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled.

⁴⁶ "Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. ⁴⁷ But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ⁴⁸ But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." ⁵⁰ Then they all forsook him and fled. ⁵¹ One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. ⁵² They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. ⁵³ Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him.

⁵² Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? ⁵³ "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." ⁵⁴ So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off.

¹² So the troops and their commandant and the Jewish police took Jesus, and bound him,

²⁴ Then Annas sent him in chains to Caiaphas, the high priest.

²³ him, delivered up by the settled purpose and fore-knowledge of God, you crucified and killed at the hands of lawless men;

¹⁴ "but you disowned the holy and righteous One, and asked as a favor the release of a murderer. ¹⁵ "The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But God has raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.

¹⁰ "be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well.

²⁵ "who saidest through the Holy Spirit, by the lips of thy servant David, our forefather. "Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples form futile plans? ²⁶ "The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ. ²⁷ "In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed—Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel—

³⁰ "We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree.

¹¹ For the bodies of the animals whose blood is carried by the High Priest into the Holy Place are burned outside the camp, ¹² and so Jesus suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood. ¹³ Let us then go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach.

⁶ You have condemned, you have murdered the righteous man unresisting!

⁹ What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others."

¹⁵ "So they turned him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the master of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ "He will come and destroy those vine-dressers, and will give the vineyard to others."

²⁹ How much surer, think you, will be the punishment of one who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has profaned that covenant blood with which he was sanctified, and has done despite to the spirit of grace?

¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."

¹¹ "I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² "but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth."

⁴³ "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it.

⁶ "while the rest seized his slaves and maltreated and murdered them. ⁷ "Then the king's wrath was roused, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.

³⁵ "that upon your heads may come every drop of innocent blood spilt upon the earth, from the blood of Abel, the just, to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ "In solemn truth I tell you that all these things will come upon this generation. ³⁷ "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not! ³⁸ "Behold, your house is left to you desolate!

²¹ for then shall be a time of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never shall be again. ²² And if these days had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake these days will be cut short.

²⁸ "'depart from me, all of you, you evil-doers.' There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out. ²⁹ "And people shall come from the Orient and from the Occident, from the north and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

²³ "Said the master to his slave. 'Go out into the roads and the hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. ²⁴ "'For I tell you that not one of those invited guests shall taste my supper.'"

³² "Remember Lot's wife! ³³ "Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it; but whoever loses it shall preserve it. ³⁴ "I tell you that in one night there shall be two men in one bed; one shall be taken and the other left. ³⁵ "There shall be two women grinding together; the one shall be taken and the other left." ³⁶ OMITTED TEXT. ³⁷ "Where, Master?" they asked him. "Where the dead body is," he answered, "there will the vultures be gathered together."

⁴¹ And when he came into view of the city, as he approached it he broke into loud weeping,

²² "For these are the days of vengeance and of fulfilment of all that is written. ²³ "Woe to women with child and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For sore anguish will come upon the land, and wrath upon all his people. ²⁴ "They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive among the Gentiles, and Jerusalem shall be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the appointed times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

⁴⁶ So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ "For such is God's command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth." ⁴⁸ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.

⁷ and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said: "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe.

⁶ But as they opposed him and abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, and said: "Your blood be upon your own hands. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

⁸ It happened however that the father of Publius was lying ill of fever and dysentery. So Paul went to see him and prayed and laid his hands on him and healed him.

²⁸ "Be fully assured, therefore, that this salvation of God is now sent unto the Gentiles. They will listen to it."

¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ, it is no lie. My conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have deep sorrow ² and incessant anguish in my heart. ³ For I was on the point of praying to be accursed from Christ on behalf of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ For they are Israelites; to them belong the sonship, the Shekinah glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law; the service of the temple, and the promises; ⁵ theirs are the patriarchs, and of them, as concerning the flesh, is Christ, who is over all, God, blessed forever, Amen. ⁶ It is not, however, as though God's word had failed! For they are not all Israel who have sprung from Israel; ⁷ they are not all children of Abraham because they are Abraham's descendants. The promise was, In Isaac shall thy posterity be called. ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as his posterity. ⁹ For thus is the word of promise, According to this season I will come, and Sarah shall bear a son. ¹⁰ And not only so, but when Rebecca was pregnant by our forefather Isaac, though one man was the father of both children, ¹¹ and even though they were still unborn, and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that the purpose of God might stand according to election, not of works, but of Him who called,

⁹ and so that the Gentiles also should praise God for his mercy, as it is written, Therefore I will offer praise to thee among the Gentiles, And sing to thy name. ¹⁰ Or again, Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. ¹¹ Or again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, And let all the people extol him. ¹² Or again, as Isaiah says. There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that arises to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope. ¹³ Now the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may be overflowing with hope in the power of the Holy Spirit. ¹⁴ And I myself also am confident regarding you, my brothers, that you yourselves are already full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and well able to give advice to one another. ¹⁵ Still I have written unto you the more boldly, in part, by way of reminding you, because of that gift of grace which God bestowed upon me, in making me a priest of Jesus Christ unto the Gentiles. ¹⁶ I act as priest of the gospel of God; so that the Gentiles, when offered before him, may be an acceptable sacrifice, because consecrated by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁷ I have then my boast in Christ Jesus concerning the things of God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any thing except that which Christ has done through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed,

¹⁶ They forbid me to speak to the Gentiles with a view to their salvation. They continue always to fill up the measure of their sins; but the wrath of God is come upon them to the full!

³ Which having begun to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him;

²⁵ See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape punishment when they refused to listen to their instructor on earth, much less shall we escape if we turn away from him who is teaching us from heaven;

¹⁰ "Have you not read this Scripture?" (he continued) "The very stone which the builders rejected Has now become the corner-stone; ¹¹ This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes."

¹⁷ He looked at them and said: "Then what does this scripture mean. "The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner? ¹⁸ "Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but whoever it falls upon will be scattered as dust."

¹¹ "For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner.

⁴⁰ "Beware, then, lest that spoken of in the prophets come upon you. ⁴¹ "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, For in your days I will do a deed, A deed which you will never believe, Though one should declare it unto you."

³³ even as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; but he that believes on Him shall not be put to shame.

²⁰ You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.

³ You have heard how by direct revelation the secret truth was made known to me, as I have already briefly written you. ⁴ By reading what I have written, you can judge of my insight into that secret truth of Christ ⁵ which was not disclosed to the sons of men in former generations, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets, ⁶ namely, that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles form one body with us the Jews, and are coheirs and copartners in the promise, through the gospel. ⁷ It is of this gospel I became a minister according to the gift of the power of the grace of God, bestowed on me by the energy of his power. ⁸ To me, who am less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, that I should proclaim among the Gentiles the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ; ⁹ and should make all men see the new dispensation of that secret purpose, hidden from eternity in the God who founded the universe,

⁴ Come to him then, that living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious. ⁵ And yourselves like living stones be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, through Christ Jesus. ⁶ For, as Scripture says. Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him shall never be put to shame. ⁷ For you, then, that believe, is the preciousness; but for those who do not believe, A stone which the builders rejected, The same has become the head stone of the corner, ⁸ and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble over it because they are disobeying God's word, and to this they were also appointed.

²⁸ "But if it is in the power of the Spirit of God is already upon you.

⁴¹ "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season."

²⁰ The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered. "The kingdom of God does not come so that you can catch sight of it, ²¹ "nor will they say, 'Look here it is!' or 'See there!'—for the kingdom of God is now in your midst."

³ "In very truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

⁵ "I tell you solemnly," Jesus answered, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

⁹ But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people, that you may show forth the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light—

²⁴ "The Son of man is indeed to go as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were good for that man if he had never been born."

²⁵ All the people answered, "His blood be upon us and upon our children."

¹⁸ "Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but whoever it falls upon will be scattered as dust."

¹¹ "You would have no power over me," answered Jesus, "unless it had been given you from above. For this reason he who has betrayed me to you has the greater sin."

³ But even if my gospel, too, is "veiled," it is among those who are on the way to perish that it is "veiled." ⁴ Among them the god of this age has blinded the understanding of the unbelieving so that the sunshine of the gospel of God, should not dawn upon them.

² For if the word uttered through angels stood firm, so that every transgression and act of disobedience met with its just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? ³ Which having begun to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him;

⁸ and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble over it because they are disobeying God's word, and to this they were also appointed.

¹² "And how much more is a man worth than a sheep? Therefore it is right to do good on the Sabbath."

⁴⁵ Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also."

¹¹ And the crowds answered, "This is the Prophet Jesus, from Nazareth, in Galilee."

²⁶ "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'From men,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet."

⁷ "The world cannot hate you, but me it does hate, because I am bearing testimony against it, that its ways are wicked.

⁴⁰ Some of the crowd who had been listening to these discourses began to say, "Without a doubt this man is a Prophet." ⁴¹ Other said, "He is the Christ." But others were saying. "Surely the Christ is not to come out of Galilee, is he?

²² "Men of Israel, listen to these words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God, through mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, as you yourselves know;