The Gospel of
Luke
Chapter 12
Warnings and Encouragements
1When a vast multitude had gathered, such that they were trampling on one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. 3Therefore, what things you have said in the darkness, will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken close to an ear in the cellars, will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of the ones killing the body, and after that having nothing worse left to do. 5But I will suggest to you whom you should fear. Fear the one who after the killing, has the power to cast into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
6"Are not five sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7But in your case, even the hairs of your head, each is numbered. You should not be afraid; you matter more than many sparrows.
8"But I tell you, whoever stands up for me before human beings, the Son of Man also will stand up for him before the angels of God. 9Whereas the one disowning me before human beings, will be disowned before the angels of God. 10And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But to the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.
11"And when they deliver you over to the synagogues, and to the rulers and to the authorities, do not worry how or what you should defend, or what you should say. 12For the Holy Spirit will instruct you in that very hour what needs to be said."
False Financial Security
13And someone in the crowd said, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
14But he said to him, "Man, who appointed me judge or arbiter over you two?"
15And he said to them, "Watch out, and be on your guard against every form of covetousness. For the life of one is not inthe abundance of one's possessions."
16And he spoke a parable to them as follows: "The land of a certain rich man yielded abundantly, 17and he was thinking to himself, 'What shall I do? For I have no place where I can stack my produce.'
18And he said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my warehouses, and build bigger ones, and there I will stack all my wheat, and all my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have much goods sitting there into many years. Relax, eat, drink, be merry." '
20But God said to him, 'You fool, this very night they are demanding your soul back from you, and the provisions you have made, whose will they be?'
21"Such is the person saving up for himself, and not becoming rich to God."
True Financial Security
22And to his disciples, he said, "Because of this I say to you, do not worry about life, what you will eat, nor about the body, what you will wear. 23For life means more than food, and the body more than clothes.
24"Consider the ravens, that they neither sow nor reap, and God feeds them. How much higher priority you are than birds!
25"Now which of you by worrying is able to add onto his lifespan one foot? 26If therefore you cannot accomplish even this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27"Consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither labor nor weave. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor, was bedecked like one of these. 28Now if God thus clothes the wild grass, which is here this day and the next is thrown into the stove, how much more would he rather clothe you, O you of little faith?
29"And you also should not seek after how you will eat, and how you will drink; that is, do not be anxious. 30Because all these things, the nations of the world are striving for. But your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31Only seek instead his kingdom, and these things will be included for you.
32"Do not be afraid, little flock; for it has given your Father pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give to the poor: make for yourselves money bags unfailing, a stockpile not shrinking; in the heavens, where neither a thief ever gets close, nor a moth ever destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Be Ready
35"You must keep your waists girded and your lamps burning, 36and you must be like people waiting for their own master, waiting for when he returns from the wedding celebrations, so that when he arrives and is knocking, they may immediately open for him. 37Happy are those slaves who when the master arrives, he finds watching. Truly I tell you, he will gird himself and bid them recline, and after coming in, he will serve them. 38Those slaves are happy, whether he arrives in the second watch and finds them so, or even in the third watch. 39And this you know, that if the manager of the household knew what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40You also must be the same, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you would not think he would."
41Then Peter said, "Lord, are you saying this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?"
42And the Lord said, "So who is the faithful and sensible steward, whom the master will place over his domestic service, to be giving out rations in due time? 43Happy will be that slave who when his lord comes, he finds doing so. 44Truly I tell you, he will place him over all his possessions.
45"But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master is taking his time to come,' and he begins to slap around the workboys and the workgirls, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come at an hour he is not expecting, and at a time he does not know, and will cut him in two, and appoint him his inheritance with the unbelieving.
47"And that slave, knowing the will of his master, and not having prepared or done in accordance with his will, he will be lashed many times. 48Whereas the one not knowing, and having done things deserving of scourgings, he will be lashed few times. So then, anyone to whom much has been given, much will be required of him, and from him to whom much has been entrusted, that much more will be demanded.
Jesus Causes Division
49"I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to be baptized, and how tormented I am until that has been accomplished.
51"You think that I have come to provide peace on the earth. Not at all, I tell you, but rather division. 52For from now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53Father will be divided against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
Judge For Yourselves
54And he was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, right away you say, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and it happens so. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It will be hot,' and it happens. 56Hypocrites! The face of the earth and sky you know how to interpret, but this present time you do not know how to interpret?
57"And why also do you not judge equity yourselves? 58For as you are going with your adversary to court, on the way make every effort to be free of him, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59I tell you, no way will you come out of that place, until you have paid back the very last penny."
Chapter 13
Repent or Perish
1And some who were present at that time, were reporting to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. 2And in response he said to them, "Do you think that because they suffered these things, those Galileans were sinners, more so than all the rest of the Galileans? 3Not at all, I tell you; but on the other hand, if you do not repent, you shall all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were debtors worse than all the rest of the people living in Jerusalem? 5Not at all, I tell you; but on the other hand, if you do not repent, you shall all likewise perish."
6And he continued with this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. And he came seeking fruit on it, and did not find any. 7And he said to the vine dresser, 'Look, it has been three years already I have been coming, seeking fruit on this fig tree and not finding it. Cut it down. Why is it still using up the soil?'
8"But in answer, he says to him, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, until such time I have dug and put manure around it; 9and if in the future it does produce fruit, so much the better. But if not, then you would cut it down.'"
A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath
10And he was teaching in one of the synagogues during the Sabbath. 11And behold, a woman having had a spirit of disability for eighteen years was there. And she was bent over double, and not able to look up at all. 12And when Jesus saw her, he called to her and said to her, "Woman, be set free from your disability." 13And he laid hands on her; and she became erect at once, and was praising God.
14But in response, the synagogue ruler, being indignant that Jesus had healed during the Sabbath, was saying to the crowd, "There are six days in which you are supposed to work; you should therefore be coming during those to be healed, and not during the day of rest."
15But the Lord answered him, and said, "You hypocrites! Who among you on the Sabbath does not free his ox or his donkey from its stall, and after leading it out, give it drink? 16But this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound lo these eighteen years, she should not be freed from this bondage on the day of rest?!"
17And with his saying these things, all his opponents were being humiliated, and the whole crowd was cheering, for all the glorious things being accomplished by him.
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
18Then he said, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what may I compare it? 19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches."
20And again he said, "To what may I compare the kingdom of God? 21It is like yeast that a woman took and folded into three measures of dough until the whole was leavened."
The Narrow Door
22And he was going through every city and village teaching, even as he was making his journey toward Jerusalem. 23And someone said to him, "Lord, are those being saved going to be few?"
And he said to him, 24"Make every effort to go in through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter, and not be able to. 25Once the master of the house has gotten up and closed the door, after that you may begin to stand outside, and knock on the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' and in answer he will say to you, 'I don't know where you are from.' 26At that time you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27And then at that time he will say to you as follows: 'I don't know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness.' 28In that place there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you are being cast outside, 29and people will have come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and be reclined in the kingdom of God. 30And behold, there are those who are last, who will be first; and there are those who are first who will be last."
Jesus Laments Jerusalem
31In that hour, some Pharisees came up to him, saying to him, "You should move on, and get out of this place, because Herod is trying to kill you."
32And he said to them, "Go tell that fox: 'Behold, I am casting out demons and accomplishing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33Regardless, I would have to be continuing on today and tomorrow and the next day. For it is not possible for a prophet to be killed outside Jerusalem!
34"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those sent to it! How often I have wished to gather your children, as a hen does her brood under her wings, and you were not willing. 35Behold, your house is now abandoned to you. I tell you, you will not see me, until the day when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Chapter 14
Jesus at a Pharisee's House
1And it came about that when he went into the house of a certain ruler of the Pharisees on a Sabbath, to eat bread, they were watching him closely. 2And behold, a man with dropsy was right in front of him.
3And in response, Jesus said to the lawyers and Pharisees as follows: "Is it permissible during a Sabbath to heal, or is it not?" 4But they kept quiet. And after grasping him, he healed him, and dismissed him.
5And he said to them, "Who among you whose son or ox should fall into a pit during the Sabbath day, would not immediately pull him out?" 6And they were not able to rebut these words.
7And toward those who had been invited, he was speaking a parable, referring to how they were claiming the most prestigious seats, saying to them as follows: 8"When you are invited by someone to a banquet, do not recline at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you is invited by him, 9and the one who invited both you and him comes and says to you, 'Yield place to this person.' And then you would proceed with embarrassment to make for the last seat. 10Instead, when you are invited, make your way to the least desirable place and recline, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then there will be honor for you in front of all your fellow dinner guests. 11For anyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
12And he was also saying to the man who had invited him, "When you make a breakfast or dinner, do not call your friends, or your siblings or relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back in return, and that would be repayment for you. 13Instead, when you make a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; 14and you will be blessed, because they do not have the means to repay you. For it will be repaid to you, you see, at the resurrection of the righteous."
The Parable of the Great Banquet
15And after hearing these things, one of the dinner guests said to him, "Blessed is the person who will eat bread in the kingdom of God."
16And Jesus said to him, "A certain man held a great banquet, and invited many people. 17And at the hour of the banquet, he sent his slave out to tell those who were invited, 'Come, for it is now ready.'
18"And they all alike began to ask to be excused. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I urgently have to go out and see it. I ask you, consider me excused.'
19"And another one said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. I ask you, consider me excused.'
20"And another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for this reason I am not able to come.'
21"And when he came back, the slave reported these things to his master. Angered then, the master of the house said to his slave, 'Quick, go out into the boulevards and lanes of the town. And the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame, lead them here.'
22"And the slave said, 'Master, what you have commanded has been done, and still there is room.'
23"And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the trails and the fence lines, and urgently invite them to come in, so that my house will be filled. 24You can be sure, I tell you, that not one of those men who were invited, will taste of my banquet!'"
Jesus Qualifies the Crowds
25And great crowds were going along with him, and he turned around, and said to them, 26"If someone is coming with me, and does not spurn his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27Anyone that does not take up his own cross and follow after me, cannot be my disciple.
28"For who of you wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough for completion? 29It would be no good if he lays the foundation, and not being able to finish, all those observing start to ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build, and was not able to finish.'
31"Or what king, going out to another king to meet in battle, does not first sit down to consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand, to match the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32For indeed if not, while he is still at a distance he sends out a delegation, and asks what are the conditions for peace.
33"In the same way, then, any of you who does not say good-bye to everything that he has, cannot be my disciple.
34"Salt then is a good thing; but if the salt itself becomes bland, what will it be spiced with? 35It is fit neither for the soil, nor for the manure pile; they throw it out.
"Whoever has ears to hear, hear."
Chapter 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1And all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming up next to him, to listen to him. 2And both the Pharisees and the Torah scholars were complaining, saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
3But he spoke this parable to them, as follows: 4"What man among you who has a hundred sheep and is missing one of them, does not leave behind the ninety-nine in the desert, and go out after the lost one, until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6And upon returning home he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7I tell you, in just the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner repenting, than over ninety-nine righteous persons having no need of repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8"Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house clean, and search diligently until such time she finds it? 9And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me; for I have found the drachma that was lost.' 10In just the same way, I tell you, rejoicing breaks out among the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
The Parable of the Lost Son
11And he said, "A certain man had two sons. 12And the younger of them said to the father, 'Father, pay out to me the applicable share of the holdings.' So he divided to them the life savings.
13"And not many days later, having gathered everything together, the younger son journeyed off, to a far away country, and there he wasted his estate, living indulgently. 14And after he had spent everything he had, a severe famine took place over that whole country, and he himself began to be without. 15And so going forth, he joined on with one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend swine. 16And he was craving to be fed of the carob pods that the swine were eating, and no one gave him any.
17"And when he came to himself, he was saying, 'How many hired men of my father's have more than enough food, and here I am, perishing with hunger. 18I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men." '
20"And he arose and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and was moved with pity. And he ran out, flung his arms around him and kissed him. 21But the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick, bring out the best robe and drape it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes to his feet, 23and bring the fattened calf, and slaughter it, and let us feast and celebrate; 24for this my son was dead and is alive again; was lost and has been found!' And they proceeded to celebrate.
25"But his elder son was in the fields. And as he was getting close to the house, he heard the sound of music and of dancing. 26And calling over one of the workboys, he was asking what it was all about.
27"And he told him, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"Then he was angry, and refused to go inside. And his father, after coming out, was pleading with him. 29But in response he said to his father, 'All these years I have been serving you, and not once did I ever deviate from your instructions. Yet to me, you have never given so much as a baby goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours comes who ate up your life savings with prostitutes, you slaughter for him the fattened calf!'
31"But he said to him, 'Dear child, you are always with me, and everything that is mine is yours. 32But to celebrate, and be cheered up, is only right; for this your brother was dead and is alive again; was lost, and has been found!' "
Chapter 16
The Shrewd Money Manager
1And then toward his disciples he was saying: "There was a rich man, who had a business manager. And accusations were brought to him against this man, that he was wasting his property. 2So having summoned him, he said to him, 'What is this I am hearing about you? Surrender the records of your management; for you can no longer be manager.'
3"And the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking away the management from me? I am not strong enough to dig. I am ashamed to beg. 4I know what I will do, so that after I am removed from my management, people will welcome me into their homes.'
5"And calling in each and every one of his master's debtors, he said to the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?'
6"And he said, 'A hundred baths of olive oil.'
"And he told him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write "fifty." '
7"Then, to another one he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?'
"And he said, 'A hundred kors of wheat.'
"He says to him, 'Take your bill and write "eighty."'
8"And that master gave credit to the unrighteous manager, in that he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd toward their own generation than are the children of light. 9And as for me, I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the undependable wealth, so that when it fails, they may welcome you into perpetual dwellings.
10"The person who is faithful with little, is also faithful with much, and the one who is undependable with little is also undependable with much. 11If therefore you do not prove faithful with the undependable wealth, who will trust you with the true? 12And if with someone else's property you have not turned out to be faithful, who will grant you property of your own?
13"No house slave is able to serve two masters; for he would either spurn the one and love the other, or devote himself to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Wealth."
14And the Pharisees had been listening to all this and, being moneylovers, were sneering at him.
15And he said to them, "You are ones who make yourselves appear righteous in the eyes of human beings, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among human beings, is detestable in God's sight.
16"The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God is being proclaimed, and everyone is pushing their way into it. 17But it is easier for sky and earth to pass away, than for one serif of the law to fall. 18Anyone who dismisses his wife and marries another is committing adultery, and he who marries her who has been dismissed by a husband, is committing adultery.
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19"Now a certain man was rich, and used to put on a purple robe and fine linen, and live it up splendidly every day. 20But a beggar, Lazarus by name, was laid at his gate, covered with sores, 21and he kept longing in vain to eat the scraps dropping from that rich man's table. In contrast, the dogs would at least come and lick his sores.
22"Now the beggar came to die, and was carried off by the angels to Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died, and was buried. 23And in Hades, when he lifted up his eyes, from being in torment, he sees Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24So after calling out to him, he said, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
25"But Abraham said, 'Son, recall that in your lifetime, you received your good things, while Lazarus likewise received his bad; so now here, he is comforted, and you are suffering. 26And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, such that those who want to go from here to you are not able to, neither can anyone cross over from there to us.'
27"And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, please send him to my father's house, 28since I have five brothers, in order that he solemnly warn them not to also come to this place of torment.'
29"But Abraham says, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them take heed to them.'
30"And he said, 'Hardly, father Abraham; but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31"And he said to him, 'If they are not taking heed to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"
Chapter 17
A Brother Who Sins
1And he said to his disciples, "It is not possible for there not to come things that cause people to fall. Nevertheless, woe to that person by whom such comes! 2It would be better for him if a mill stone is lying around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he cause one of these little ones to fall.
3"Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he turns toward you, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."
Faith and Duty
5And the apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith."
6But the Lord said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
7"Now who of you having a servant plowing or tending the sheep, when he comes in from the field would say to him, 'Come right over here and recline'? 8Would he not instead say to him, 'Fix something I can eat, and after you have girded yourself, serve me while I eat and drink, and after these things, you shall eat and drink'? 9Neither does he thank the servant, that he has done what he has been told. 10In the same way, you also, when you have done all the things that were prescribed for you, you should say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we are supposed to have done.'"
Ten Healed of Leprosy
11And it came about that as he was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing through the middle of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he was coming into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him, who stopped and stood at a distance. 13And they called out loudly, saying, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14And when he saw this, he said to them, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And it came about that as they went, they were cleansed.
15And one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned and came back, praising God with a very loud voice. 16And he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan.
17So in response Jesus said, "Were there not ten cleansed? Where then are the other nine? 18Were none found to have come back to give glory to God, except this foreigner?"
19And he said to him, "Get up and go your way; your faith has saved you."
The Coming of the Kingdom of God
20And when he was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them as follows: "The kingdom of God does not show with careful observation, 21neither will people say, 'Behold, here,' or 'Behold,there.' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
22And he said to the disciples, "Days are coming, when it is one of the days of the Son of Man you will long to see, and you will not have that experience. 23And people will say to you, 'Behold, there!' or 'Behold, here!' Do not go, neither follow after them. 24For just as lightning shines forth flashing from one end of the sky to the other, so shall it be with the Son of Man in his day. 25But first he must suffer much at the hands of this generation and be rejected.
26"And just as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. 27People were eating, drinking, marrying, being given in marriage, up until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
28"It was just the same in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, 29but the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30"Along those lines will be the day in which the Son of Man is being revealed. 31In that day, if someone is on the roof, and his stuff is in the house, he should not go down to get it, and the one in the field likewise should not turn back around. 32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses it will keep it alive. 34I tell you, in that night there will be two men on one couch; one will be taken, and the other left. 35There will be two women together grinding grain; one will be taken, and the other left."
37And they in response are saying to him, "Where, Lord?"
And he said to them, "Where the body is, there also the eagles will be gathered."
Chapter 18
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1And he was speaking a parable to them, with the moral that they ought always to pray, and not to lose heart, 2as follows: "There was a judge in a certain city, who had no fear of God, and no regard for man. 3But there was a widow in that city, and she kept on coming to him, saying, 'Give me redress from my adversary.'
4"And for some time he had been refusing, but after all this, he said to himself, 'Even if I don't fear God, nor have regard for man, 5just because this widow is causing me trouble, I will avenge her, lest all her coming in the end wears me out.' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust kind of judge was saying. 7So God, would he not bring about the avenging of his elect, who keep crying out to him day and night? And is he slow to respond to them? 8I tell you, he would bring about justice for them, in short order. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on the earth at all?"
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Revenue Agent
9And also, to some, who were convinced within themselves that they were righteous, and looking down on everyone else, he told this parable: 10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a revenue agent. 11When the Pharisee stood, he was praying inside himself as follows: 'O God, I thank you that I am not like other people, who are swindlers, dishonest, adulterers, or indeed, like this revenue agent. 12I fast twice a week, I tithe of everything I get.'
13"But the revenue agent, standing a distance off, was not even willing to lift his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you, this latter went down to his house justified, rather than the former. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
The Little Children and Jesus
15And people were bringing little children to him, so that he would touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they started rebuking them. 16But Jesus called them over to him, saying, "Allow the children to come to me and stop preventing them, for of such is the kingdom of God. 17Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will certainly not enter it."
The Rich Young Ruler
18And a certain ruler queried him as follows: "Good teacher, with what done will I inherit eternal life?"
19And Jesus said to him, "Why are you calling me good? No one is good, except God alone. 20The commandments you know: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not give false testimony, Honor your father and mother."
21And he said, "All these I have kept since childhood."
22And when Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one thing lacking with you. Everything you have, sell and hand out to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and then come follow me."
23But hearing these words made him very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 24And when Jesus saw this, he said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to go into the kingdom of God. 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God."
26And those who heard said, "Who then CAN be saved?"
27And he said, "Things impossible with human beings are possible with God."
28And Peter said, "Behold, we have left behind our own things to follow you."
29And he said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or siblings or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not receive back many times as much in this present time; and in the coming age, eternal life."
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
31And after having taken the twelve aside, he told them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be carried out. 32For he will be handed over to the Gentiles, and be made fun of and mistreated and spit upon, 33and after scourging him they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again."
34And they understood none of these things. Indeed, this statement was hidden from them, and they did not realize the things being said.
An Obnoxious Beggar Gets His Wish
35And it came about that when he was drawing near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. 36And when he heard the crowd going through, he was inquiring what this was all about. 37And they informed him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. 38Then he cried out, saying, "Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!"
39And those leading the way were rebuking him, that he should be quiet. But he was shouting that much more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40And after stopping, Jesus ordered that he be brought to him. And when he had come near, Jesus asked him, 41"What do you want me to do for you?"
And he said, "Lord, that I could see again."
42And Jesus said to him, "See again; your faith has saved you." 43And at once he saw again, and he was following him, giving glory to God. And all the people also, when they saw, gave praise to God.
Chapter 19
Zacchaeus the Revenue Officer
1And he entered, passing on through Jericho. 2And behold, there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus, and he was a revenue officer, and he was rich. 3And he was trying to see who Jesus was, but being prevented by the crowd, since he was short in stature. 4And after running on forward ahead, he climbed up onto a sycamore tree, so that he could see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5And when Jesus arrived to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Hurry down, Zacchaeus, for today I need to stay at your house."
6And he hurried down, and took him in gladly. 7And all who had seen this were complaining, saying, "He has gone in to stay the night with a sinful man."
8And Zacchaeus stood up, and said to the Lord, "Look, one half of all I possess, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and where I have defrauded anyone of anything, I am making restitution threefold."
9And Jesus said in reference to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, in view of the fact that this man too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
The Parable of the Ten Servants
11And as they were listening to these things, he included and spoke another parable, because he was drawing near to Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God was about to be appearing shortly. 12He said therefore, "A certain man well born journeyed off to a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13Now after calling ten of his servants, he had given to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business until such time I return.'
14"But his subjects hated him, and they sent ambassadors behind him saying, 'We do not want this man to be king over us.'
15"And it came about that when he returned, he had received the kingship. And he ordered his servants to be summoned to him, those to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had earned.
16"So the first one came, reporting as follows: 'Lord, your mina has grown to ten minas.'
17"And he said to him, 'Well done, good servant. Since with a little you have proven faithful, be therefore ruler over ten cities.'
18"And the second one came, saying, 'Your mina, Lord, has become five minas.'
19"So he said to that one, 'And you, you shall be over five cities.'
20"And the other one came, saying as follows: 'Lord, here is your mina, which I have been keeping laid away in a napkin. 21For I was afraid of you, since you are a demanding man; you collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'
22"He says to him, 'By your own mouth I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew, did you, that I am a demanding man, collecting what I did not deposit, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and I having returned would collect it with interest?' 24And to some standing there he said, 'Take the mina away from him, and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
25"And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas!'
26'"I tell you, to everyone who has, it will be given, but the one who has not, even such that he has will be taken away from him. 27But as for my enemies, those who had not wanted me to be king over them, bring them here, and slay them in front of me.'"
The Triumphal Entry
28And having said these things, he was pressing his way onward, going up to Jerusalem. 29And it came about that as he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent away two of his disciples, 30saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, in which as you are entering you will find a colt tethered, upon which no one has ever yet sat, and you are to untie it and bring it. 31And if someone asks you, 'Why are you untying it,' say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32And when the ones who were sent went, they found things just as he had told them. 33And as they were untying the colt, the owners of it said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"
34And they said, "The Lord needs it."
35And they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing garments of theirs on the colt, they mounted Jesus upon it. 36And as he was proceeding along, people were spreading their cloaks in the road beneath.
37And having come near now to the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole company of disciples started rejoicing, to lift God up with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen. 38They were saying,
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest!"
39And some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher! Rebuke your disciples!"
40And he in answer said, "I tell you, if these go silent, the stones will cry out."
41And as he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42saying, "If you, yes ironically you, had only known what would bring you peace on this very day! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43For the days will come upon you that your enemies will throw a palisade up against you, and encircle you, and press in on you from every side, 44and throw you to the ground, you and your children within you, and there will not be left within you a stone upon a stone, in retribution for the fact you did not recognize the time of your gracious visitation."
Jesus Clears the Temple
45And when he had entered the temple, he proceeded to drive out the vendors, 46telling them, "It is written, 'And my house shall be a house of prayer,' but you have made it 'a haunt of bandits.'"
47And he was teaching daily in the temple. And the chief priests and the Torah scholars, along with the leaders of the people, were trying to kill him. 48Yet they were not finding any way they could do it, because the entire crowd was hanging on him, listening to him.
Chapter 20
The Authorities Question Jesus' Authority
1And it came about during one of those days of his teaching the crowd in the temple and preaching the good news, that the high priests and Torah scholars and elders came up, 2and they said to him as follows: "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or, who is the one who gave you the authority for these things?"
3And in answer Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you something, that you must tell me: 4John's baptism, was it from heaven, or from human beings?"
5So they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From human beings,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.'"
7And they professed not to know where it was from. 8And Jesus said to them, "Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things."
The Parable of the Tenants
9And he began to speak this parable to the crowd: "A man planted a vineyard, and leased it out to tenant-farmers, and journeyed away for quite some time. 10And in the time of harvest, he sent a servant to the tenants, so they could pay him rent out of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants, after beating him, sent him away empty-handed. 11And he proceeded to send a another servant; and that one also, after beating and insulting him, they sent away empty-handed. 12And he proceeded to send a third; and that one also they threw out, after injuring him.
13"So the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son; maybe him, they will respect.'
14"But when they saw him, the tenants discussed it among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.' 15And they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come, and he will kill those tenants, and he will give the vineyard to others."
And those who heard this said, "May it never be!"
17But he, after looking at them, said, "Why then is this written:
'A stone which the builders rejected,
this one has become the chief cornerstone'?
18Everyone who trips over that stone will be broken into pieces; upon whomever the stone falls, it will turn him into powder."
19And at that time, the Torah scholars and high priests wanted to lay their hands on him, yet they were afraid of the people. For they knew that he had spoken this parable in reference to them.
Paying the Tribute Tax to Caesar
20And beginning to watch him closely, they sent spies presenting themselves as sincere, in order to catch some statement of his, such that they could hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.
21And they questioned him as follows: "Teacher, we know that you talk straight, and you teach straight; that is, you do not acknowledge personage, but only on the basis of truth you teach the way of God. 22Is it permissible for us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar, or not?"
23But he perceived their trickery, and said to them, 24"Hand me a denarius. Whose image does it bear, and whose inscription?"
And they said, "Caesar's."
25And he said to them, "Well then, Caesar's things give back to Caesar, and God's things to God."
26And they were not able to catch him in a saying in the presence of the people; and having been astonished by his answer, they remained silent.
Marriage at the Resurrection
27Then some of the Sadducees approached (Sadducees say there is no resurrection), and they questioned him 28as follows: "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man's brother dies having a wife and that deceased is childless, that the man should take the wife of his brother, and raise up descendants for his brother.'
29"Well, there were seven brothers. And the first one, who had taken a wife, died childless. 30And the second one 31took her, and the third one, and in fact all seven in the same way left behind no child, and died. 32Last of all, the woman also died.
33"So the woman, in the resurrection, whose wife is she going to be? For all seven had her as wife."
34And Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those considered worthy to taste of that age and of the resurrection from the dead, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36nor will they be able to die any more, for they will be like the angels and be children of God, since they are children of the resurrection.
37"But that the dead are rising, even Moses intimated so, at the part about the bush, the way he says the Lord is the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all of those are alive."
39And one of the Torah scholars said in response, "Teacher, well said."
Whose Son Is the Messiah
40Indeed, no longer did any of them dare to question him. 41So he said in reference to them, "How do they maintain the Messiah to be the son of David? 42For David himself says in the scroll of the Psalms,
'Yehovah said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
43until such time I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.'"
44So, David calls him Lord; how then is he his son?"
Jesus Denounces the Torah Scholars
45And with the entire crowd listening, he said to the disciples, 46"Beware of the Torah scholars, wanting to walk around in robes, and loving the greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets; 47they devour the houses of widows, and for a front, make lengthy prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
Chapter 21
The Widow's Offering
1And when he looked up, he saw rich people putting their gifts into the donation chest. 2Then he saw a penniless widow dropping there two lepta, 3and he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest. 4For they all put in their gifts out of the extra they had, but she out of her lack put in all she had to live on."
Signs of the Times
5And as some of them were talking about the temple, how with such beautiful stones and gifts it was adorned, he said: 6"These things that you are looking at, days will come in which there will not be left a stone upon a stone that will not be thrown down."
7And they questioned him as follows, "Teacher, so when will these things be, and what sign will happen when they are all about to take place?"
8And he said, "See to it that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am He,' and, "The Lord is near.' Do not go off after them. 9So when you hear of wars and unrest, do not be alarmed; for these things need to happen first, but the end does not come immediately."
10Then, he was saying to them, "Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, 11and there will be mega-quakes, and famines and epidemics in various places, and frightful and awesome signs from heaven.
12"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and prisons, being led all the way up to kings and governors for the sake of my name; 13it will work out for you to be a testimony. 14Put it in your hearts therefore, not to be practicing how to answer in defense; 15for I will give you utterance and wisdom that none of those opposing you will be able to stand against or rebut.
16"But you will also be turned in by parents and siblings and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17And indeed you will be hated by everyone because of my name. 18Yet not a hair of your head will perish: 19by your enduring, you shall gain your lives.
20"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that her desolation is near. 21Then, those in Judea should flee to the mountains, and those within Jerusalem should get without, and those in the fields should not go into her. 22For those are days of vengeance, in fulfillment of all that is written. 23Alas for the ones who are pregnant, and the ones giving milk during those days! For it will be a great calamity upon the land, and wrath toward this people. 24And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be taken captive to all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled over by Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are played out.
25And there will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars, and on earth anxiety of the nations, in uncertainty over the roar and surge of the sea, 26people holding their breath in fear and anticipation because of the things overtaking the world; for the forces of space will be shaken.
27"And then at that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. 28So when these things are beginning to take place, stand yourselves tall and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29And he spoke a parable to them: "Consider the fig tree, indeed all the trees. 30When they are now putting forth leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 31So also you, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you: this age will by no means pass away until all has taken place. 33Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
34"But watch yourselves, that your hearts not be held back by over-indulgence and drunkenness, and by ordinary concerns of this mortal life, and that day come upon you suddenly 35like a trap. For it will come upon everyone who lives over the face of the whole earth. 36So you must be watchful at all times, praying that you might manage to avoid all these things about to come to pass, and stand before the Son of Man."
37And he was spending the days teaching in the temple, and the nights he was going out and lodging on the hill called the Mount of Olives. 38And all the people would get up early to come to the temple and hear him.
Chapter 22
The Contract on Jesus
1And the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called Passover, was approaching, 2and the chief priests and the Torah scholars were still yet looking for a way to put him to death, because they were still yet fearing the people.
3Then Satan entered into Judas, the one called Ish Keriot, who was one of their number, of the Twelve. 4And he went away, and discussed with the chief priests and the commanders of the temple guard how he might hand him over to them. 5And they were delighted, and contracted to give him money. 6And he accepted, and was looking for the best time for handing him over to them, without the crowd.
The Passover Supper
7And the day of Unleavened Bread arrived in which it was customary to slaughter the Passover. 8And he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go, prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it."
9And they said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare it?"
10And he told them, "Behold, at the point of your arriving into the city a man carrying a water jar will encounter you. Follow him to whatever house he goes into. 11And say to the owner of the house, 'The teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" ' 12And that person will show you a large upstairs room all furnished. You shall prepare it there." 13So when they went, they found things just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
14And when the hour had come, he reclined, and the twelve disciples along with him. 15And he said to them, "It is with great longing and anticipation I have wanted to eat this Passover with you before my suffering. 16For I tell you: I will certainly not eat it againuntil such time it has been fulfilled in the kingdom of God."
17And after taking hold of the cup, he gave thanks, and said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves; 18for I tell you: By no means will I drink of the fruit of the vine from this point on until such time the kingdom of God has come."
19And after taking the bread and giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, being given for you. This you should do as a commemoration of me."
20And the cup after the meal in the same way, saying: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, being poured out for you.
21"But lo, the hand of the one betraying me is with mine on the table. 22Therefore indeed the Son of Man is going out exactly as is planned. Even so, woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!"
23And they began to debate with each other which of them therefore might be the one about to do this.
24Then there also arose another dispute among them, as to which of them was considered to be greater.
25And he said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those exercising authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26But not so with you. Rather, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader as the one who serves. 27For who is greater: the one reclining, or the one serving? Is it not the one reclining? Among you though, I am as the one serving.
28"But you are the ones who have stuck with me through my trials; 29and I am assigning to you a kingdom, just as my Father did to me, 30such that you will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Predicts the Disciples' Crisis of Faith
31"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has obtained permission to have you all, to sift you all like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith will not completely die. And you, when you have come back around, strengthen your brothers."
33But he said to him, "Lord, I am prepared to go with you both to prison and to death."
34But Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter: the rooster will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me."
35And he said to them, "When I sent you without purse, knapsack and sandals, did you lack anything?"
And they said, "Nothing."
36Then he said, "But now, he who has a purse should bring it, or a knapsack likewise, and he who does not have a sword, should sell his cloak and buy one. 37For I tell you, this which is written has to be fulfilled in me:
'And he was considered one of the outlaws.'
Yes indeed, that about me is reaching fulfillment."
38So they said, "Lord, look. There are two swords here."
And he said to them, "That is enough."
Gethsemane
39And after going out, he proceeded as was his custom to the Mount of Olives; and his disciples followed him also. 40And coming upon the place he said to them, "Pray not to come into temptation." 41And he withdrew from them, about a stone's throw away. And having dropped his knees, he was praying, 42as follows: "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. However, not my will, but yours be done." 43And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. [[44And being in agony, he was praying more earnestly; and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down onto the ground.]]
45And after rising from prayer and returning to the disciples, he found them sleeping, out of sorrow. 46And he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, that you not go into temptation."
Jesus Arrested
47While he was yet speaking, behold, a crowd, and the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. And he came up to Jesus, and kissed him. 48But Jesus said to him, "Judas, with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?"
49And seeing what was going to be happening, those around him said, "Lord, shall we strike with swords?" 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51But in response Jesus said, "Let that be enough of that." And he touched his ear and healed him.
52Then, toward those coming against him, the chief priests, temple officers and elders, Jesus said, "As though after a bandit, you have come out with swords and clubs? 53Every day with me being next to you in the temple you didn't lay your hands on me. But this is the hour for you, and the authority of darkness."
Peter's Denials
54And after seizing him, they took him and led him into the house of the high priest; and Peter was following at a distance. 55And since people had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were all sitting together, Peter was sitting among them. 56But a maidservant noticed him sitting toward the fire, and after studying him, she said, "This man also was with him."
57But he denied it, saying, "I don't know him, woman."
58And shortly thereafter, another person who saw him was saying, "You are also one of them."
And Peter was saying, "Man, I am not."
59And after about an hour had passed, someone else was affirming, saying, "Definitely, this man was also with him; he is also Galilean."
60But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately as he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and he remembered the statement of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." 62And he went off outside, and bitterly wept.
Before the Sanhedrin
63And the men guarding Jesus were making fun of him as they beat him up. 64After blindfolding him, they were asking him, "Prophesy, who is it that hit you?" 65And they were saying many other insulting things against him.
66And as the day broke, the elders of the people and the high priests and the Torah scholars were assembled, and they brought him over into their Sanhedrin, 67saying, "Tell us whether you are the Christ."
And he said to them, "If I told you, you would certainly not believe, 68and if I asked questions, you would certainly not answer. 69Nevertheless, from now on, the Son of Man will be sitting at the right hand of the power of God."
70So they all said, "You are the Son of God then?"
And he was saying to them, "You are saying that I am."
71And they said, "What more need do we have for witnesses? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."
Chapter 23
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod
1And the whole assembly of them got up, and they took him before Pilate. 2And they began to accuse him, as follows. "We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be a king himself, the Christ."
3So Pilate examined him, saying, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
And he in answer to him was saying, "You are the one saying that."
4And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no causa capitalis in this man."
5But they were getting more insistent, saying, "He incites the people, teaching throughout the entire land of the Jews, starting from Galilee and all the way to here."
6And when Pilate heard this, he asked, "Is the man a Galilean?" 7And when he had confirmed that he was in fact from Herod's jurisdiction, he referred him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem too for those days.
8Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus. He had been wanting for quite some time to meet him, because of hearing about him, and he hoped to see something miraculous happening through him. 9So he was plying him with a considerable amount of questions; but Jesus never gave any response at all. 10And the chief priests and the Torah scholars were standing there throughout, vehemently accusing him.
11Then Herod, together with his soldiers, after treating him with contempt and mocking him by draping a splendid robe around him, sent him back to Pilate. 12Which caused Herod and Pilate to become friends with each other that same day (for they had previously always been hostile toward each other).
13And Pilate summoned the high priest, together with the rulers and the people, 14and he said to them, "You have brought this man up to me as someone inciting the people to treason, and here now is my finding after trying him in your presence. I have found in this man no basis for the charges you are bringing against him. 15And neither has Herod, for he has sent him back to us. So you see, nothing being done by him is worthy of death. 16Therefore, having scourged him, I will release him." [[17Now he was obligated by custom according to the festival to release one person to them.]]
18But they all together shouted back, saying, "Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!" 19(He was someone who had been thrown in prison because of a certain uprising and murder that took place in the city.)
20But Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, called out to them again. 21But they cried out, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him!"
22But a third time, he said to them, "Why? What crime has this man committed? Having scourged him therefore, I will release him."
23But with loud shouts the crowd kept urgently demanding that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed, 24and Pilate decided to grant their request. 25And he released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one whom they had asked for, and Jesus he handed over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26And as they led him away, they seized a Cyrenian, Simon, who was returning from the country, and they placed the cross on him, to carry it behind Jesus. 27And a great multitude of the people were following him, and women who were mourning and lamenting him.
28But Jesus turned to them, and he said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29For behold, days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.' 30At that time they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' 31For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"
32Now two others, criminals, were also being taken with him to be executed. 33And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, for dividing out his clothing.
35And the people stood there, watching. Now the rulers were also there, sneering at him, saying, "He saved others; he should save himself, if this is the one chosen the Christ of God."
36And the soldiers, when they were approaching bringing him vinegar, also made fun of him. 37They also were saying, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself."
38Now there was also a notice inscribed above him: "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."
39And one of the criminals hung there was deriding him, saying, "You are the Christ, aren't you? Save yourself and us."
40But in response the other one was rebuking him, saying, "Don't you fear God at all, considering that you yourself are in this same judgement? 41And we indeed justly; for we have gotten back what was fitting to how we have lived. But this man, he has done nothing wrong."
42And then he was saying, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43And Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Jesus' Death
44And it was now about noon, and darkness came across the whole land until 3:00 p.m., 45for the sun was darkened.
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46And crying out with a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And after he had said this, he expired.
47Now the centurion when he saw what had happened, was giving glory to God, by saying, "This really must have been a righteous man."
48And all the crowds who had gathered around for this spectacle, when they observed what took place, they were turning away, beating their breasts. 49But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed with him from Galilee, stood off at a distance throughout, watching these things.
Jesus' Burial
50And behold, there was a council member named Joseph, who was a good and righteous man 51(he was not going along with their decision and actions), from Arimathea, a city in Judea, who was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53And when he had taken it down he wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a hewn-out tomb, which no one was lying in yet. 54And it was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was coming on.
55Now some women had followed close behind, which were the ones who had come with him from Galilee. They observed the tomb, and how his body was interred. 56Then when they returned home, they prepared spices and perfumes. And for the Sabbath though, they did rest, in keeping with the commandment;
Chapter 24
The Resurrection
1but at the crack of dawn on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. 2But they found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.
Jesus Appears to the Women
3And when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4And it happened that as they stood hesitating about this, behold, two men appeared to them, in gleaming garments.
5And when terror came over them, such that they had bowed their faces down to the ground, the men said to them, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen! Recall how he spoke to you while still in Galilee, 7saying that the Son of Man must be transferred into the hands of sinful mortals, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."
8And they did recall his statements. 9And when they returned from the tomb, they related all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest.
10Now it was the Magdalene Mary, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who were telling these things to the apostles; 11and these statements appeared to them as nonsense, and they did not believe them.
12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and after stooping down, he sees only the linen bandages. And he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13And behold, that same day, two of them were on their way to a village named Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And these two were conversing with each other about the outcome of all these things.
15And it came about, that they are in conversation, and Jesus himself has come up, walking along with them. 16Their eyes, however, were being restrained, so as not to recognize him.
17And he said to them, "What is this discussion you are having with each other as you walk along?" And they came to a stop, looking dismal.
18And in response, the one named Cleopas said to him, "Are you just visiting Jerusalem, and unaware of the things happening in it during these days?"
19And he said to them, "What things?"
And they said to him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet powerful in deed and in word, in the eyes of both God and all the people; 20how the chief priests and our rulers handed him over for the sentence of death, and how they crucified him. 21And here we had been hoping he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, he is already spending his third day in the grave since when these things took place.
22"And not only that, now some of our women have confounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and not finding his body, they came back, claiming also to have seen a vision of angels, which were maintaining that he was alive. 24So some of our number went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see."
25And he said to them, "O you thick headed, and slow of heart to believe on all the things the prophets have spoken! 26Were not these things required for the Christ to suffer in order to go on into his glory?" 27And beginning with Moses, and through all the prophets, he interpreted for them the things in all the writings that were about himself.
28And they came near to the village to which they were going, and he pretended to go on farther. 29And they urged him insistently, saying, "Lodge with us, because it is near evening, and the daylight is almost gone." And he went inside, to lodge with them.
30And it came about that as he reclined with them, he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and was distributing it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he disappeared from them.
32And they said to each other, "Weren't our hearts burning within us as he talked to us on the road, as he explained the scriptures to us?" 33And after rising up that very hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and those with them all gathered together, 34who were saying that the Lord really was risen, and had appeared to Simon. 35And then the former were recounting the events on the road, and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36And while they were speaking these things, he stood in the midst of them, and he is saying to them, "Peace be with you."
37But alarmed they were, and terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. 38And he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And for what reason are doubts arising in your hearts? 39Behold my hands and my feet, that I am me. Touch me, and know, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see me having." 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41But, since they were still not believing, out of joy and astonishment, he said to them, "What do you have to eat in this place?" 42So they handed him a piece of broiled fish. 43And he took it, and ate it in front of them.
The Ascension
44And he said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, how all the things written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then at that time he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
46And he said to them, "This is what is written: the Christ was to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And I am sending my Father's promise down upon you. So you are to stay put in the city until such time you are endued with power from on high."
50Then he led them outside, as far as Bethany. And after lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51And it came about that as he was blessing them, he parted from them, and was taken up into heaven.
52And they, after worshiping him, returned back to Jerusalem with great rejoicing. 53And throughout those days they were continually at the temple, praising God
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