LUKE
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 -
6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 -
12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 -
18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 -
23 - 24
TOC
Maps
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account
of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on
to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the
word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very
first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that
you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been
instructed. 5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a
descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous
before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations
of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both
were getting on in years. 8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and
his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the
priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the
time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying
outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the
right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified;
and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid,
Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a
son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many
will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He
must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled
with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord
their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn
the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of
the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 Zechariah said
to the angel, "How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife
is getting on in years." 19 The angel replied, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the
presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good
news. 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled
in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things
occur." 21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his
delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and
they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to
them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he
went to his home. 24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five
months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 "This is what the Lord has done
for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured
among my people." 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a
town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her
and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much
perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The
angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him
Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign
over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel
said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be
called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.
37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the
servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel
departed from her. 39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean
town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and
greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in
her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a
loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44
For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped
for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of
what was spoken to her by the Lord." 46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the
Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with
favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will
call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is
his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in
remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever." 56 And Mary remained with her about
three months and then returned to her home. 57 Now the time came for Elizabeth
to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the
Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 On the
eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him
Zechariah after his father. 60 But his mother said, "No; he is to be called
John." 61 They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." 62 Then they
began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63 He
asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were
amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began
to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these
things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who
heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For,
indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 Then his father Zechariah was
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 68 "Blessed be the Lord God
of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69 He
has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he
spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we would be
saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72 Thus he has
shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being
rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in
holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be
called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare
his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of
their sins. 78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break
upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." 80 The child grew and became
strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared
publicly to Israel.
Return to Top
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the
world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken
while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be
registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and
family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged
and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to
deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in
bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in
the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the
angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of
great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will
find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and
saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those
whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing
that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with
haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they
saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured
all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told
them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and
he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the
womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of
Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is
written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as
holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated
in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25 Now
there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and
devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested
on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see
death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon
came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for
him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised
God, saying, 29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according
to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the
Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And the child's father and
mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them
and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the
rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the
inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul
too." 36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of
Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after
her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the
temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that
moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who
were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished
everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their
own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him. 41 Now every year his parents went to
Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they
started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did
not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a
day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and
friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for
him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him
were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him
they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated
us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great
anxiety." 49 He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know
that I must be in my Father's house?" 50 But they did not understand what he
said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
Return to Top
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius
Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother
Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of
Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God
came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region
around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of
sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The
voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways
made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" 7 John said to
the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not
begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you,
God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax
is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 And the crowds asked him, "What
then should we do?" 11 In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must
share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." 12 Even
tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we
do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you."
14 Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do
not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied
with your wages." 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were
questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16
John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is
more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing
fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into
his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 18 So, with
many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod
the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife,
and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by
shutting up John in prison. 21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when
Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the
Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from
heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." 23 Jesus was
about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought)
of Joseph son of Heli, 24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of
Jannai, son of Joseph, 25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of
Esli, son of Naggai, 26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of
Josech, son of Joda, 27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of
Shealtiel, son of Neri, 28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of
Elmadam, son of Er, 29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of
Matthat, son of Levi, 30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of
Jonam, son of Eliakim, 31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of
Nathan, son of David, 32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala,
son of Nahshon, 33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron,
son of Perez, son of Judah, 34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son
of Terah, son of Nahor, 35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber,
son of Shelah, 36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son
of Lamech, 37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel,
son of Cainan, 38 son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
Return to Top
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led
by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the
devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was
famished. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this
stone to become a loaf of bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One
does not live by bread alone.'" 5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an
instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, "To you I
will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me,
and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all
be yours." 8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and
serve only him.'" 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the
pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw
yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, 'He will command his angels
concerning you, to protect you,' 11 and 'On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered him,
"It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had
finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. 14 Then
Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report
about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in
their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to Nazareth, where
he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his
custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given
to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 "The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of
sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the
Lord's favor." 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant,
and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he
began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from
his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23 He said to them, "Doubtless
you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say,
'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at
Capernaum.'" 24 And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the
prophet's hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the
time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and
there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of
them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in
Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except
Naaman the Syrian." 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled
with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of
the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the
cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. 31 He
went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath.
32 They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 33 In
the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he
cried out with a loud voice, 34 "Let us alone! What have you to do with us,
Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One
of God." 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"
When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without
having done him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and kept saying to one
another, "What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he
commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!" 37 And a report about him
began to reach every place in the region. 38 After leaving the synagogue he
entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high
fever, and they asked him about her. 39 Then he stood over her and rebuked the
fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. 40 As
the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of
diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured
them. 41 Demons also came out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But
he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was
the Messiah. 42 At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the
crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent
him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, "I must proclaim the good news of
the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose."
44 So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.
Return to Top
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the
crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there
at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing
their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and
asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught
the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon
answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if
you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they caught so
many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their
partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both
boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down
at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" 9 For
he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had
taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners
with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be
catching people." 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left
everything and followed him. 12 Once, when he was in one of the cities, there
was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the
ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." 13 Then
Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made
clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no one.
"Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make
an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them." 15 But now more than
ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him
and to be cured of their diseases. 16 But he would withdraw to deserted places
and pray. 17 One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law
were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and
from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 Just then
some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him
in and lay him before Jesus; 19 but finding no way to bring him in because of
the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the
tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. 20 When he saw their
faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." 21 Then the scribes and
the Pharisees began to question, "Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who
can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he
answered them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23 Which is
easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? 24
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive
sins"--he said to the one who was paralyzed--" I say to you, stand up and take
your bed and go to your home." 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what
he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized
all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have
seen strange things today." 27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector
named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." 28 And he
got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for
him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others
sitting at the table with them. 30 The Pharisees and their scribes were
complaining to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax
collectors and sinners?" 31 Jesus answered, "Those who are well have no need of
a physician, but those who are sick; 32 I have come to call not the righteous
but sinners to repentance." 33 Then they said to him, "John's disciples, like
the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat
and drink. 34 Jesus said to them, "You cannot make wedding guests fast while the
bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom will
be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days." 36 He also told
them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old
garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not
match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new
wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking
old wine desires new wine, but says, 'The old is good.'"
Return to Top
One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his
disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.
2 But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on the
sabbath?" 3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and his
companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread
of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave
some to his companions?" 5 Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the
sabbath." 6 On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there
was a man there whose right hand was withered. 7 The scribes and the Pharisees
watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find
an accusation against him. 8 Even though he knew what they were thinking, he
said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come and stand here." He got up and
stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or
to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?" 10 After looking
around at all of them, he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and
his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one
another what they might do to Jesus. 12 Now during those days he went out to the
mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. 13 And when day came,
he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:
14 Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and
Philip, and Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus,
and Simon, who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas son of James, and Judas
Iscariot, who became a traitor. 17 He came down with them and stood on a level
place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from
all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They had come to hear
him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean
spirits were cured. 19 And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power
came out from him and healed all of them. 20 Then he looked up at his disciples
and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21
"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you
who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and
when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in
heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you
who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are
full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will
mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what
their ancestors did to the false prophets. 27 "But I say to you that listen,
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the
other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your
shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your
goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to
you. 32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even
sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to
those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners
lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good,
and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will
be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 "Do not judge, and you will
not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you
will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed
down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure
you give will be the measure you get back." 39 He also told them a parable: "Can
a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? 40 A
disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be
like the teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not
notice the log in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend,
let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in
your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. 43 "No good
tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; 44 for each
tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are
grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure
of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces
evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. 46 "Why
do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? 47 I will show you
what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. 48 That
one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on
rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake
it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not act is
like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river
burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house."
Return to Top
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the
people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion there had a slave whom he valued
highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent
some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 When they
came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having
you do this for him, 5 for he loves our people, and it is he who built our
synagogue for us." 6 And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7 therefore I did not
presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8
For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to
one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave,
'Do this,' and the slave does it." 9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him,
and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in
Israel have I found such faith." 10 When those who had been sent returned to the
house, they found the slave in good health. 11 Soon afterwards he went to a town
called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 As he
approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He
was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd
from the town. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to
her, "Do not weep." 14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the
bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" 15 The dead
man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized
all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among
us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" 17 This word about him spread
throughout Judea and all the surrounding country. 18 The disciples of John
reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and
sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait
for another?" 20 When the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has
sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for
another?'" 21 Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and
evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22 And he answered
them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their
sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised, the poor have good news brought to them. 23 And blessed is anyone who
takes no offense at me." 24 When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to
speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look
at? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? Someone
dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury
are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell
you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See,
I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'
28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 (And all the people who
heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God,
because they had been baptized with John's baptism. 30 But by refusing to be
baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for
themselves.) 31 "To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and
what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and
calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we
wailed, and you did not weep.' 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, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of
tax collectors and sinners!' 35 Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her
children." 36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into
the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. 37 And a woman in the
city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's
house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38 She stood behind him at his
feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with
her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the
ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to
himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of
woman this is who is touching him--that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus spoke up and
said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied,
"Speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii,
and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both
of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose
the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have
judged rightly." 44 Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see
this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has
bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no
kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You
did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she
has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." 48
Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 But those who were at the
table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives
sins?" 50 And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Return to Top
Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming
and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as
well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary,
called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of
Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out
of their resources. 4 When a great crowd gathered and people from town after
town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 "A sower went out to sow his seed; and
as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air
ate it up. 6 Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of
moisture. 7 Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8
Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold." As he
said this, he called out, "Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" 9 Then his
disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "To you it has been
given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in
parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not
understand.' 11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The
ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away
the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 The
ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy.
But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing
fall away. 14 As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear;
but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and
pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 But as for that in the
good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an
honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance. 16 "No one after
lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a
lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden
that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known
and come to light. 18 Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who
have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to
have will be taken away." 19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but
they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, "Your mother
and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21 But he said to
them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."
22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us
go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, 23 and while they
were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat
was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24 They went to him and woke
him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked
the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to
them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one
another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and
they obey him?" 26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is
opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons
met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house
but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at
the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High
God? I beg you, do not torment me"-- 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean
spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept
under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and
be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, "What is your
name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him
not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32 Now there on the hillside a
large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter
these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and
entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was
drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it
in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had
happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons
had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they
were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been
possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding
country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with
great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the
demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away,
saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So
he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting
for him. 41 Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue.
He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house, 42 for he had an
only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds
pressed in on him. 43 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from
hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on
physicians, no one could cure her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the
fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. 45 Then Jesus
asked, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds
surround you and press in on you." 46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; for I
noticed that power had gone out from me." 47 When the woman saw that she could
not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared
in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been
immediately healed. 48 He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well;
go in peace." 49 While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader's
house to say, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer." 50
When Jesus heard this, he replied, "Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be
saved." 51 When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him,
except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. 52 They were
all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead
but sleeping." 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he
took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!" 55 Her spirit returned,
and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. 56
Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had
happened.
Return to Top
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and
authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to
proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 He said to them, "Take nothing for
your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money--not even an extra tunic.
4 Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. 5 Wherever they do
not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a
testimony against them." 6 They departed and went through the villages, bringing
the good news and curing diseases everywhere. 7 Now Herod the ruler heard about
all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that
John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by
others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. 9 Herod said, "John I
beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he tried to see
him. 10 On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them
with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds
found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them
about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. 12 The day
was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd
away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to
lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place." 13 But he said
to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five
loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people." 14
For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them
sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15 They did so and made them all sit
down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven,
and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the
crowd. 17 And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up,
twelve baskets of broken pieces. 18 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only
the disciples near him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 19
They answered, "John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one
of the ancient prophets has arisen." 20 He said to them, "But who do you say
that I am?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." 21 He sternly ordered and
commanded them not to tell anyone, 22 saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised." 23 Then he said to them all, "If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross
daily and follow me. 24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and
those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25 What does it profit them
if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? 26 Those who are
ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he
comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But
truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before
they see the kingdom of God." 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus
took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29
And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes
became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking
to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he
was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were
weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and
the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to
Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one
for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not knowing what he said. 34 While
he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified
as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This
is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was
found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the
things they had seen. 37 On the next day, when they had come down from the
mountain, a great crowd met him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd shouted,
"Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. 39 Suddenly a spirit
seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the
mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to
cast it out, but they could not." 41 Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse
generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son
here." 42 While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in
convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him
back to his father. 43 And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While
everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44 "Let
these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into
human hands." 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was
concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to
ask him about this saying. 46 An argument arose among them as to which one of
them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a
little child and put it by his side, 48 and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this
child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent
me; for the least among all of you is the greatest." 49 John answered, "Master,
we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him,
because he does not follow with us." 50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him;
for whoever is not against you is for you." 51 When the days drew near for him
to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers
ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make
ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward
Jerusalem. 54 When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you
want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he
turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village. 57 As they
were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you
go." 58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have
nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." 59 To another he said,
"Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 But
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and
proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let
me first say farewell to those at my home." 62 Jesus said to him, "No one who
puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Return to Top
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead
of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 2 He
said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask
the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go on your way.
See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no purse,
no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter,
first say, 'Peace to this house!' 6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace,
your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 7 Remain
in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer
deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter
a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 9 cure the sick
who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its
streets and say, 11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe
off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 12
I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done
in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago,
sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But at the judgment it will be more tolerable
for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to
heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. 16 "Whoever listens to you
listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me
rejects the one who sent me." 17 The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord,
in your name even the demons submit to us!" 18 He said to them, "I watched Satan
fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 19 See, I have given you authority
to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and
nothing will hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits
submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 21 At that
same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the
intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your
gracious will. 22 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no
one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 23 Then turning to the
disciples, Jesus said to them privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you
see! 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it." 25 Just
then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to
inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do
you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your
mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the
right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he
asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him,
beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was
going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So
likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other
side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he
was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured
oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn,
and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the
innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you
whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor
to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who
showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." 38 Now as they went
on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed
him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet
and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many
tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has
left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord
answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42
there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not
be taken away from her."
Return to Top
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one
of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his
disciples." 2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your
name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 And forgive us
our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us
to the time of trial." 5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend,
and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of
bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before
him.' 7 And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been
locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you
anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything
because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and
give him whatever he needs. 9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you;
search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For
everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone
who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your
child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child
asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" 14 Now he was casting out a demon that
was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the
crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul,
the ruler of the demons." 16 Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign
from heaven. 17 But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, "Every
kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. 18 If
Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? --for you say
that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I cast out the demons by
Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your
judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then
the kingdom of God has come to you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards
his castle, his property is safe. 22 But when one stronger than he attacks him
and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his
plunder. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather
with me scatters. 24 "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it
wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding
any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' 25 When it comes,
it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other
spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state
of that person is worse than the first." 27 While he was saying this, a woman in
the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you
and the breasts that nursed you!" 28 But he said, "Blessed rather are those who
hear the word of God and obey it!" 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began
to say, "This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign
will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign
to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The
queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation
and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the
wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! 32 The
people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn
it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something
greater than Jonah is here! 33 "No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a
cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your
eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of
light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore
consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is
full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as
when a lamp gives you light with its rays." 37 While he was speaking, a Pharisee
invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table. 38
The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner. 39 Then
the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the
dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not the
one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 So give for alms those things
that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you. 42 "But woe to you
Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect
justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without
neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of
honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. 44
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without
realizing it." 45 One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, when you say these
things, you insult us too." 46 And he said, "Woe also to you lawyers! For you
load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger
to ease them. 47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your
ancestors killed. 48 So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your
ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 Therefore also
the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom
they will kill and persecute,' 50 so that this generation may be charged with
the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, 51 from
the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and
the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. 52
Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not
enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." 53 When he went
outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and
to cross-examine him about many things, 54 lying in wait for him, to catch him
in something he might say.
Return to Top
Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they
trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, "Beware of
the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. 2 Nothing is covered up
that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 3
Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and
what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the
housetops. 4 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and
after that can do nothing more. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him
who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear
him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is
forgotten in God's sight. 7 But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do
not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 "And I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge
before the angels of God; 9 but whoever denies me before others will be denied
before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of
Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven. 11 When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the
authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are
to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought
to say." 13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the family inheritance with me." 14 But he said to him, "Friend, who set
me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" 15 And he said to them, "Take care! Be
on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the
abundance of possessions." 16 Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich
man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I
have no place to store my crops?' 18 Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull
down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my
goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for
many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20 But God said to him, 'You fool!
This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have
prepared, whose will they be?' 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for
themselves but are not rich toward God." 22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore
I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body,
what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than
clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither
storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than
the birds! 25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of
life? 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you
worry about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil
nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one
of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today
and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you--you of
little faith! 29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you
are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations of the world
that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31
Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for
yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief
comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also. 35 "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like
those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so
that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed
are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he
will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve
them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds
them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 "But know this: if the owner of the house
had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be
broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
unexpected hour." 41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or
for everyone?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent
manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their
allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that slave whom his master
will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that one in
charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, 'My master
is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women,
and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a
day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will
cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what
his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will
receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved
a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been
given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted,
even more will be demanded. 49 "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I
wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and
what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come
to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on
five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three;
53 they will be divided: father 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." 54 He also said to
the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It
is going to rain'; and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind
blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 56 You
hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why
do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 "And why do you not judge
for yourselves what is right? 58 Thus, when you go with your accuser before a
magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged
before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer
throw you in prison. 59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid
the very last penny."
Return to Top
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them,
"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse
sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you
will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower
of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the
others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will
all perish just as they did." 6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree
planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7
So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for
fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be
wasting the soil?' 8 He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I
dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and
good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" 10 Now he was teaching in one of the
synagogues on the sabbath. 11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit
that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable
to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said,
"Woman, you are set free from your ailment." 13 When he laid his hands on her,
immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14 But the leader of
the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to
the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those
days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." 15 But the Lord answered him and
said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his
donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16 And ought not this
woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set
free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" 17 When he said this, all his
opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the
wonderful things that he was doing. 18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom
of God like? And to what should I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that
someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds
of the air made nests in its branches." 20 And again he said, "To what should I
compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in
with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." 22 Jesus went
through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to
Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He said to
them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will
try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the owner of the house has got
up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door,
saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know
where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you,
and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I do not know where you
come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!' 28 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 yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come
from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30
Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here,
for Herod wants to kill you." 32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me,
'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on
the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must
be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of
Jerusalem.' 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones
those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children
together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the
time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the
Lord.'"
Return to Top
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of
the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 2
Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus asked
the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?"
4 But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. 5
Then he said to them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a
well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?" 6 And they could
not reply to this. 7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor,
he told them a parable. 8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet,
do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than
you has been invited by your host; 9 and the host who invited both of you may
come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you
would start to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit
down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you,
'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who
sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and
those who humble themselves will be exalted." 12 He said also to the one who had
invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends
or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite
you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite
the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed,
because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the
righteous." 15 One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed
is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 Then Jesus said to him,
"Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he
sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is
ready now.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him,
'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my
regrets.' 19 Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to
try them out; please accept my regrets.' 20 Another said, 'I have just been
married, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the slave returned and reported
this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his
slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the
poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' 22 And the slave said, 'Sir, what
you ordered has been done, and there is still room." 23 Then the master said to
the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so
that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited
will taste my dinner.'" 25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he
turned and said to them, 26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and
mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself,
cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot
be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first
sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see
it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was
not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another
king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand
to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot,
then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the
terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do
not give up all your possessions. 34 "Salt is good; but if salt has lost its
taste, how can its saltiness be restored? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor
for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!"
Return to Top
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen
to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This
fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So he told them this parable: 4
"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave
the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he
finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to
them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I
tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 "Or what woman having
ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the
house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she
calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have
found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the
presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 11 Then Jesus said,
"There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father,
'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he
divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered
all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his
property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine
took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went
and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to
his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the
pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he
came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough
and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my
father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before
you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your
hired hands."' 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still
far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his
arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then 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 slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best
one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And
get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son
of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began
to celebrate. 25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and
approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves
and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your
father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'
28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to
plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I
have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command;
yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my
friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property
with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' 31 Then the father said
to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we
had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has
come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"
Return to Top
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a
manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his
property. 2 So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about
you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager
any longer.' 3 Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my
master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I
am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as
manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' 5 So, summoning his master's
debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' 6 He
answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit
down quickly, and make it fifty.' 7 Then he asked another, 'And how much do you
owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your
bill and make it eighty.' 8 And his master commended the dishonest manager
because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in
dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9 And I tell
you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is
gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. 10 "Whoever is faithful in a
very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little
is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the
dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have
not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your
own? 13 No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and
love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve
God and wealth." 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and
they ridiculed him. 15 So he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves
in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human
beings is an abomination in the sight of God. 16 "The law and the prophets were
in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is
proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. 17 But it is easier for
heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be
dropped. 18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery,
and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. 19
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted
sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered
with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich
man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died
and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died
and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw
Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, 'Father Abraham,
have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and
cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child,
remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in
like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26
Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those
who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from
there to us.' 27 He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's
house-- 28 for I have five brothers--that he may warn them, so that they will
not also come into this place of torment.' 29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses
and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 He said, 'No, father Abraham;
but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 31 He said to him,
'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced
even if someone rises from the dead.'"
Return to Top
Jesus said to his disciples, "Occasions for stumbling are bound to
come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! 2 It would be better for you if a
millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for
you to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 Be on your guard! If another
disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you
must forgive. 4 And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and
turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive." 5 The
apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 6 The Lord replied, "If you had
faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be
uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Who among you would
say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the
field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 8 Would you not
rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while
I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 9 Do you thank the slave for
doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were
ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to
have done!'" 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region
between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached
him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to
the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when
he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He
prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17
Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?
18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this
foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has
made you well." 20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God
was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that
can be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!'
For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you." 22 Then he said to the
disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the
Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 They will say to you, 'Look there!' or
'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. 24 For as the lightning
flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man
be in his day. 25 But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by
this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the
days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being
given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and
destroyed all of them. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were
eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the
day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all
of them 30 --it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31
On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not
come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn
back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Those who try to make their life secure will
lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. 34 I tell you, on that
night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35
There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other
left." 36 37 Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the
corpse is, there the vultures will gather."
Return to Top
) Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and
not to lose heart. 2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither
feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept
coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 4 For a while
he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no
respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant
her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 6 And the
Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant
justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in
helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 9 He also told this parable
to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others
with contempt: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the
other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus,
'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers,
or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all
my income.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up
to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the
other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble
themselves will be exalted." 15 People were bringing even infants to him that he
might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not
to do it. 16 But Jesus called for them and said, "Let the little children come
to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God
belongs. 17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will never enter it." 18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good Teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call
me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'You shall
not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not
bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'" 21 He replied, "I have kept
all these since my youth." 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is
still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 23 But when
he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and
said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26 Those who heard it said,
"Then who can be saved?" 27 He replied, "What is impossible for mortals is
possible for God." 28 Then Peter said, "Look, we have left our homes and
followed you." 29 And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who
has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the
kingdom of God, 30 who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the
age to come eternal life." 31 Then he took the twelve aside and said to them,
"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son
of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be handed over to
the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. 33 After they
have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again."
34 But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was
hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. 35 As he approached
Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a
crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, "Jesus of
Nazareth is passing by." 38 Then he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on
me!" 39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted
even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stood still and
ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41
"What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me see again." 42 Jesus
said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has saved you." 43 Immediately he
regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when
they saw it, praised God.
Return to Top
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there
named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to
see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was
short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him,
because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked
up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your
house today." 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw
it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a
sinner." 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my
possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of
anything, I will pay back four times as much." 9 Then Jesus said to him, "Today
salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the
Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost." 11 As they were listening to
this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because
they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said,
"A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then
return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to
them, 'Do business with these until I come back.' 14 But the citizens of his
country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this
man to rule over us.' 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he
ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he
might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and
said, 'Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.' 17 He said to him, 'Well
done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take
charge of ten cities.' 18 Then the second came, saying, 'Lord, your pound has
made five pounds.' 19 He said to him, 'And you, rule over five cities.' 20 Then
the other came, saying, 'Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of
cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what
you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.' 22 He said to him, 'I will
judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a
harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why
then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have
collected it with interest.' 24 He said to the bystanders, 'Take the pound from
him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.' 25 (And they said to him, 'Lord,
he has ten pounds!') 26 'I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given;
but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But
as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring
them here and slaughter them in my presence.'" 28 After he had said this, he
went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he had come near Bethphage and
Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,
30 saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find
tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If
anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'"
32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they
were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34
They said, "The Lord needs it." 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after
throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along,
people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the
path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began
to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they
had seen, 38 saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in
the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." 40 He answered,
"I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out." 41 As he came
near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, "If you, even you, had only
recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden
from your eyes. 43 Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will
set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. 44
They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they
will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize
the time of your visitation from God." 45 Then he entered the temple and began
to drive out those who were selling things there; 46 and he said, "It is
written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of
robbers." 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the
scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; 48
but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound
by what they heard.
Return to Top
One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling
the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said
to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who
gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question,
and you tell me: 4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human
origin?" 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From
heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'Of human
origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a
prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then
Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things." 9 He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard,
and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When
the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give
him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent
him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat
and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one
also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What
shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But
when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is
the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' 15 So they threw
him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard
do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to
others." When they heard this, they said, "Heaven forbid!" 17 But he looked at
them and said, "What then does this text mean: 'The stone that the builders
rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will
be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 19 When the
scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them,
they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to
trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and
authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are
right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the
way of God in accordance with truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the
emperor, or not?" 23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24
"Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?" They said, "The
emperor's." 25 He said to them, "Then give to the emperor the things that are
the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's." 26 And they were not able
in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by
his answer, they became silent. 27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no
resurrection, came to him 28 and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for
us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall
marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven
brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30 then the second 31 and the
third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32 Finally
the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the
woman be? For the seven had married her." 34 Jesus said to them, "Those who
belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35 but those who are
considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 Indeed they cannot die anymore,
because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the
resurrection. 37 And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in
the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is God not of the dead, but of the
living; for to him all of them are alive." 39 Then some of the scribes answered,
"Teacher, you have spoken well." 40 For they no longer dared to ask him another
question. 41 Then he said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is David's
son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand, 43 until I make your enemies your footstool."' 44 David
thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" 45 In the hearing of all the
people he said to the disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk
around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47
They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They
will receive the greater condemnation."
Return to Top
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the
treasury; 2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 He said,
"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 for all
of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has
put in all she had to live on." 5 When some were speaking about the temple, how
it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 "As
for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be
left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when
will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8 And
he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and
say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear
of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place
first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10 Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be
great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be
dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 "But before all this occurs,
they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues
and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my
name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds
not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a
wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16
You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and
they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my
name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will
gain your souls. 20 "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
its desolation has come near. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains,
and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not
enter it; 22 for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is
written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants
in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against
this people; 24 they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as
captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles,
until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25 "There will be signs in the
sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused
by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and
foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will
be shaken. 27 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power
and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and
raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 29 Then he told them
a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout
leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31 So
also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God
is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all
things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away. 34 "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with
dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you
unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of
the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the
strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before
the Son of Man." 37 Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he
would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called. 38
And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the
temple.
Return to Top
Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover,
was near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put
Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satan entered into
Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; 4 he went away and conferred
with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might
betray him to them. 5 They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money. 6
So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when
no crowd was present. 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the
Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go
and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it." 9 They asked him,
"Where do you want us to make preparations for it?" 10 "Listen," he said to
them, "when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet
you; follow him into the house he enters 11 and say to the owner of the house,
'The teacher asks you, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover
with my disciples?"' 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, already
furnished. Make preparations for us there." 13 So they went and found everything
as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. 14 When the hour came,
he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them,
"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I
tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17
Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it
among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the
fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 Then he took a loaf of
bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And
he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out
for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But see, the one who betrays me is
with me, and his hand is on the table. 22 For the Son of Man is going as it has
been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" 23 Then they began
to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. 24 A
dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the
greatest. 25 But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them;
and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 But not so with you;
rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like
one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one
who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who
serves. 28 "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer on
you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, 30 so that you may eat
and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. 31 "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift
all of you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not
fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 33 And
he said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!" 34
Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have
denied three times that you know me." 35 He said to them, "When I sent you out
without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?" They said, "No, not a
thing." 36 He said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and
likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37
For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted
among the lawless'; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled." 38
They said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." He replied, "It is enough." 39 He
came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples
followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may
not come into the time of trial." 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone's
throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup
from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." 43 Then an angel from heaven
appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more
earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the
ground. 45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them
sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up
and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." 47 While he was still
speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve,
was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; 48 but Jesus said to him,
"Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" 49 When those
who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike
with the sword?" 50 Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut
off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear
and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the
temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with
swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? 53 When I was with you day after day in
the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of
darkness!" 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high
priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled
a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among
them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and
said, "This man also was with him." 57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do
not know him." 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, "You also
are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then about an hour later
still another kept insisting, "Surely this man also was with him; for he is a
Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about!"
At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned
and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said
to him, "Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times." 62 And he
went out and wept bitterly. 63 Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock
him and beat him; 64 they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy!
Who is it that struck you?" 65 They kept heaping many other insults on him. 66
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and
scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. 67 They said,
"If you are the Messiah, tell us." He replied, "If I tell you, you will not
believe; 68 and if I question you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the
Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." 70 All of them
asked, "Are you, then, the Son of God?" He said to them, "You say that I am." 71
Then they said, "What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves
from his own lips!"
Return to Top
Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2
They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man perverting our nation,
forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the
Messiah, a king." 3 Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He
answered, "You say so." 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds,
"I find no basis for an accusation against this man." 5 But they were insistent
and said, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee
where he began even to this place." 6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether
the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he was under Herod's
jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that
time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see
him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him
perform some sign. 9 He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no
answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.
11 Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then
he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. 12 That same day
Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been
enemies. 13 Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the
people, 14 and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was perverting
the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found
this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he
sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 I will
therefore have him flogged and release him." 17 18 Then they all shouted out
together, "Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!" 19 (This was a man
who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city,
and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21
but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" 22 A third time he said to them,
"Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of
death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him." 23 But they kept
urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their
voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be
granted. 25 He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in
prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. 26
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from
the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.
27 A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were
beating their breasts and wailing for him. 28 But Jesus turned to them and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for
your children. 29 For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed
are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never
nursed.' 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to
the hills, 'Cover us.' 31 For if they do this when the wood is green, what will
happen when it is dry?" 32 Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to
be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The
Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one
on his left. 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know
what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the
people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved
others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36
The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and
saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an
inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals
who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah?
Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear
God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed
have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,
but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when
you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be
with me in Paradise." 44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole
land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the
curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice,
said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Having said this, he
breathed his last. 47 When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised
God and said, "Certainly this man was innocent." 48 And when all the crowds who
had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned
home, beating their breasts. 49 But all his acquaintances, including the women
who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of
the council, 51 had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish
town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it
down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one
had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was
beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they
saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned, and prepared
spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Return to Top
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the
tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled
away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4 While
they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood
beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but
the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not
here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on
the third day rise again." 8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning
from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it
was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with
them who told this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle
tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb;
stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went
home, amazed at what had happened. 13 Now on that same day two of them were
going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and
talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they
were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but
their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What are you
discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only
stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there
in these days?" 19 He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about
Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be
condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to
redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these
things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were
at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there,
they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said
that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found
it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." 25 Then he said to
them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer
these things and then enter into his glory?" 27 Then beginning with Moses and
all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the
scriptures. 28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked
ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with
us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in
to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed
and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they
recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other,
"Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road,
while he was opening the scriptures to us?" 33 That same hour they got up and
returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered
together. 34 They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared
to Simon!" 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been
made known to them in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were talking
about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with
you." 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a
ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in
your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me
and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40
And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in
their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you
anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took
it and ate in their presence. 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that
I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in
the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he
opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus
it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the
third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in
his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these
things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here
in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 50 Then he led
them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While
he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52
And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they
were continually in the temple blessing God.
BACK TO TOP
BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS