Chapter XI: Front Matter (11)

14:10. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works.

14:11. Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me?

14:12. Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen, I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do: and greater than these shall he do.

14:13. Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14:14. If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do.

14:15. If you love me, keep my commandments.

14:16. And I will ask the Father: and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever:

Paraclete. . .That is, a comforter: or also an advocate; inasmuch as by inspiring prayer, he prays, as it were, in us, and pleads for us. For ever. . .Hence it is evident that this Spirit of Truth was not only promised to the persons of the apostles, but also to their successors through all generations.

14:17. The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him. But you shall know him; because he shall abide with you and shall be in you.

14:18. I will not leave you orphans: I will come to you.

14:19. Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more. But you see me: because I live, and you shall live.

14:20. In that day you shall know that I am in my Father: and you in me, and I in you.

14:21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.

14:22. Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world?

14:23. Jesus answered and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him and we will come to him and will make our abode with him.

14:24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.

14:25. These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you.

14:26. But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.

Teach you all things. . .Here the Holy Ghost is promised to the apostles and their successors, particularly, in order to teach them all truth, and to preserve them from error.

14:27. Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled: nor let it be afraid.

14:28. You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I.

For the Father is greater than I. . .It is evident, that Christ our Lord speaks here of himself as he is made man: for as God he is equal to the Father. (See Phil. 2.) Any difficulty of understanding the meaning of these words will vanish, when the relative circumstances of the text here are considered: for Christ being at this time shortly to suffer death, signified to his apostles his human nature by these very words: for as God he could not die. And therefore as he was both God and man, it must follow that according to his humanity he was to die, which the apostles were soon to see and believe, as he expresses, ver. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.

14:29. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.

14:30. I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world: cometh: and in me he hath not any thing.

14:31. But that the world may know that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandments, so do I. Arise, let us go hence.

John Chapter 15

A continuation of Christ's discourse to his disciples.

15:1. I am the true vine: and my Father is the husbandman.

15:2. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he will take away: and every one that beareth fruit, he will purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

15:3. Now you are clean, by reason of the word which I have spoken to you.

15:4. Abide in me: and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me.

15:5. I am the vine: you the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

15:6. If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither: and they shall gather him up and cast him into the fire: and he burneth.

15:7. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will: and it shall be done unto you.

15:8. In this is my Father glorified: that you bring forth very much fruit and become my disciples.

15:9. As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love.

15:10. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love: as I also have kept my Father's commandments and do abide in his love.

15:11. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled.

15:12. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.

15:13. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

15:14. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you.

15:15. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends. because all things, whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

15:16. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

15:17. These things I command you, that you love one another.

15:18. If the world hate you, know ye that it hath hated me before you.

15:19. If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

15:20. Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept my word, they will keep yours also.

15:21. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake: because they know not him that sent me.

15:22. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.

15:23. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

15:24. If I had not done among them the works that no other man hath done, they would not have sin: but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.

15:25. But that the word may be fulfilled which is written in their law: they hated me without cause.

15:26. But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me.

Whom I will send. . .This proves, against the modern Greeks, that the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Son, as well as from the Father: otherwise he could not be sent by the Son.

15:27. And you shall give testimony, because you are with me from the beginning.

John Chapter 16

The conclusion of Christ's last discourse to his disciples.

16:1. These things have I spoken to you things have I spoken to you that you may not be scandalized.

16:2. They will put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth a service to God.

16:3. And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me.

16:4. But these things I have told you, that when the hour shall come, you may remember that I told you of them.

16:5. But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to him that sent me, and none of you asketh me: Whither goest thou?

16:6. But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

16:7. But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go. For if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you: but if I go, I will send him to you.

16:8. And when he is come, he will convince the world of sin and of justice and of judgment.

He will convince the world of sin, etc. . .The Holy Ghost, by his coming brought over many thousands, first, to a sense of their sin in not believing in Christ. Secondly, to a conviction of the justice of Christ, now sitting at the right hand of his Father. And thirdly, to a right apprehension of the judgment prepared for them that choose to follow Satan, who is already judged and condemned.

16:9. Of sin: because they believed not in me.

16:10. And of justice: because I go to the Father: and you shall see me no longer.

16:11. And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged.

16:12. I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now.

16:13. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself: but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak. And the things that are to come, he shall shew you.

Will teach you all truth. . .See the annotation on chap. 14. ver. 26.

16:14. He shall glorify me: because he shall receive of mine and shall shew it to you.

16:15. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine. Therefore I said that he shall receive of me and shew it to you.

16:16. A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.

16:17. Then some of his disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, Because I go to the Father?

16:18. They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he speaketh.

16:19. And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask him. And he said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me?

16:20. Amen, amen, I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice: and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

16:21. A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

16:22. So also you now indeed have sorrow: but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice. And your joy no man shall take from you.

16:23. And in that day you shall not ask me any thing. Amen, amen, I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.

16:24. Hitherto, you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full.

16:25. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh when I will no longer speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father.

16:26. In that day, you shall ask in my name: and I say not to you that I will ask the Father for you.

16:27. For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came out from God.

16:28. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: again I leave the world and I go to the Father.

16:29. His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly and speakest no proverb.

16:30. Now we know that thou knowest all things and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

16:31. Jesus answered them: Do you now believe?

16:32. Behold, the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own and shall leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

16:33. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress. But have confidence. I have overcome the world.

John Chapter 17

Christ's prayer for his disciples.

17:1. These things Jesus spoke: and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: the hour is come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee.

17:2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.

17:3. Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

17:4. I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

17:5. And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee.

17:6. I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. Thine they were: and to me thou gavest them. And they have kept thy word.

17:7. Now they have known that all things which thou hast given me are from thee:

17:8. Because the words which thou gavest me, I have given to them. And they have received them and have known in very deed that I came out from thee: and they have believed that thou didst send me.

17:9. I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me: because they are thine.

17:10. And all my things are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them.

17:11. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou hast given me: that they may be one, as we also are.

17:12. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me have I kept: and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition: that the scripture may be fulfilled.

17:13. And now I come to thee: and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy filled in themselves.

17:14. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them: because they are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

17:15. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from evil.

17:16. They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world.

17:17. Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth.

17:18. As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

17:19. And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

17:20. And not for them only do I pray, but for them also who through their word shall believe in me.

17:21. That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

17:22. And the glory which thou hast given me, I have given to them: that, they may be one, as we also are one.

17:23. I in them, and thou in me: that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them, as thou hast also loved me.

17:24. Father, I will that where I am, they also whom thou hast given me may be with me: that they may see my glory which thou hast given me, because thou hast loved me before the creation of the world.

17:25. Just Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee. And these have known that thou hast sent me.

17:26. And I have made known thy name to them and will make it known: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

John Chapter 18

The history of the passion of Christ.

18:1. When Jesus had said these things, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered with his disciples.

18:2. And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: because Jesus had often resorted thither together with his disciples.

18:3. Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

18:4. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said to them: Whom seek ye?

18:5. They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them.

18:6. As soon therefore as he had said to them: I am he; they went backward and fell to the ground.

18:7. Again therefore he asked them: Whom seek ye? And they said: Jesus of Nazareth.

18:8. Jesus answered: I have told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,

18:9. That the word might be fulfilled which he said: Of them whom thou hast given me, I have not lost any one.

18:10. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. And the name of thee servant was Malchus.

18:11. Jesus therefore said to Peter: Put up thy sword into the scabbard. The chalice which my father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

18:12. Then the band and the tribune and the servants of the Jews took Jesus and bound him.

18:13. And they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the high priest of that year.

18:14. Now Caiphas was he who had given the counsel to the Jews: That it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

18:15. And Simon Peter followed Jesus: and so did another disciple. And that disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest.

18:16. But Peter stood at the door without. The other disciple therefore, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the portress and brought in Peter.

18:17. The maid therefore that was portress saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man's disciple? He saith I am not.

18:18. Now the servants and ministers stood at a fire of coals, because it was cold, and warmed themselves. And with them was Peter also, standing and warming himself.

18:19. The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine.

18:20. Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither all the Jews resort: and in secret I have spoken nothing.

18:21. Why askest thou me? Ask them who have heard what I have spoken unto them. Behold they know what things I have said.

18:22. And when he had said these things, one of the servants standing by gave Jesus a blow, saying: Answerest thou the high priest so?

18:23. Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou me?

18:24. And Annas sent him bound to Caiphas the high priest.

18:25. And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him: Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it and said: I am not.

18:26. One of the servants of the high priest (a kinsman to him whose ear Peter cut off) saith to him: Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

18:27. Again therefore Peter denied: and immediately the cock crew.

18:28. Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the governor's hall. And it was morning: and they went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the pasch.

18:29. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said: What accusation bring you against this man?

18:30. They answered and said to him: If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up to thee.

18:31. Pilate therefore said to them: Take him you, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said to him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

18:32. That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he said, signifying what death he should die.

18:33. Pilate therefore went into the hall again and called Jesus and said to him: Art thou the king of the Jews?

18:34. Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of me?

18:35. Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thy own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee up to me. What hast thou done?

18:36. Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now my kingdom is not from hence.

18:37. Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

18:38. Pilate saith to him: What is truth? And when he said this, he went out again to the Jews and saith to them: I find no cause in him.

18:39. But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch. Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the king of the Jews?

18:40. Then cried they all again, saying: Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.

John Chapter 19

The continuation of the history of the Passion of Christ.

19:1. Then therefore Pilate took Jesus and scourged him.

19:2. And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head: and they put on him a purple garment.

19:3. And they came to him and said: Hail, king of the Jews. And they gave him blows.

19:4. Pilate therefore went forth again and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him.

19:5. (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man.

19:6. When the chief priests, therefore, and the servants had seen him, they cried out, saying: Crucify him, Crucify him. Pilate saith to them: Take him you, and crucify him: for I find no cause in him.

19:7. The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

19:8. When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more.

19:9. And he entered into the hall again; and he said to Jesus: Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

19:10. Pilate therefore saith to him: Speakest thou not to me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and I have power to release thee?

19:11. Jesus answered: Thou shouldst not have any power against me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered me to thee hath the greater sin.

19:12. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release him. But the Jews cried out, saying: If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar's friend. For whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

19:13. Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha.

19:14. And it was the parasceve of the pasch, about the sixth hour: and he saith to the Jews: Behold your king.

The parasceve of the pasch. . .That is, the day before the paschal sabbath. The eve of every sabbath was called the parasceve, or day of preparation. But this was the eve of a high sabbath, viz., that which fell in the paschal week.

19:15. But they cried out: Away with him: Away with him: Crucify him. Pilate saith to them: shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.

19:16. Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him forth.

19:17. And bearing his own cross, he went forth to the place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew Golgotha.

19:18. Where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, and Jesus in the midst.

19:19. And Pilate wrote a title also: and he put it upon the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

19:20. This title therefore many of the Jews did read: because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city. And it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin.

19:21. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate: Write not: The King of the Jews. But that he said: I am the King of the Jews.

19:22. Pilate answered: What I have written, I have written.

19:23. The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified him, took his garments, (and they made four parts, to every soldier a part) and also his coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.

19:24. They said then one to another: Let us not cut it but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saying: They have parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture they have cast lots. And the soldiers indeed did these things.

19:25. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.

19:26. When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son.

19:27. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.

19:28. Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst.

19:29. Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar about hyssop, put it to his mouth.

19:30. Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.

19:31. Then the Jews (because it was the parasceve), that the bodies might not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day (for that was a great sabbath day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken: and that they might be taken away.

19:32. The soldiers therefore came: and they broke the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him.

19:33. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

19:34. But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water.

19:35. And he that saw it hath given testimony: and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true: that you also may believe.

19:36. For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled: You shall not break a bone of him.

19:37. And again another scripture saith: They shall look on him whom they pierced.

19:38. And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea (because he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews), besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave leave. He came therefore and took away the body of Jesus.

19:39. And Nicodemus also came (he who at the first came to Jesus by night), bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

19:40. They took therefore the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

19:41. Now there was in the place where he was crucified a garden: and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein no man yet had been laid.

19:42. There, therefore, because of the parasceve of the Jews, they laid Jesus: because the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

John Chapter 20

Christ's resurrection and manifestation to his disciples.

20:1. And on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen cometh early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre: and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

20:2. She ran therefore and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith to them: They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre: and we know not where they have laid him.

20:3. Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple: and they came to the sepulchre.

20:4. And they both ran together: and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulchre.

20:5. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying: but yet he went not in.

20:6. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulchre: and saw the linen cloths lying,

20:7. And the napkin that had been about his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place.

20:8. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulchre: and he saw and believed.

20:9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

20:10. The disciples therefore departed again to their home.

20:11. But Mary stood at the sepulchre without, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre,

20:12. And she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.

20:13. They say to her: Woman, why weepest thou? She saith to them: Because they have taken away my Lord: and I know not where they have laid him.

20:14. When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing: and she knew not that it was Jesus.

20:15. Jesus saith to her: Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, thinking that it was the gardener, saith to him: Sir, if thou hast taken him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him: and I will take him away.

20:16. Jesus saith to her: Mary. She turning, saith to him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master).

20:17. Jesus saith to her: Do not touch me: for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God.

20:18. Mary Magdalen cometh and telleth the disciples: I have seen the Lord; and these things he said to me.

20:19. Now when it was late the same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them: Peace be to you.

The doors were shut. . .The same power which could bring Christ's whole body, entire in all its dimensions, through the doors, can without the least question make the same body really present in the sacrament; though both the one and the other be above our comprehension.

20:20. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.

20:21. He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.

20:22. When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

20:23. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Whose sins, etc. . .See here the commission, stamped by the broad seal of heaven, by virtue of which the pastors of Christ's church absolve repenting sinners upon their confession.

20:24. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

20:25. The other disciples therefore said to him: We have seen the Lord. But he said to them: Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

20:26. And after eight days, again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst and said: Peace be to you.

20:27. Then he said to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither and see my hands. And bring hither the hand and put it into my side. And be not faithless, but believing.

20:28. Thomas answered and said to him: My Lord and my God.

20:29. Jesus saith to him: Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and have believed.

20:30. Many other signs also did Jesus in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

20:31. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.

John Chapter 21

Christ manifests himself to his disciples by the sea side and gives Peter the charge of his sheep.

21:1. After this, Jesus shewed himself to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And he shewed himself after this manner.

21:2. There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples.

21:3. Simon Peter saith to them: I go a fishing. They say to him: We also come with thee. And they went forth and entered into the ship: and that night they caught nothing.

21:4. But when the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

21:5. Jesus therefore said to them: Children, have you any meat? They answered him: No.

21:6. He saith to them: Cast the net on the right side of the ship; and you shall find. They cast therefore: and now they were not able to draw it, for the multitude of fishes.

21:7. That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord. Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him (for he was naked) and cast himself into the sea.

21:8. But the other disciples came in the ship (for they were not far from the land, but as it were two hundred cubits) dragging the net with fishes.

21:9. As soon then as they came to land they saw hot coals lying, and a fish laid thereon, and bread.

21:10. Jesus saith to them: Bring hither of the fishes which you have now caught.

21:11. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, one hundred and fifty-three. And although there were so many, the net was not broken.

21:12. Jesus saith to them: Come and dine. And none of them who were at meat, durst ask him: Who art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord.

21:13. And Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them: and fish in like manner.

21:14. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples, after he was risen from the dead.

21:15. When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

21:16. He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

21:17. He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.

Feed my sheep. . .Our Lord had promised the spiritual supremacy to St. Peter; St. Matt. 16. 19; and here he fulfils that promise, by charging him with the superintendency of all his sheep, without exception; and consequently of his whole flock, that is, of his own church.

21:18. Amen, amen, I say to thee, When thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself and didst walk where thou wouldst. But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee and lead thee whither thou wouldst not.

21:19. And this he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had said this, he saith to him: Follow me.

21:20. Peter turning about, saw that disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also leaned on his breast at supper and said: Lord, who is he that shall betray thee?

21:21. Him therefore when Peter had seen, he saith to Jesus: Lord, and what shall this man do?

21:22. Jesus saith to him: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee? Follow thou me.

21:23. This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die. And Jesus did not say to him: He should not die; but: So I will have him to remain till I come, what is it to thee?

21:24. This is that disciple who giveth testimony of these things and hath written these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

21:25. But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

This Book, which, from the first ages, hath been called, THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, is not to be considered as a history of what was done by all the Apostles, who were dispersed into different nations; but only a short view of the first establishment of the Christian Church. A part of the preaching and action of St. Peter are related in the first twelve chapters; and a particular account of St. Paul's apostolical labours in the subsequent chapters. It was written by St. Luke the Evangelist, and the original in Greek. Its history commences from the Ascension of Christ our Lord and ends in the year sixty-three, being a brief account of the Church for the space of about thirty years.

Acts Chapter 1

The ascension of Christ. Matthias is chosen in place of Judas.

1:1. The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,

1:2. Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.

1:3. To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.

1:4. And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.

1:5. For John indeed baptized with water: but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.

1:6. They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?

1:7. But he said to them: It is not for you to know the time or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power:

1:8. But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.

1:9. And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.

1:10. And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.

1:11. Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come as you have seen him going into heaven.

1:12. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day's journey.

1:13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James.

1:14. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

1:15. In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty):

1:16. Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus:

1:17. Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.

1:18. And he indeed hath possessed a field of the reward of iniquity, and being hanged, burst asunder in the midst: and all his bowels gushed out.

1:19. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so that the same field was called in their tongue, Haceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

1:20. For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.

1:21. Wherefore of these men who have companied with us, all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us,

1:22. Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection.

1:23. And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

1:24. And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the heart of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

1:25. To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.

1:26. And they gave them lot, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts Chapter 2

The disciples receive the Holy Ghost. Peter's sermon to the people. The piety of the first converts.

2:1. And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place:

2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming: and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

2:3. And there appeared to them parted tongues, as it were of fire: and it sat upon every one of them.

2:4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost: and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

2:5. Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

2:6. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue.

2:7. And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these that speak Galilean?

2:8. And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born?

2:9. Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

2:10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,

2:11. Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

2:12. And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this?

2:13. But others mocking, said: These men are full of new wine.

2:14. But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words.

2:15. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day:

2:16. But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

2:17. And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord), I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.

2:18. And upon my servants indeed and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy.

2:19. And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood and fire, and vapour of smoke.

2:20. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord to come.

2:21. And it shalt come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

2:22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him, in the midst of you, as you also know:

2:23. This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain.

By the determinate, etc. . .God delivered up his Son; and his Son delivered up himself, for the love of us, and for the sake of our salvation; and so Christ's being delivered up was holy, and was God's own determination. But they who betrayed and crucified him, did wickedly, following therein their own malice and the instigation of the devil; not the will and determination of God, who was by no means the author of their wickedness; though he permitted it; because he could, and did draw out of it so great a good, viz., the salvation of man.

2:24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it.

Having loosed the sorrow, etc. . .Having overcome the grievous pains of death and all the power of hell.

2:25. For David saith concerning him: I foresaw the Lord before my face: because he is at my right hand, that I may not be moved.

2:26. For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope.

2:27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.

2:28. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life: thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

2:29. Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David: that he died and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present say.

2:30. Whereas therefore he was a prophet and knew that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne.

2:31. Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell: neither did his flesh see corruption.

2:32. This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses.

2:33. Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which you see and hear.

2:34. For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou on my right hand,

2:35. Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

2:36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified.

2:37. Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren?

2:38. But Peter said to them: Do penance: and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

2:39. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.

2:40. And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

2:41. They therefore that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.

2:42. And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles and in the communication of the breaking of bread and in prayers.

2:43. And fear came upon every soul. Many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem: and there was great fervor in all.

2:44. And all they that believed were together and had all things common.

2:45. Their possessions and goods they sold and divided them to all, according as every one had need.

2:46. And continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart:

2:47. Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.

Acts Chapter 3

The miracle upon the lame man, followed by the conversion of many.

3:1. Now Peter and John went up into the temple at the ninth hour of prayer.

3:2. And a certain man who was lame from his mother's womb was carried: whom they laid every day at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, that he might ask alms of them that went into the temple.

3:3. He, when he had seen Peter and John, about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.

3:4. But Peter with John, fastening his eyes upon him, said: Look upon us.