Chapter II: Part 2

010:021 Then Jesus looked at him and loved him, and said, "One thing
is lacking in you: go, sell all you possess and give
the proceeds to the poor, and you shall have riches in Heaven;
and come and be a follower of mine."

010:022 At these words his brow darkened, and he went away sad;
for he was possessed of great wealth.

010:023 Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, "With how hard
a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!"

010:024 The disciples were amazed at His words. Jesus, however,
said again, "Children, how hard a struggle is it for those
who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God!

010:025 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

010:026 They were astonished beyond measure, and said to one another,
"Who then *can* be saved?"

010:027 Jesus looking on them said, "With men it is impossible,
but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

010:028 "Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything
and have become your followers."

010:029 "In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there
is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters,
or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake
and for the sake of the Good News,

010:030 but will receive a hundred times as much now in this present life--
houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands--
and persecution with them--and in the coming age the Life
of the Ages.

010:031 But many who are now first will be last, and the last, first."

010:032 They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus
was walking ahead of them; they were full of wonder, and some,
though they followed, did so with fear. Then, once more
calling to Him the Twelve, He began to tell them what was
about to happen to Him.

010:033 "See," He said, "we are going up to Jerusalem, where the Son
of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and the Scribes.
They will condemn Him to death, and will hand Him over
to the Gentiles;

010:034 they will insult Him in cruel sport, spit on Him, scourge Him,
and put Him to death; but on the third day He will rise
to life again."

010:035 Then James and John, the sons of Zabdi, came up to Him
and said, "Rabbi, we wish you would grant us whatever request
we make of you."

010:036 "What would you have me do for you?" He asked.

010:037 "Allow us," they replied, "to sit one at your right hand
and the other at your left hand, in your glory."

010:038 "You know not," said He, "what you are asking. Are you able
to drink out of the cup from which I am to drink, or to be
baptized with the baptism with which I am to be baptized?"

010:039 "We are able," they replied. "Out of the cup," said Jesus,
"from which I am to drink you shall drink, and with the baptism
with which I am to be baptized you shall be baptized;

010:040 but as to sitting at my right hand or at my left, that is not
mine to give: it will be for those for whom it is reserved."

010:041 The other ten, hearing of it, were at first highly indignant
with James and John.

010:042 Jesus, however, called them to Him and said to them, "You are
aware how those who are deemed rulers among the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their great men make them feel their authority;

010:043 but it is not to be so among you. No, whoever desires to be
great among you must be your servant;

010:044 and whoever desires to be first among you must be the
bondservant of all.

010:045 For the Son of Man also did not come to be waited upon, but to
wait on others, and to give His life as the redemption-price
for a multitude of people."

010:046 They came to Jericho; and as He was leaving that town--
Himself and His disciples and a great crowd--Bartimaeus (the son
of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the way-side.

010:047 Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out,
"Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me."

010:048 Many angrily told him to leave off shouting; but he only cried
out all the louder, "Son of David, have pity on me."

010:049 Then Jesus stood still. "Call him," He said. So they called
the blind man. "Cheer up," they said; "rise, he is calling you."

010:050 The man flung away his outer garment, sprang to his feet,
and came to Jesus.

010:051 "What shall I do for you?" said Jesus. "Rabboni," replied the
blind man, "let me recover my sight."

010:052 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has cured you." Instantly he
regained his sight, and followed Him along the road.

011:001 When they were getting near Jerusalem and had arrived at
Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent
two of his disciples on in front, with these instructions.

011:002 "Go," He said, "to the village facing you, and immediately
on entering it you will find an ass's foal tied up which no
one has ever yet ridden: untie him and bring him here.

011:003 And if any one asks you, 'Why are you doing that?' say, 'The Master
needs it, and will send it back here without delay.'"

011:004 So they went and found a young ass tied up at the front door
of a house. They were untying it,

011:005 when some of the bystanders called out, "What are you doing,
untying the foal?"

011:006 But on their giving the answer that Jesus had bidden them give,
they let them take it.

011:007 So they brought the foal to Jesus, and threw their outer
garments over him; and Jesus mounted.

011:008 Then many spread their outer garments to carpet the road,
and others leafy branches which they had cut down in the fields;

011:009 while those who led the way and those who followed kept shouting
"God save Him!" Blessed be He who comes in the Lord's name.

011:010 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our forefather David! God in
the highest Heavens save Him!"

011:011 So He came into Jerusalem and into the Temple; and after looking
round upon everything there, the hour being now late He went
out to Bethany with the Twelve.

011:012 The next day, after they had left Bethany, He was hungry.

011:013 But in the distance He saw a fig-tree in full leaf, and went
to see whether perhaps He could find some figs on it.
When however He came to it, He found nothing but leaves
(for it was not fig time);

011:014 and He said to the tree, "Let no one ever again eat fruit from thee!"
And His disciples heard this.

011:015 They reached Jerusalem, and entering the Temple He began to drive
out the buyers and sellers, and upset the money-changers'
tables and the stools of the pigeon-dealers,

011:016 and would not allow any one to carry anything through the Temple.

011:017 And He remonstrated with them. "Is it not written," He said,
"'My House shall be called The House of Prayer for all the nations?'
But you have made it what it now is--a robbers' cave."

011:018 This the High Priests and Scribes heard, and they began
to devise means to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him,
because of the deep impression produced on all the people
by His teaching.

011:019 When evening came on, Jesus and His disciples used to
leave the city.

011:020 In the early morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig-tree
withered to the roots;

011:021 and Peter, recollecting, said to Him, "Look, Rabbi, the fig-tree
which you cursed is withered up."

011:022 Jesus said to them, "Have faith in God.

011:023 In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say
to this mountain, 'Remove, and hurl thyself into the sea,'
and has no doubt about it in his heart, but stedfastly believes
that what he says will happen, it shall be granted him.

011:024 That is why I tell you, as to whatever you pray and make
request for, if you believe that you have received it it
shall be yours.

011:025 But whenever you stand praying, if you have a grievance
against any one, forgive it, so that your Father in Heaven
may also forgive you your offences."

011:026 []

011:027 They came again to Jerusalem; and as He was walking in the Temple,
the High Priests, Scribes and Elders came to Him

011:028 and asked, "By what authority are you doing these things?
and who gave you authority to do them?"

011:029 "And I will put a question to you," replied Jesus; "answer me,
and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

011:030 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin?
Answer me."

011:031 So they debated the matter with one another.
"Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask,
'Why then did you not believe him?'

011:032 Or should we say, 'human?'" They were afraid of the people;
for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.

011:033 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you,"
said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."

012:001 Then He began to speak to them in figurative language.
"There was once a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard,
fenced it round, dug a pit for the wine-tank, and built
a strong lodge. Then he let the place to vine-dressers
and went abroad.

012:002 At vintage-time he sent one of his servants to receive from
the vine-dressers a share of the grapes.

012:003 But they seized him, beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.

012:004 Again he sent to them another servant: and as for him,
they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully.

012:005 Yet a third he sent, and him they killed. And he sent
many besides, and them also they ill-treated, beating some
and killing others.

012:006 He had still one left whom he could send, a dearly-loved son:
him last of all he sent, saying, "'They will treat my
son with respect.'

012:007 "But those men--the vine-dressers--said to one another,
"'Here is the heir: come, let us kill him, and then the property
will one day be ours.'

012:008 "So they took him and killed him, and flung his body
outside the vineyard.

012:009 What, therefore, will the owner of the vineyard do?"
"He will come and put the vine-dressers to death," they said;
"and will give the vineyard to others."

012:010 "Have you not read even this passage," He added, "'The stone
which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone:

012:011 this Cornerstone came from the Lord, and is wonderful
in our esteem?'"

012:012 And they kept looking out for an opportunity to seize Him,
but were afraid of the people; for they saw that in this parable
He had referred to *them*. So they left Him and went away.

012:013 Their next step was to send to Him some of the Pharisees
and of Herod's partisans to entrap Him in conversation.

012:014 So they came to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you
are a truthful man and you do not fear any one; for you do
not recognize human distinctions, but teach God's way truly.
Is it allowable to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

012:015 Shall we pay, or shall we refuse to pay?" But He,
knowing their hypocrisy, replied, "Why try to ensnare me?
Bring me a shilling for me to look at."

012:016 They brought one; and He asked them, "Whose is this likeness
and this inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied.

012:017 "What is Caesar's," replied Jesus, "pay to Caesar--and what is God's,
pay to God." And they wondered exceedingly at Him.

012:018 Then came to Him a party of Sadducees, a sect which denies that
there is any Resurrection; and they proceeded to question Him.

012:019 "Rabbi," they said, "Moses made it a law for us:
'If a man's brother should die and leave a wife, but no child,
the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family
for his brother.'

012:020 There were once seven brothers, the eldest of whom married a wife,
but at his death left no family.

012:021 The second married her, and died, leaving no family;
and the third did the same.

012:022 And so did the rest of the seven, all dying childless.
Finally the woman also died.

012:023 At the Resurrection whose wife will she be? For they all
seven married her."

012:024 "Is not this the cause of your error," replied Jesus--"your
ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God?

012:025 For when they have risen from among the dead, men do not marry
and women are not given in marriage, but they are as angels
are in Heaven.

012:026 But as to the dead, that they rise to life, have you never
read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush,
how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob?'

012:027 He is not the God of dead, but of living men.
You are in grave error."

012:028 Then one of the Scribes, who had heard them disputing and
well knew that Jesus had given them an answer to the point,
and a forcible one, came forward and asked Him, "Which is
the chief of all the Commandments?"

012:029 "The chief Commandment," replied Jesus, "is this:
'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;

012:030 and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart,
thy whole soul, thy whole mind, and thy whole strength.'

012:031 "The second is this: 'Thou shalt love thy fellow man as thou
lovest thyself.' "Other Commandment greater than these
there is none."

012:032 So the Scribe said to Him, "Rightly, in very truth, Rabbi, have you
said that He stands alone, and there is none but He;

012:033 and To love Him with all one's heart, with all one's understanding,
and with all one's strength, and to love one's fellow man
no less than oneself, is far better than all our whole
burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

012:034 Perceiving that the Scribe had answered wisely Jesus said
to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
No one from that time forward ventured to put any question to Him.

012:035 But, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, "How is it
the Scribes say that the Christ is a son of David?

012:036 David himself said, taught by the Holy Spirit, "'The Lord said
to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I have made thy foes
a footstool under thy feet.'

012:037 "David himself calls Him 'Lord:' how then can He be his son?"
And the mass of people found pleasure in listening to Jesus.

012:038 Moreover in the course of His teaching He said, "Be on your
guard against the Scribes who like to walk about in long
robes and to be bowed to in places of public resort,

012:039 and to occupy the best seats in the synagogues and at dinner parties,

012:040 and who swallow up the property of widows and then mask their
wickedness by making long prayers: these men will receive
far heavier punishment."

012:041 Having taken a seat opposite the Treasury, He observed
how the people were dropping money into the Treasury,
and that many of the wealthy threw in large sums.

012:042 But there came one poor widow and dropped in two farthings,
equal in value to a halfpenny.

012:043 So He called His disciples to Him and said, "In solemn truth I
tell you that this widow, poor as she is, has thrown in more
than all the other contributors to the Treasury;

012:044 for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare,
but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed--
all she had to live on."

013:001 As He was leaving the Temple, one of His disciples exclaimed,
"Look, Rabbi, what wonderful stones! what wonderful buildings!"

013:002 "You see all these great buildings?" Jesus replied; "not one
stone will be left here upon another--not thrown down."

013:003 He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite to the Temple,
when Peter, James, John, and Andrew, apart from the others asked Him,

013:004 "Tell us, When will these things be? and what will be the sign
when all these predictions are on the point of being fulfilled?"

013:005 So Jesus began to say to them: "Take care that no one misleads you.

013:006 Many will come assuming my name and saying, 'I am He;'
and they will mislead many.

013:007 But when you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed:
come they must, but the End is not yet.

013:008 For nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places;
there will be famines. These miseries are but like the early
pains of childbirth.

013:009 "You yourselves must be on your guard. They will deliver
you up to Sanhedrins; you will be brought into synagogues
and cruelly beaten; and you will stand before governors
and kings for my sake, to be witnesses to them for me.

013:010 But the proclamation of the Good News must be carried to all
the Gentiles before the End comes.

013:011 When however they are marching you along under arrest,
do not be anxious beforehand about what you are to say,
but speak what is given you when the time comes; for it
will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

013:012 "Brother will betray brother to be killed, and fathers will
betray children; and children will rise against their parents
and have them put to death.

013:013 You will be objects of universal hatred because you are called
by my name, but those who stand firm to the End will be saved.

013:014 "As soon, however, as you see the Abomination of Desolation
standing where he ought not"--let the reader observe these
words--"then let those in Judaea escape to the hills;

013:015 let him who is on the roof not come down and enter the house
to fetch anything out of it;

013:016 and let not him who is in the field turn back to pick up
his outer garment.

013:017 And alas for the women who at that time are with child
or have infants!

013:018 "But pray that it may not come in the winter.

013:019 For those will be times of suffering the like of which has
never been from the first creation of God's world until now,
and assuredly never will be again;

013:020 and but for the fact that the Lord has cut short those days,
no one would escape; but for the sake of His own People whom
He has chosen for Himself He has cut short the days.

013:021 "At that time if any one says to you, 'See, here is the Christ!'
or 'See, He is there!' do not believe it.

013:022 For there will rise up false Christs and false prophets,
displaying signs and prodigies with a view to lead astray--
if indeed that were possible--even God's own People.

013:023 But as for yourselves, be on your guard: I have forewarned
you of everything.

013:024 "At that time, however, after that distress, the sun will be
darkened and the moon will not shed her light;

013:025 the stars will be seen falling from the firmament, and the forces
which are in the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.

013:026 And then will they see the Son of Man coming in clouds with
great power and glory.

013:027 Then He will send forth the angels and gather together His chosen
People from north, south, east and west, from the remotest
parts of the earth and the sky.

013:028 "Learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon
as its branch has become soft and it is bursting into leaf,
you know that summer is near.

013:029 So also do you, when you see these things happening, be sure
that He is near, at your very door.

013:030 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will
certainly not pass away without all these things having
first taken place.

013:031 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words
will not pass away.

013:032 "But as to that day or the exact time no one knows--not even
the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

013:033 Take care, be on the alert, and pray; for you do not know
when it will happen.

013:034 It is like a man living abroad who has left his house, and given
the management to his servants--to each one his special duty--
and has ordered the porter to keep awake.

013:035 Be wakeful therefore, for you know not when the master of
the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crow,
or at dawn.

013:036 Beware lest He should arrive unexpectedly and find you asleep.

013:037 Moreover, what I say to you I say to all--Be wakeful!"

014:001 It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of
Unleavened Bread, and the High Priests and Scribes were bent
on finding how to seize Him by stratagem and put Him to death.

014:002 But they said, "Not on the Festival-day, for fear there should
be a riot among the people."

014:003 Now when He was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper,
while He was at table, there came a woman with a jar of pure,
sweet-scented ointment very costly: she broke the jar
and poured the ointment over His head.

014:004 But there were some who said indignantly among themselves,
"Why has the ointment been thus wasted?

014:005 For that ointment might have been sold for fifteen pounds
or more, and the money have been given to the poor."
And they were exceedingly angry with her.

014:006 But Jesus said, "Leave her alone: why are you troubling her?
She has done a most gracious act towards me.

014:007 For you always have the poor among you, and whenever you
choose you can do acts of kindness to them; but me you
have not always.

014:008 What she could she did: she has perfumed my body in preparation
for my burial.

014:009 And I solemnly tell you that wherever in the whole world
the Good News shall be proclaimed, this which she has done
shall also be told in remembrance of her."

014:010 But Judas Iscariot, already mentioned as one of the Twelve,
went to the High Priests to betray Jesus to them.

014:011 They gladly listened to his proposal, and promised to give
him a sum of money. So he looked out for an opportunity
to betray Him.

014:012 On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread--the day for
killing the Passover lamb--His disciples asked Him, "Where shall
we go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

014:013 So He sent two of His disciples with instructions, saying,
"Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher
of water: follow him,

014:014 and whatever house he enters, tell the master of the house,
'The Rabbi asks, Where is my room where I can eat the Passover
with my disciples?'

014:015 Then he will himself show you a large room upstairs, ready furnished:
there make preparation for us."

014:016 So the disciples went out and came to the city, and found everything
just as He had told them; and they got the Passover ready.

014:017 When it was evening, He came with the Twelve.

014:018 And while they were at table Jesus said, "I solemnly tell you
that one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me."

014:019 They were filled with sorrow, and began asking Him, one by one,
"Not I, is it?"

014:020 "It is one of the Twelve," He replied; "he who is dipping
his fingers in the dish with me.

014:021 For the Son of Man is going His way as it is written about Him;
but alas for the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!
It had been a happy thing for that man, had he never been born."

014:022 Also during the meal He took a Passover biscuit, blessed it,
and broke it. He then gave it to them, saying, "Take this,
it is my body."

014:023 Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and handed it to them,
and they all of them drank from it.

014:024 "This is my blood," He said, "which is to be poured out on
behalf of many--the blood which makes the Covenant sure.

014:025 I solemnly tell you that never again will I taste the produce
of the vine till I shall drink the new wine in the Kingdom of God."

014:026 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

014:027 Then said Jesus to them, "All of you are about to stumble
and fall, for it is written, 'I will strike down the Shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered in all directions.'

014:028 But after I have risen to life again I will go before
you into Galilee."

014:029 "All may stumble and fall," said Peter, "yet I never will."

014:030 "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that to-day--this night--
before the cock crows twice, you yourself will three
times disown me."

014:031 "Even if I must die with you," declared Peter again and again,
"I will never disown you." In like manner protested also
all the disciples.

014:032 So they came to a place called Gethsemane. There He said
to His disciples, "Sit down here till I have prayed."

014:033 Then He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began
to be full of terror and distress,

014:034 and He said to them, "My heart is oppressed with anguish
to the very point of death: wait here and keep awake."

014:035 Going forward a short distance He threw Himself upon His face
and prayed repeatedly that, if it was possible, He might be
spared that time of agony;

014:036 and He said, "Abba! my Father! all things are possible for Thee:
take this cup of suffering away from me: and yet not what
I desire, but what Thou desirest."

014:037 Then He came and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, "Simon,
are you asleep? Had you not strength to keep awake a single hour?

014:038 Be wakeful, all of you, and keep on praying, that you may
not come into temptation: the spirit is right willing,
but the body is frail."

014:039 He again went away and prayed, using the very same words.

014:040 When He returned He again found them asleep, for they were
very tired; and they knew not how to answer Him.

014:041 A third time He came, and then He said, "Sleep on and rest.
Enough! the hour has come. Even now they are betraying
the Son of Man into the hands of sinful men.

014:042 Rouse yourselves, let us be going: my betrayer is close at hand."

014:043 Immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve,
came and with him a crowd of men armed with swords and cudgels,
sent by the High Priests and Scribes and Elders.

014:044 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them.
"The one I kiss," he said, "is the man: lay hold of him,
and take him safely away."

014:045 So he came, and going straight to Jesus he said, "Rabbi!"
and kissed Him with seeming affection;

014:046 whereupon they laid hands on Him and held Him firmly.

014:047 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck a blow
at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

014:048 "Have you come out," said Jesus, "with swords and cudgels
to arrest me, as if you had to fight with a robber?

014:049 Day after day I used to be among you in the Temple teaching,
and you never seized me. But this is happening in order
that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.'

014:050 Then His friends all forsook Him and fled.

014:051 One youth indeed did follow Him, wearing only a linen cloth
round his bare body. Of him they laid hold,

014:052 but he left the linen cloth in their hands and fled without it.

014:053 So they led Jesus away to the High Priest, and with him there
assembled all the High Priests, Elders, and Scribes.

014:054 Peter followed Jesus at a distance, as far as the outer court
of the High Priest's palace. But there he remained sitting
among the officers, and warming himself by the fire.

014:055 Meanwhile the High Priests and the entire Sanhedrin were
endeavouring to get evidence against Jesus in order to put
Him to death, but could find none;

014:056 for though many gave false testimony against Him, their statements
did not tally.

014:057 Then some came forward as witnesses and falsely declared,

014:058 "We have heard him say, 'I will pull down this Sanctuary
built by human hands, and three days afterwards I will erect
another built without hands.'"

014:059 But not even in this shape was their testimony consistent.

014:060 At last the High Priest stood up, and advancing into the midst
of them all, asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make?
What is the meaning of all this that these witnesses
allege against you?"

014:061 But He remained silent, and gave no reply. A second time
the High Priest questioned Him. "Are you the Christ,
the Son of the Blessed One?" he said.

014:062 "I am," replied Jesus, "and you and others will see the Son
of Man sitting at the right hand of the divine Power,
and coming amid the clouds of the sky."

014:063 Rending his garments the High Priest exclaimed, "What need
have we of witnesses after that?

014:064 You all heard his impious words. What is your judgement?"
Then with one voice they condemned Him as deserving of death.

014:065 Thereupon some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him,
while striking Him with their fists and crying, "Prove that you
are a prophet." The officers too struck Him with open hands
as they took Him in charge.

014:066 Now while Peter was below in the quadrangle, one of the
High Priest's maidservants came,

014:067 and seeing Peter warming himself she looked at him and said,
"You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene."

014:068 But he denied it, and said, "I don't know--I don't understand--
What do you mean?" And then he went out into the outer court.
Just then a cock crowed.

014:069 Again the maidservant saw him, and again began to say to
the people standing by, "He is one of them."

014:070 A second time he repeatedly denied it. Soon afterwards
the bystanders again accused Peter, saying, "You are surely
one of them, for you too are a Galilaean."

014:071 But he broke out into curses and oaths, declaring, "I know
nothing of the man you are talking about."

014:072 No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed for the second time,
and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, "Before the
cock crows twice, you will three times disown me."
And as he thought of it, he wept aloud.

015:001 At earliest dawn, after the High Priests had held a consultation
with the Elders and Scribes, they and the entire Sanhedrin
bound Jesus and took Him away and handed Him over to Pilate.

015:002 So Pilate questioned Him. "Are *you* the King of the Jews?"
he asked. "I am," replied Jesus.

015:003 Then, as the High Priests went on heaping accusations on Him,

015:004 Pilate again and again asked Him, "Do you make no reply?
Listen to the many charges they are bringing against you."

015:005 But Jesus made no further answer: so that Pilate wondered.

015:006 Now at the Festival it was customary for Pilate to release to
the Jews any one prisoner whom they might beg off from punishment;

015:007 and at this time a man named Barabbas was in prison
among the insurgents--persons who in the insurrection
had committed murder.

015:008 So the people came crowding up, asking Pilate to grant them
the usual favour.

015:009 "Shall I release for you the King of the Jews?" answered Pilate.

015:010 For he could see that it was out of sheer spite that the
High Priests had handed Him over.

015:011 But the High Priests urged on the crowd to obtain Barabbas's
release in preference;

015:012 and when Pilate again asked them, "What then shall I do to
the man you call King of the Jews?"

015:013 they once more shouted out, "Crucify Him!"

015:014 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they vehemently shouted, "Crucify Him!"

015:015 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the mob, released Barabbas for them,
and after scourging Jesus handed Him over for crucifixion.

015:016 Then the soldiers led Him away into the court of the Palace
(the Praetorium), and calling together the whole battalion

015:017 they arrayed Him in crimson, placed on His head a wreath
of thorny twigs which they had twisted,

015:018 and went on to salute Him with shouts of "Long live the King
of the Jews."

015:019 Then they began to beat Him on the head with a cane, to spit
on Him, and to do Him homage on bended knees.

015:020 At last, having finished their sport, they took the robe off Him,
put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

015:021 One Simon, a Cyrenaean, the father of Alexander and Rufus,
was passing along, coming from the country: him they compelled
to carry His cross.

015:022 So they brought Him to the place called Golgotha, which,
being translated, means 'Skull-ground.'

015:023 Here they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He refused it.

015:024 Then they crucified Him. This done, they divided His garments
among them, drawing lots to decide what each should take.

015:025 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified Him.

015:026 Over His head was the notice in writing of the charge
against Him: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

015:027 And together with Jesus they crucified two robbers, one at His
right hand and one at His left.

015:028 []

015:029 And all the passers-by reviled Him. They shook their heads
at Him and said, "Ah! you who were for destroying the Sanctuary
and building a new one in three days,

015:030 come down from the cross and save yourself."

015:031 In the same way the High Priests also, as well as the Scribes, kept on
scoffing at Him, saying to one another, "He has saved others:
himself he cannot save!

015:032 This Christ, the King of Israel, let him come down now from
the cross, that we may see and believe." Even the men
who were being crucified with Him heaped insults on Him.

015:033 At noon there came a darkness over the whole land, lasting till
three o'clock in the afternoon.

015:034 But at three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
"Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God,
why hast Thou forsaken me?"

015:035 Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, "Listen, he is
calling for Elijah!"

015:036 Then a man ran to fill a sponge with sour wine, and he put it
on the end of a cane and placed it to His lips, saying at
the same time, "Wait! let us see whether Elijah will come
and take him down."

015:037 But Jesus uttered a loud cry and yielded up His spirit.

015:038 And the curtain in the Sanctuary was torn in two,
from top to bottom.

015:039 And when the Centurion who stood in front of the cross saw that He
was dead, he exclaimed, "This man was indeed God's Son."

015:040 There were also a party of women looking on from a distance;
among them being both Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother
of James the Little and of Joses, and Salome--

015:041 all of whom in the Galilaean days had habitually been with Him
and cared for Him, as well as many other women who had come
up to Jerusalem with Him.

015:042 Towards sunset, as it was the Preparation--that is, the day
preceding the Sabbath--

015:043 Joseph of Arimathaea came, a highly respected member of the Council,
who himself also was living in expectation of the Kingdom of God.
He summoned up courage to go in to see Pilate and beg for
the body of Jesus.

015:044 But Pilate could hardly believe that He was already dead.
He called, however, for the Centurion and inquired whether
He had been long dead;

015:045 and having ascertained the fact he granted the body to Joseph.

015:046 He, having bought a sheet of linen, took Him down, wrapped Him
in the sheet and laid Him in a tomb hewn in the rock;
after which he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.

015:047 Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joses were looking
on to see where He was put.

016:001 When the Sabbath was over, Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother
of James, and Salome, bought spices, in order to come and
anoint His body.

016:002 So, very soon after sunrise on the first day of the week,
they came to the tomb;

016:003 and they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away
the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"

016:004 But then, looking up, they saw that the stone was already
rolled back: for it was of immense size.

016:005 Upon entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting
at their right hand, clothed in a long white robe.
They were astonished and terrified.

016:006 But he said to them, "Do not be terrified. It is Jesus you
are looking for--the Nazarene who has been crucified.
He has come back to life: He is not here: this is the place
where they laid Him.

016:007 But go and tell His disciples and Peter that He is going
before you into Galilee: and that there you will see Him,
as He told you."

016:008 So they came out, and fled from the tomb, for they were greatly
agitated and surprised; and they said not a word to any one,
for they were afraid.

016:009 [But He rose to life early on the first day of the week,
and appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom He had
expelled seven demons.

016:010 She went and brought the tidings to those who had been with Him,
as they were mourning and weeping.

016:011 But they, when they were told that He was alive and that she
had seen Him, could not believe it.

016:012 Afterwards He showed Himself in another form to two of them
as they were walking, on their way into the country.

016:013 These, again, went and told the news to the rest; but not even
them did they believe.

016:014 Later still He showed Himself to the Eleven themselves
whilst they were at table, and He upbraided them with their
unbelief and obstinacy in not having believed those who had
seen Him alive.

016:015 Then He said to them, "Go the whole world over, and proclaim
the Good News to all mankind.

016:016 He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who
disbelieves will be condemned.

016:017 And signs shall attend those who believe, even such as these.
By making use of my name they shall expel demons.
They shall speak new languages.

016:018 They shall take up venomous snakes, and if they drink any deadly
poison it shall do them no harm whatever. They shall lay
their hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover."

016:019 So the Lord Jesus after having thus spoken to them was taken
up into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

016:020 But they went out and made proclamation everywhere, the Lord
working with them and confirming their Message by the signs
which accompanied it.]