"'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.' 015:028 "Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him. 015:029 "'All these years,' replied the son, 'I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends; 015:030 but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.' 015:031 "'You my dear son,' said the father, 'are always with me, and all that is mine is also yours. 015:032 We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'" 016:001 He said also to His disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward, about whom a report was brought to him, that he was wasting his property. 016:002 He called him and said, "'What is this I hear about you? Render an account of your stewardship, for I cannot let you hold it any longer.' 016:003 "Then the steward said within himself, "'What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed. 016:004 I see what to do, in order that when I am discharged from the stewardship they may give me a home in their own houses.' 016:005 "So he called all his master's debtors, one by one, and asked the first, 'How much are you in debt to my master?' 016:006 "'A hundred firkins of oil,' he replied. "'Here is your account,' said the steward: 'sit down quickly and change it into fifty firkins.' 016:007 "To a second he said, "'And how much do you owe?' "'A hundred quarters of wheat,' was the answer. "'Here is your account,' said he: 'change it into eighty quarters.' 016:008 "And the master praised the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for, in relation to their own contemporaries, the men of this age are shrewder than the sons of Light. 016:009 "But I charge you, so to use the wealth which is ever tempting to dishonesty as to win friends who, when it fails, shall welcome you to the tents that never perish. 016:010 The man who is honest in a very small matter is honest in a great one also; and he who is dishonest in a very small matter is dishonest in a great one also. 016:011 If therefore you have not proved yourselves faithful in dealing with the wealth that is tainted with fraud, who will entrust to you the true good? 016:012 And if you have not been faithful in dealing with that which is not your own, who will give you that which is your own? 016:013 "No servant can be in bondage to two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will cling fast to one and scorn the other. You cannot be bondservants both of God and of gold." 016:014 To all this the Pharisees listened, bitterly jeering at Him; for they were lovers of money. 016:015 "You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight. 016:016 The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it. 016:017 But it is easier for earth and sky to pass away than for one smallest detail of the Law to fall to the ground. 016:018 Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery. 016:019 "There was once a rich man who habitually arrayed himself in purple and fine linen, and enjoyed a splendid banquet every day, 016:020 while at his outer door there lay a beggar, Lazarus by name, 016:021 covered with sores and longing to make a full meal off the scraps flung on the floor from the rich man's table. Nay, the dogs, too, used to come and lick his sores. 016:022 "But in course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and had a funeral. 016:023 And in Hades, being in torment, he looked and saw Abraham in the far distance, and Lazarus resting in his arms. 016:024 So he cried aloud, and said, "'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' 016:025 "'Remember, my child,' said Abraham, 'that you had all your good things during your lifetime, and that Lazarus in like manner had his bad things. But, now and here, he is receiving consolation and you are in agony. 016:026 And, besides all this, a vast chasm is immovably fixed between us and you, put there in order that those who desire to cross from this side to you may not be able, nor any be able to cross over from your side to us.' 016:027 "'I entreat you then, father,' said he, 'to send him to my father's house. 016:028 For I have five brothers. Let him earnestly warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' 016:029 "'They have Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham; 'let them hear them.' 016:030 "'No, father Abraham,' he pleaded; 'but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' 016:031 "'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'" 017:001 Jesus said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that causes of stumbling should come; but alas for him through whom they come! 017:002 It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones to fall. 017:003 Be on your guard. "If your brother acts wrongly, reprove him; and if he is sorry, forgive him; 017:004 and if seven times in a day he acts wrongly towards you, and seven times turns again to you and says, 'I am sorry,' you must forgive him." 017:005 And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Give us faith." 017:006 "If your faith," replied the Lord, "is like a mustard seed, you might command this black-mulberry-tree, 'Tear up your roots and plant yourself in the sea,' and instantly it would obey you. 017:007 But which of you who has a servant ploughing, or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the farm, 'Come at once and take your place at table,' 017:008 and will not rather say to him, 'Get my dinner ready, make yourself tidy, and wait upon me till I have finished my dinner, and then you shall have yours'? 017:009 Does he thank the servant for obeying his orders? 017:010 So you also, when you have obeyed all the orders given you, must say, "'There is no merit in our service: what we have done is only what we were in duty bound to do.'" 017:011 As they pursued their journey to Jerusalem, He passed through Samaria and Galilee. 017:012 And as He entered a certain village, ten men met Him who were lepers and stood at a distance. 017:013 In loud voices they cried out, "Jesus, Rabbi, take pity on us." 017:014 Perceiving this, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the Priests." And while on their way to do this they were made clean. 017:015 One of them, seeing that he was cured, came back, adoring and praising God in a loud voice, 017:016 and he threw himself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him. He was a Samaritan. 017:017 "Were not all ten made clean?" Jesus asked; "but where are the nine? 017:018 Have none been found to come back and give glory to God except this foreigner?" 017:019 And He said to him, "Rise and go: your faith has cured you." 017:020 Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered, "The Kingdom of God does not so come that you can stealthily watch for it. 017:021 Nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'—for the Kingdom of God is within you." 017:022 Then, turning to His disciples, He said, "There will come a time when you will wish you could see a single one of the days of the Son of Man, but will not see one. 017:023 And they will say to you, 'See there!' 'See here!' Do not start off and go in pursuit. 017:024 For just as the lightning, when it flashes, shines from one part of the horizon to the opposite part, so will the Son of Man be on His day. 017:025 But first He must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the present generation. 017:026 "And as it was in the time of Noah, so will it also be in the time of the Son of Man. 017:027 Men were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving wives, up to the very day on which Noah entered the Ark, and the Deluge came and destroyed them all. 017:028 The same was true in the time of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building; 017:029 but on the day that Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from the sky and destroyed them all. 017:030 Exactly so will it be on the day that the veil is lifted from the Son of Man. 017:031 "On that day, if a man is on the roof and his property indoors, let him not go down to fetch it; and, in the same way, he who is in the field, let him not turn back. 017:032 Remember Lot's wife. 017:033 Any man who makes it his object to keep his own life safe, will lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 017:034 On that night, I tell you, there will be two men in one bed: one will be taken away and the other left behind. 017:035 There will be two women turning the mill together: one will be taken away and the other left behind." 017:036 [] 017:037 "Where, Master?" they inquired. "Where the dead body is," He replied, "there also will the vultures flock together." 018:001 He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart. 018:002 "In a certain town," He said, "there was a judge who had no fear of God and no respect for man. 018:003 And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "'Give me justice and stop my oppressor.' 018:004 "For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, "'Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man, 018:005 yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'" 018:006 And the Lord said, "Hear those words of the unjust judge. 018:007 And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf? 018:008 Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" 018:009 And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable. 018:010 "Two men went up to the Temple to pray," He said; "one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer. 018:011 The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: "'O God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people— I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer. 018:012 I fast twice a week. I pay the tithe on all my gains.' 018:013 "But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.' 018:014 "I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted." 018:015 On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them. 018:016 Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs. 018:017 I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it." 018:018 The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?" 018:019 "Why do you call me good?" replied Jesus; "there is no one good but One, namely God. 018:020 You know the Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not murder;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'" 018:021 "All of those," he replied, "I have kept from my youth." 018:022 On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, "There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me." 018:023 But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich. 018:024 Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God! 018:025 Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." 018:026 "Who then can be saved?" exclaimed the hearers. 018:027 "Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God." 018:028 Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you." 018:029 "I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom, 018:030 who shall not certainly receive many times as much in this life, and in the age that is coming the Life of the Ages." 018:031 Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 018:032 For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon. 018:033 They will scourge Him and put Him to death, and on the third day He will rise to life again." 018:034 Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant. 018:035 As Jesus came near to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the way-side begging. 018:036 He heard a crowd of people going past, and inquired what it all meant. 018:037 "Jesus the Nazarene is passing by," they told him. 018:038 Then, at the top of his voice, he cried out, "Jesus, son of David, take pity on me." 018:039 Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, "Son of David, take pity on me." 018:040 At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him, 018:041 "What shall I do for you?" "Sir," he replied, "let me recover my sight." 018:042 "Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you." 018:043 No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God. 019:001 So He entered Jericho and was passing through the town. 019:002 There was a man there called Zacchaeus, who was the local surveyor of taxes, and was wealthy. 019:003 He was anxious to see what sort of man Jesus was; but he could not because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. 019:004 So he ran on in front and climbed up a mulberry tree to see Him; for He was about to pass that way. 019:005 As soon as Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house to-day." 019:006 So he came down in haste, and welcomed Him joyfully. 019:007 When they all saw this, they began to complain with indignation. "He has gone in to be the guest of a notorious sinner!" they said. 019:008 Zacchaeus however stood up, and addressing the Lord said, "Here and now, Master, I give half my property to the poor, and if I have unjustly exacted money from any man, I pledge myself to repay to him four times the amount." 019:009 Turning towards him, Jesus replied, "To-day salvation has come to this house, seeing that he too is a son of Abraham. 019:010 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." 019:011 As they were listening to His words, He went on to teach them by a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. 019:012 So He said to them, "A man of noble family travelled to a distant country to obtain the rank of king, and to return. 019:013 And he called ten of his servants and gave each of them a pound, instructing them to trade with the money during his absence. 019:014 "Now his countrymen hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, 'We are not willing that he should become our king.' 019:015 And upon his return, after he had obtained the sovereignty, he ordered those servants to whom he had given the money to be summoned before him, that he might learn their success in trading. 019:016 "So the first came and said, "'Sir, your pound has produced ten pounds more.' 019:017 "'Well done, good servant,' he replied; 'because you have been faithful in a very small matter, be in authority over ten towns.' 019:018 "The second came, and said, "'Your pound, Sir, has produced five pounds.' 019:019 "So he said to this one also, "'And you, be the governor of five towns.' 019:020 "The next came. "'Sir,' he said, 'here is your pound, which I have kept wrapt up in a cloth. 019:021 For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.' 019:022 "'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow: 019:023 why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest? 019:024 "And he said to those who stood by, "'Take the pound from him and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' 019:025 ("They said to him, "'Sir, he already has ten pounds.') 019:026 "'I tell you that to every one who has anything, more shall be given; and from him who has not anything, even what he has shall be taken away. 019:027 But as for those enemies of mine who were unwilling that I should become their king, bring them here, and cut them to pieces in my presence.'" 019:028 After thus speaking, He journeyed onward, proceeding up to Jerusalem. 019:029 And when he was come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount called the Oliveyard, He sent two of the disciples on in front, 019:030 saying to them, "Go into the village facing you. On entering it you will find an ass's foal tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here. 019:031 And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' simply say, 'The Master needs it.'" 019:032 So those who were sent went and found things as He had told them. 019:033 And while they were untying the colt the owners called out, "Why are you untying the colt?" 019:034 and they replied, "The Master needs it." 019:035 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their outer garments on the colt they placed Jesus on it. 019:036 So He rode on, while they carpeted the road with their garments. 019:037 And when He was now getting near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began in their joy to praise God in loud voices for all the mighty deeds they had witnessed. 019:038 "Blessed is the King," they cried, "who comes in the name of the Lord: in Heaven peace, and glory in the highest realms." 019:039 Thereupon some of the Pharisees in the crowd appealed to Him, saying, "Rabbi, reprove your disciples." 019:040 "I tell you," He replied, "that if *they* became silent, the very stones would cry out." 019:041 When He came into full view of the city, He wept aloud over it, and exclaimed, 019:042 "O that at this time thou hadst known—yes even thou— what makes peace possible! But now it is hid from thine eyes. 019:043 For the time is coming upon thee when thy foes will throw up around thee earthworks and a wall, investing thee and hemming thee in on every side. 019:044 And they will dash thee to the ground and thy children within thee, and will not leave one stone upon another within thee; because thou hast not recognized the time of thy visitation." 019:045 Then Jesus entered the Temple and proceeded to drive out the dealers. 019:046 "It is written," He said, "'And My house shall be the House of Prayer,' but you have made it a robbers' cave." 019:047 And day after day He taught in the Temple, while the High Priests and the Scribes were devising some means of destroying Him, as were also the leading men of the people. 019:048 But they could not find any way of doing it, for the people all hung upon His lips. 020:001 On one of those days while He was teaching the people in the Temple and proclaiming the Good News, the High Priests came upon Him, and the Scribes, 020:002 together with the Elders, and they asked Him, "Tell us, By what authority are you doing these things? And who is it that gave you this authority?" 020:003 "I also will put a question to you, "He said; 020:004 "was John's baptism of Heavenly or of human origin?" 020:005 So they debated the matter with one another. "If we say 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' 020:006 And if we say, 'human,' the people will all stone us; for they are thoroughly convinced that John was a Prophet." 020:007 And they answered that they did not know the origin of it. 020:008 "Nor will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things." 020:009 Then He proceeded to speak a parable to the people. "There was a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, let it out to vine-dressers, and went abroad for a considerable time. 020:010 At vintage-time he sent a servant to the vine-dressers, for them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dressers beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed. 020:011 Then he sent a second servant; and him too they beat and ill treated and sent away empty-handed. 020:012 Then again he sent a third; and this one also they wounded and drove away. 020:013 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "'What am I to do? I will send my son—my dearly-loved son: they will probably respect him.' 020:014 "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they discussed the matter with one another, and said, "'This is the heir: let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' 020:015 "So they turned him out of the vineyard and murdered him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 020:016 He will come and put these vine-dressers to death, and give the vineyard to others." "God forbid!" exclaimed the hearers. 020:017 He looked at them and said, "What then does that mean which is written, "'The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone'? 020:018 Every one who falls on that stone will be severely hurt, but on whomsoever it falls, he will be utterly crushed." 020:019 At this the Scribes and the High Priests wanted to lay hands on Him, then and there; only they were afraid of the people. For they saw that in this parable He had referred to them. 020:020 So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority. 020:021 So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly. 020:022 Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?" 020:023 But He saw through their knavery and replied, 020:024 "Show me a shilling; whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said. 020:025 "Pay therefore," He replied, "what is Caesar's to Caesar— and what is God's to God." 020:026 There was nothing here that they could lay hold of before the people, and marvelling at His answer they said no more. 020:027 Next some of the Sadducees came forward (who deny that there is a Resurrection), and they asked Him, 020:028 "Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother. 020:029 Now there were seven brothers. The first of them took a wife and died childless. 020:030 The second and the third also took her; 020:031 and all seven, having done the same, left no children when they died. 020:032 Finally the woman also died. 020:033 The woman, then—at the Resurrection—whose wife shall she be? for they all seven married her." 020:034 "The men of this age," replied Jesus, "marry, and the women are given in marriage. 020:035 But as for those who shall have been deemed worthy to find a place in that other age and in the Resurrection from among the dead, the men do not marry and the women are not given in marriage. 020:036 For indeed they cannot die again; they are like angels, and are sons of God through being sons of the Resurrection. 020:037 But that the dead rise to life even Moses clearly implies in the passage about the Bush, where he calls the Lord 'The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 020:038 He is not a God of dead, but of living men, for to Him are all living." 020:039 Then some of the Scribes replied, "Rabbi, you have spoken well." 020:040 From that time, however, no one ventured to challenge Him with a single question. 020:041 But He asked them, "How is it they say that the Christ is a son of David? 020:042 Why, David himself says in the Book of Psalms, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand 020:043 Until I have made thy foes a footstool under they feet.' 020:044 "David himself therefore calls Him Lord, and how can He be his son?" 020:045 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to the disciples, 020:046 "Beware of the Scribes, who like to walk about in long robes, and love to be bowed to in places of public resort and to occupy the best seats in the synagogues or at a dinner party; 020:047 who swallow up the property of widows and mask their wickedness by making long prayers. They will be punished far more severely than others." 021:001 Looking up He saw the people throwing their gifts into the Treasury— the rich people. 021:002 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two farthings, 021:003 and He said, "In truth I tell you that this widow, so poor, has thrown in more than any of them. 021:004 For from what they could well spare they have all of them contributed to the offerings, but she in her need has thrown in all she had to live on." 021:005 When some were remarking about the Temple, how it was embellished with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said, 021:006 "As to these things which you now admire, the time is coming when there will not be one stone left here upon another which will not be pulled down." 021:007 "Rabbi, when will this be?" they asked Him, "and what will be the token given when these things are about to take place?" 021:008 "See to it," He replied, "that you are not misled; for many will come assuming my name and professing, 'I am He,' or saying, 'The time is close at hand.' Do not go and follow them. 021:009 But when you hear of wars and turmoils, be not afraid; for these things must happen first, but the end does not come immediately." 021:010 Then He said to them, "Nation will rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 021:011 And there will be great earthquakes, and in places famines and pestilence; and there will be terrible sights and wonderful tokens from Heaven. 021:012 "But before all these things happen they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you up to synagogues and to prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my sake. 021:013 In the end all this will be evidence of your fidelity. 021:014 "Make up your minds, however, not to prepare a defence beforehand, 021:015 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to withstand or reply to. 021:016 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, friends; and some of you they will put to death. 021:017 You will be the objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name; 021:018 and yet not a hair of your heads shall perish. 021:019 By your patient endurance you will purchase your lives. 021:020 "But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand. 021:021 Then let those who shall be in Judaea escape to the hills; let those who are in the city leave it, and those who are in the country not enter in. 021:022 For those are the days of vengeance and of fulfilling all that is written. 021:023 "Alas for the women who at that time are with child or who have infants; for there will be great distress in the land, and anger towards this People. 021:024 They will fall by the sword, or be carried off into slavery among all the Gentiles. And Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, till the appointed times of the Gentiles have expired. 021:025 "There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on earth anguish among the nations in their bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and its billows; 021:026 while men's hearts are fainting for fear, and for anxious expectation of what is coming on the world. For the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed. 021:027 And then will they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and glory. 021:028 But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near." 021:029 And He spoke a parable to them. "See," He said, "the fig-tree and all the trees. 021:030 As soon as they have shot out their leaves, you know at a glance that summer is now near. 021:031 So also, when you see these things happening, you may be sure that the Kingdom of God is near. 021:032 I tell you in solemn truth that the present generation will certainly not pass away without all these things having first taken place. 021:033 Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away. 021:034 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap; 021:035 for it will come on all dwellers on the face of the whole earth. 021:036 But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man." 021:037 His habit at this time was to teach in the Temple by day, but to go out and spend the night on the Mount called the Oliveyard. 021:038 And all the people came to Him in the Temple, early in the morning, to listen to Him. 022:001 Meanwhile the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, 022:002 and the High Priests and the Scribes were contriving how to destroy Him. But they feared the people. 022:003 Satan, however, entered into Judas (the man called Iscariot) who was one of the Twelve. 022:004 He went and conferred with the High Priests and Commanders as to how he should deliver Him up to them. 022:005 This gave them great pleasure, and they agreed to pay him. 022:006 He accepted their offer, and then looked out for an opportunity to betray Him when the people were not there. 022:007 When the day of the Unleavened Bread came—the day for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed— 022:008 Jesus sent Peter and John with instructions. "Go," He said, "and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it." 022:009 "Where shall we prepare it?" they asked. 022:010 "You will no sooner have entered the city," He replied, "than you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house to which he goes, 022:011 and say to the master of the house, "'The Rabbi asks you, Where is the room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?' 022:012 "And he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. There make your preparations." 022:013 So they went and found all as He had told them; and they got the Passover ready. 022:014 When the time was come, and He had taken His place at table, and the Apostles with Him, 022:015 He said to them, "Earnestly have I longed to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 022:016 for I tell you that I certainly shall not eat one again till its full meaning has been brought out in the Kingdom of God." 022:017 Then, having received the cup and given thanks, He said, "Take this and share it among yourselves; 022:018 for I tell you that from this time I will never drink the produce of the vine till the Kingdom of God has come." 022:019 Then, taking a Passover biscuit, He gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is being given on your behalf: this do in remembrance of me." 022:020 He gave them the cup in like manner, when the meal was over. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant ratified by my blood which is to be poured out on your behalf. 022:021 Yet the hand of him who is betraying me is at the table with me. 022:022 For indeed the Son of Man goes on His way—His pre-destined way; yet alas for that man who is betraying Him!" 022:023 Thereupon they began to discuss with one another which of them it could possibly be who was about to do this. 022:024 There arose also a dispute among them which of them should be regarded as greatest. 022:025 But He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles are their masters, and those who exercise authority over them are called Benefactors. 022:026 With you it is not so; but let the greatest among you be as the younger, and the leader be like him who serves. 022:027 For which is the greater—he who sits at table, or he who waits on him? Is it not he who sits at table? But my position among you is that of one who waits on others. 022:028 You however have remained with me amid my trials; 022:029 and I covenant to give you, as my Father has covenanted to give me, a Kingdom— 022:030 so that you shall eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones as judges over the twelve tribes of Israel. 022:031 "Simon, Simon, I tell you that Satan has obtained permission to have all of you to sift as wheat is sifted. 022:032 But *I* have prayed for *you* that your faith may not fail, and you, when at last you have come back to your true self, must strengthen your brethren." 022:033 "Master," replied Peter, "with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death." 022:034 "I tell you, Peter," said Jesus, "that the cock will not crow to-day till you have three times denied that you know me." 022:035 Then He asked them, "When I sent you out without purse or bag or shoes, was there anything you needed?" "No, nothing," they replied. 022:036 "But now," said He, "let the one who has a purse take it, and he who has a bag must do the same. And let him who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one. 022:037 For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfilment in me: 'And He was reckoned among the lawless'; for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment." 022:038 "Master, here are two swords," they exclaimed. "That is enough," He replied. 022:039 On going out, He proceeded as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him. 022:040 But when He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not come into temptation." 022:041 But He Himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed repeatedly, saying, 022:042 "Father, if it be Thy will, take this cup away from me; yet not my will but Thine be done!" 022:043 And there appeared to Him an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him; 022:044 while He—an agony of distress having come upon Him— prayed all the more with intense earnestness, and His sweat became like clots of blood dropping on the ground. 022:045 When He rose from his prayer and came to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow. 022:046 "Why are you sleeping?" He said; "stand up; and pray that you may not come into temptation." 022:047 While He was still speaking there came a crowd with Judas, already mentioned as one of the Twelve, at their head. He went up to Jesus to kiss Him. 022:048 "Judas," said Jesus, "are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 022:049 Those who were about Him, seeing what was likely to happen, asked Him, "Master, shall we strike with the sword?" 022:050 And one of them struck a blow at the High Priest's servant and cut off his right ear. 022:051 "Permit me thus far," said Jesus. And He touched the ear and healed it. 022:052 Then Jesus said to the High Priests and Commanders of the Temple and Elders, who had come to arrest Him, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and cudgels? 022:053 While day after day I was with you in the Temple, you did not lay hands upon me; but to you belongs this hour— and the power of darkness." 022:054 And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the High Priest's house, while Peter followed a good way behind. 022:055 And when they had lighted a fire in the middle of the court and had seated themselves in a group round it, Peter was sitting among them, 022:056 when a maidservant saw him sitting by the fire, and, looking fixedly at him, she said, "This man also was with him." 022:057 But he denied it, and declared, "Woman, I do not know him." 022:058 Shortly afterwards a man saw him and said, "You, too, are one of them." "No, man, I am not," said Peter. 022:059 After an interval of about an hour some one else stoutly maintained: "Certainly this fellow also was with him, for in fact he is a Galilaean." 022:060 "Man, I don't know what you mean," replied Peter. No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed. 022:061 The Master turned and looked on Peter; and Peter recollected the Master's words, how He had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times." 022:062 And he went out and wept aloud bitterly. 022:063 Meanwhile the men who held Jesus in custody repeatedly beat Him in cruel sport, 022:064 or blindfolded Him, and then challenged Him. "Prove to us," they said, "that you are a prophet, by telling us who it was that struck you." 022:065 And they said many other insulting things to Him. 022:066 As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him, 022:067 "Are you the Christ? Tell us." "If I tell you," He replied, "you will certainly not believe; 022:068 and if I ask you questions, you will certainly not answer. 022:069 But from this time forward the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God's omnipotence." 022:070 Thereupon they cried out with one voice, "You, then, are the Son of God?" "It is as you say," He answered; "I am He." 022:071 "What need have we of further evidence?" they said; "for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips." 023:001 Then the whole assembly rose and brought Him to Pilate, and began to accuse Him. 023:002 "We have found this man," they said, "an agitator among our nation, forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar, and claiming to be himself an anointed king." 023:003 Then Pilate asked Him, "You, then, are the King of the Jews?" "It is as you say," He replied. 023:004 Pilate said to the High Priests and to the crowd, "I can find no crime in this man." 023:005 But they violently insisted. "He stirs up the people," they said, "throughout all Judaea with His teaching—even from Galilee (where He first started) to this city." 023:006 On hearing this, Pilate inquired, "Is this man a Galilaean?" 023:007 And learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod, for he too was in Jerusalem at that time. 023:008 To Herod the sight of Jesus was a great gratification, for, for a long time, he had been wanting to see Him, because he had heard so much about Him. He hoped also to see some miracle performed by Him. 023:009 So he put a number of questions to Him, but Jesus gave him no reply. 023:010 Meanwhile the High Priests and the Scribes were standing there and vehemently accusing Him. 023:011 Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) made sport of Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous costume, and sent Him back to Pilate. 023:012 And on that very day Herod and Pilate became friends again, for they had been for some time at enmity. 023:013 Then calling together the High Priests and the Rulers and the people, Pilate said, 023:014 "You have brought this man to me on a charge of corrupting the loyalty of the people. But, you see, I have examined him in your presence and have discovered in the man no ground for the accusations which you bring against him. 023:015 No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death. 023:016 I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him." 023:017 [] 023:018 Then the whole multitude burst out into a shout. "Away with this man," they said, "and release Barabbas to us" 023:019 —Barabbas! who had been lodged in jail for some time in connexion with a riot which had occurred in the city, and for murder. 023:020 But Pilate once more addressed them, wishing to set Jesus free. 023:021 They, however, persistently shouted, "Crucify, crucify him!" 023:022 A third time he appealed to them: "Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him." 023:023 But they urgently insisted, demanding with frantic outcries that He should be crucified; and their clamour prevailed. 023:024 So Pilate gave judgement, yielding to their demand. 023:025 The man who was lying in prison charged with riot and murder and for whom they clamoured he set free, but Jesus he gave up to be dealt with as they desired. 023:026 As soon as they led Him away, they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenaean, who was coming in from the country, and on his shoulders they put the cross, for him to carry it behind Jesus. 023:027 A vast crowd of the people also followed Him, and of women who were beating their breasts and wailing for Him. 023:028 But Jesus turned towards them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 023:029 For a time is coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the women who never bore children, and the breasts which have never given nourishment.' 023:030 Then will they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;' and to the hills, 'Cover us.' 023:031 For if they are doing these things in the case of the green tree, what will be done in that of the dry?" 023:032 They brought also two others, criminals, to put them to death with Him. 023:033 When they reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they nailed Him to the cross, and the criminals also, one at His right hand and one at His left. 023:034 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." And they divided His garments among them, drawing lots for them; 023:035 and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. "This fellow," they said, "saved others: let him save himself, if he is God's Anointed, the Chosen One." 023:036 And the soldiers also made sport of Him, coming and offering Him sour wine and saying, 023:037 "Are *you* the King of the Jews? Save yourself, then!" 023:038 There was moreover a writing over His head: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 023:039 Now one of the criminals who had been crucified insulted Him, saying, "Are not you the Christ? Save yourself and us." 023:040 But the other, answering, reproved him. "Do you also not fear God," he said, "when you are actually suffering the same punishment? 023:041 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving due requital for what we have done. But He has done nothing amiss." 023:042 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom." 023:043 "I tell you in solemn truth," replied Jesus, "that this very day you shall be with me in Paradise." 023:044 It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon. 023:045 The sun was darkened, and the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn down the middle, 023:046 and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and said, "Father, to Thy hands I entrust my spirit." And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit. 023:047 The Captain, seeing what had happened, gave glory to God, saying, "Beyond question this man was innocent." 023:048 And all the crowds that had come together to this sight, after seeing all that had occurred, returned to the city beating their breasts. 023:049 But all His acquaintances, and the women who had been His followers after leaving Galilee, continued standing at a distance and looking on. 023:050 There was a member of the Council of the name of Joseph, a kind-hearted and upright man, 023:051 who came from the Jewish town of Arimathaea and was awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of God. He had not concurred in the design or action of the Council, 023:052 and now he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 023:053 Then, taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen sheet and laid it in a tomb in the rock, where no one else had yet been put. 023:054 It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was near at hand. 023:055 The women—those who had come with Jesus from Galilee— followed close behind, and saw the tomb and how His body was placed. 023:056 Then they returned, and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested in obedience to the Commandment. 024:001 And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. 024:002 But they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, 024:003 and on entering they found that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. 024:004 At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning. 024:005 The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living? 024:006 He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 024:007 when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 024:008 Then they remembered His words, 024:009 and returning from the tomb they reported all this to the Eleven and to all the rest. 024:010 The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and they and the rest of the women related all this to the Apostles. 024:011 But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women. 024:012 Peter, however, rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw nothing but the linen cloths: so he went away to his own home, wondering at what had happened. 024:013 On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem, 024:014 and were conversing about all these recent events; 024:015 and, in the midst of their conversation and discussion, Jesus Himself came and joined them, 024:016 though they were prevented from recognizing Him. 024:017 "What is the subject," He asked them, "on which you are talking so earnestly, as you walk?" And they stood still, looking full of sorrow. 024:018 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered, "Are you a stranger lodging alone in Jerusalem, that you have known nothing of the things that have lately happened in the city?" 024:019 "What things?" He asked. "The things about Jesus the Nazarene," they said, "who was a Prophet powerful in work and word before God and all the people; 024:020 and how our High Priests and Rulers delivered Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him. 024:021 But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened. 024:022 And, besides, some of the women of our company have amazed us. They went to the tomb at daybreak, 024:023 and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 024:024 Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see." 024:025 "O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! 024:026 Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?" 024:027 And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself. 024:028 When they had come near the village to which they were going, He appeared to be going further. 024:029 But they pressed Him to remain with them. "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over." So He went in to stay with them. 024:030 But as soon as He had sat down with them, and had taken the bread and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them, 024:031 their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. But He vanished from them. 024:032 "Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?" 024:033 So they rose and without an hour's delay returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and the rest met together, who said to them, 024:034 "Yes, it is true: the Master has come back to life. He has been seen by Simon." 024:035 Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 024:036 While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!" 024:037 Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; 024:038 but He said to them, "Why such alarm? And why are there such questionings in your minds? 024:039 See my hands and my feet—it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have." 024:040 And then He showed them His hands and His feet. 024:041 But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, "Have you any food here?" 024:042 And they gave Him a piece of roasted fish, 024:043 and He took it and ate it in their presence. 024:044 And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you—that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me." 024:045 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 024:046 and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead; 024:047 and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. 024:048 You are witnesses as to these things. 024:049 And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 024:050 And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them. 024:051 And while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. 024:052 They worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 024:053 Afterwards they were continually in attendance at the Temple, blessing God.

THE END