# verses

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Then he brought John's <n>{Lit. his}</n> head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 


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When John's <n>{Lit. his}</n> disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb. 


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<n>{Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)}</n> d The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 


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He told them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest for a while," because so many people were coming and going <n>{The Gk. lacks and going}</n> that they didn't even have time to eat. 


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But when many people saw them leave and recognized them, they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 


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When he got out of the boat, <n>{The Gk. lacks of the boat}</n> he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things. 


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When it was quite late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and it's already late. 


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Send the crowds <n>{Lit. them}</n> away so that they can go to the neighboring farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 


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But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Should we go and buy 200 denarii <n>{The denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer.}</n> worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" 


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He asked them, "How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see." They found out and told him, "Five loaves <n>{The Gk. lacks loaves}</n> and two fish." 


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Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. <n>{Lit. before them}</n> He also divided the two fish among them all. 


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<n>{Jesus Walks on the Sea}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:16-21)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> immediately had his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him, while he sent the crowd away. 


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He saw that his disciples <n>{Lit. that they}</n> were straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn <n>{Lit. In the fourth watch of the night}</n> he came to them, walking on the sea. He intended to go up right beside them, 


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All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately he told them, "Have courage! It is I. Stop being afraid!" 


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Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples <n>{Lit. They}</n> were utterly astounded, 


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because they didn't understand the significance of the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. 


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<n>{Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:34-36)}</n> d When they had crossed over, they came ashore at Gennesaret and anchored the boat. 


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They ran all over the countryside and began carrying the sick on their mats to any place where they heard he was. 


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Wherever he went, whether into villages, towns, or farms, people <n>{Lit. they}</n> would place their sick in the marketplaces and beg him to let them touch even the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was healed. 


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<n>{Jesus Challenges the Tradition of the Elders}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 15:1-20)}</n> d The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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They noticed that some of his disciples were eating <n>{Lit. eating bread}</n> with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. 


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(The Pharisees and indeed all the Jewish people don't eat unless they wash their hands properly, <n>{Lit. with a fist}</n> following the tradition of their elders. 


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They don't eat anything from the marketplace unless they dip it in water. They also observe many other traditions, such as the proper washing of washing cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.) <n>{Other mss. lack and dinner tables}</n> 


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So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat <n>{Lit. eat bread}</n> with unclean hands." 


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He told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites. As it is written, «These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 


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Then he told them, "You have such a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your own tradition! 


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Because Moses said, «Honor your father and your mother,'<n>{Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16}</n> and, «Whoever curses his father or mother must certainly be put to death.'<n>{Exod 21:17; Lev 20:9}</n> 


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But you say, «If anyone tells his father or mother, "Whatever support you might have received from me is Corban,"' (that is, an offering to God) 


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You are destroying the word of God through your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many other things like that." 


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Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes a person unclean. 


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He asked them, "Are you so ignorant? Don't you know that nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean? 


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Because it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then into the sewer, <n>{Or drain}</n> thereby expelling <n>{7:19Or cleansing from ; the Gk. lacks thereby}</n> all foods." 


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because it's from within, from the human heart, that evil thoughts come, as well as sexual immorality, stealing, murder, 


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adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, slander, <n>{Or blasphemy}</n> arrogance, and foolishness. 


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<n>{A Canaanite Woman's Faith}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 15:21-28)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> left that place and went to the territory of Tyre and Sidon. <n>{Other mss. lack and Sidon}</n> He went into a house, not wanting anyone to know he was there. However, it couldn't be kept a secret. 


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In fact, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him and came and fell down at his feet. 


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Now the woman happened to be a Greek, born in Phoenicia in Syria. She kept asking him to drive the demon out of her daughter. 


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But he kept telling her, "First let the children be filled. It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the puppies." 


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But she answered him, "Yes, <n>{Other mss. lack Yes}</n> Lord. Yet even the puppies under the table eat some of the children's crumbs." 


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<n>{Jesus Heals a Deaf Man with a Speech Impediment}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> left the territory of Tyre and passed through Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the territory of the Decapolis. <n>{Lit. the Ten Cities, a loose federation of ten cities strongly influenced by Greek culture}</n> 


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Some people <n>{Lit. They}</n> brought him a deaf man who also had a speech impediment. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> took him away from the crowd to be alone with him. Putting his fingers into the man's <n>{Lit. his}</n> ears, he touched the man's <n>{Lit. his}</n> tongue with saliva. 


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Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and told him, "Ephphatha," <n>{ Ephphatha is Heb./Aram. for Be opened!}</n> that is, "Be opened!" 


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The man's <n>{Lit. his}</n> hearing and speech were restored at once, and he began to talk normally. 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> ordered the people <n>{Lit. them}</n> not to tell anyone, but the more he kept ordering them, the more they kept spreading the news. 


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Amazed beyond measure, they kept on saying, "He does everything well! He even makes deaf people hear and mute people talk!" 


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<n>{Jesus Feeds More than Four Thousand People}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 15:32-39)}</n> d At that time, after a large crowd again had gathered together with nothing to eat, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> called his disciples and told them, 


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"I have compassion for the crowd because they have already been with me for three days and have nothing to eat. 


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If I send them away to their homes hungry, they will faint on the road. Some of them have come a long distance." 


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His disciples answered him, "Where could anyone get enough bread to feed these people out here in the wilderness?" 


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So he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and gave thanks. He broke them in pieces and kept giving them to his disciples to distribute. So they served them to the crowd. 


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They also had a few small fish. He blessed them and said that the fish <n>{Lit. these}</n> should also be distributed. 


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The people <n>{Lit. They}</n> ate and were filled. Then the disciples <n>{Lit. they}</n> picked up the leftover pieces seven large baskets full. 


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Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. <n>{Other mss. read Mageda ; still other mss. read Magdala}</n> 


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<n>{Interpreting the Time}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:1-4; Luke 12:54-56)}</n> d The Pharisees arrived and began arguing with Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> They tested him by demanding from him a sign from heaven. 


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He sighed deeply in his spirit and remarked, "Why do those living today <n>{Lit. Why does this generation}</n> demand a sign? I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, no sign will be given to this generation." 


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<n>{The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:5-12)}</n> d Now the disciples <n>{Lit. they}</n> had forgotten to take any bread along, but they had one loaf with them in the boat. 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> had been warning them, "Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!" <n>{Other mss. read of the Herodians}</n> 


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Knowing this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you don't have any bread? Don't you understand or perceive yet? Are your hearts hardened? 


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Do you have eyes but fail to see? Do you have ears but fail to hear? <n>{Jer 5:21}</n> Don't you remember? 


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When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces?" They told him, "Twelve." 


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"When I broke <n>{The Gk. lacks I broke}</n> the seven loaves <n>{The Gk. lacks loaves}</n> for the 4,000, how many large baskets did you fill with the leftover pieces?" They told him, "Seven." 


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<n>{Jesus Heals a Blind Man in Bethsaida}</n> d As they came to Bethsaida, some people <n>{Lit. they}</n> brought a blind man to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and begged him to touch him. <n>{The Gk. lacks him}</n> 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. Then he}</n> took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. He spit into his eyes, placed his hands on him, and asked him, "Do you see anything?" 


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The man <n>{Lit. He}</n> looked up and said, "I see people, but they look like trees walking around." 


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Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> placed his hands on the man's <n>{Lit. his}</n> eyes again, and he saw clearly. His sight was restored, and he saw everything perfectly even from a distance. 


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Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent him home, saying, "Don't go into the village or tell anyone in the village." <n>{Other mss. lack or tell anyone in the village}</n> 


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<n>{Peter Declares His Faith in Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:13-20; Luke 9:18-21)}</n> d Then Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he was asking his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" 


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They answered him, "Some say <n>{The Gk. lacks Some say}</n> John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the prophets." 


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Then he began to ask them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah!" <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


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<n>{Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:21-28; Luke 9:21-27)}</n> d Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man would have to suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he would be killed, but after three days he would rise again. 


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But turning and looking at his disciples, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind me, Satan, because you're not thinking God's thoughts but human thoughts!" 


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Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually, 


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because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 


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If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes with the holy angels in his Father's glory." 


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Then he told them, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, some people standing here will not experience <n>{Lit. taste}</n> death until they see the kingdom of God arrive with power." 


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<n>{Jesus'Appearance is Changed}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:1-13; Luke 9:28-36)}</n> d Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain to be alone with him. His appearance was changed in front of them, 


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and his clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone <n>{Lit. anyone who cleans}</n> on earth could bleach them. 


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Then Peter told Jesus, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters <n>{Or tents}</n> one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 


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Then a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud and said, <n>{The Gk. lacks and said}</n> "This is my Son, whom I love. Keep on listening to him!" 


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On their way down the mountain, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 


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He told them, "Elijah is indeed coming first and will restore all things. Why, then, is it written that the Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be treated shamefully? 


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But I tell you that Elijah has come, yet people <n>{Lit. they}</n> treated him just as they pleased, as it is written about him." 


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<n>{Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:14-20)}</n> d As they approached the other <n>{The Gk. lacks other}</n> disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and some scribes arguing with them. 


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A man in the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that won't let him talk. 


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Whenever it brings on a seizure, it throws him to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes stiff. So I asked your disciples to drive the spirit <n>{Lit. it}</n> out, but they didn't have the power." 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told them, "You unbelieving generation! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me!" 


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So they brought the boy <n>{Lit. him}</n> to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> it immediately threw the boy <n>{Lit. him}</n> into convulsions. He fell on the ground and kept rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 


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Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" He said, "Since he was a child. 


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The spirit <n>{Lit. It}</n> has often thrown him into fire and into water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us!" 


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With tears flowing, <n>{Other mss. lack With tears flowing}</n> the child's father at once cried out, "I do believe! Help my unbelief!" 


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When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You spirit that won't let him talk or hear I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!" 


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The spirit <n>{Lit. It}</n> screamed, shook the child <n>{The Gk. lacks the child}</n> violently, and came out. The boy was like a corpse, and many said that he was dead. 


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When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> came home, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive the spirit <n>{Lit. drive it}</n> out?" 


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He told them, "This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting." <n>{Other mss. lack and fasting}</n> 


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<n>{Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:22-23; Luke 9:43-45)}</n> d Then they left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> didn't want anyone to find out about it, 


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because he was teaching his disciples, "The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, but after being dead for three days he will be raised." 


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<n>{True Greatness}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 18:1-5; Luke 9:46-48)}</n> d Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was at home, he asked the disciples, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "What were you arguing about on the road?" 


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But they kept silent, because they had argued on the road with one another about who was the greatest. 


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So he sat down, called the Twelve, and told them, "If anyone wants to be first he must be last of all and servant of all." 


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"Whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me." 


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<n>{The True Follower of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Luke 9:49-50)}</n> d John told Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn't a follower like us." 


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But Jesus said, "Don't stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name can slander me soon afterwards. 


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I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> will never lose his reward." 


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<n>{Causing Others to Sin}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 18:6-9; Luke 17:1-2)}</n> d "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 


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So if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life injured than to have two hands and go to hell, <n>{Lit. Gehenna ; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom}</n> to the fire that cannot be put out. 


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And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. <n>{Lit. Gehenna ; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom}</n> 


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And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. <n>{Lit. Gehenna ; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom}</n> 


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Because everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be salted with salt. <n>{Other mss. lack and every sacrifice will be salted with salt}</n> 


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Salt is good. But if salt loses its taste, how can you restore its flavor? Keep on having salt among yourselves, and live in peace with one another." 


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<n>{Teaching about Divorce}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:1-12)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> left that place and went into the territory of Judea on the other side <n>{I.e. the east side}</n> of the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him as usual, and he began to teach them again as was his custom. 


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They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to divorce her." <n>{Deut 24:1, 3}</n> 


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But from the beginning of creation, «God <n>{Other mss. read He}</n> made them male and female.'<n>{Gen 1:27; 5:2}</n> 


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So he told them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 


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And if a woman <n>{Lit. she}</n> divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." 


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<n>{Jesus Blesses the Little Children}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17)}</n> d Some people <n>{Lit. They}</n> were bringing little children to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to have him touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought <n>{The Gk. lacks those who brought}</n> them. 


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When Jesus saw this, he became furious and told them, "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 


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I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 


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Then after he had hugged the children, <n>{Lit. hugged them}</n> he tenderly blessed them as he laid his hands on them. 


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<n>{A Rich Man Comes to Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 18:18-30)}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was setting out again, <n>{Lit. out on a journey}</n> a man ran up to him, knelt down in front of him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 


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You know the commandments: «Never murder.'<n>{Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17}</n> «Never commit adultery.'<n>{Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18}</n> «Never steal.'<n>{Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19}</n> «Never give false testimony.'<n>{Exod 20:16; Deut 5:20}</n> «Never cheat.'«Honor your father and mother.»" <n>{Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16}</n> 


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The man <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied to him, "Teacher, I have obeyed all of these since I was a young man." 


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Jesus looked at him and loved him. Then he told him, "You're missing one thing. Go and sell everything you own, give the money <n>{The Gk. lacks the money}</n> to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me." 


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Shocked at this statement, the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> went away sad, because he had many possessions. 


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<n>{Salvation and Reward}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:23-26; Luke 18:24-30)}</n> d Then Jesus looked around and told his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" 


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The disciples were startled by these words, but Jesus told them again, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their wealth <n>{Other mss. lack for those who trust in their wealth}</n> to get into the kingdom of God! 


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It is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God." 


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The disciples <n>{Lit. They}</n> were utterly amazed and asked one another, <n>{Other mss. read to him}</n> "Then who can be saved?" 


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Jesus looked at them intently and said, "For humans it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God." 


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Jesus said, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel 


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who will not receive a hundred times as much here in this world homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecution as well as eternal life in the age to come. 


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Now Jesus and his disciples <n>{Lit. They}</n> had been on the road going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus walking ahead of them. They were astonished, and the others who followed were afraid. <n>{Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 20:17-19; Luke 18:31-34)}</n> d Once again, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> took the Twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. 


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"See, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the high priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death. Then they will hand him over to the unbelievers, <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> 


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and they will make fun of him, spit on him, whip him, and kill him. But after three days he will be raised." 


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<n>{The Request of James and John}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 20:20-28)}</n> d James and John, the sons of Zebedee, went to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and told him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you." 


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But Jesus told them, "You don't realize what you're asking. Can you drink from the cup that I'm going to drink from or be baptized with the baptism with which I'm going to be baptized?" 


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They told him, "We can." Jesus told them, "You will drink from the cup that I'm going to drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I'm going to be baptized. 


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But it's not up to me to grant you a seat at my right or my left. Those positions have already been prepared for others." 


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When the ten other disciples <n>{The Gk. lacks other disciples}</n> heard this, they began to be furious with James and John. 


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Jesus called his disciples <n>{Lit. called them}</n> and told them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers among the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> lord it over them, and their superiors act like tyrants over them. 


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That's not the way it should be among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 


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because even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many people." 


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<n>{Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 20:29-34; Luke 18:35-43)}</n> d Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus, <n>{Lit. he}</n> his disciples, and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus) was sitting by the road. 


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When he heard that Jesus of Nazareth was there, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 


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Many people sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 


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So Jesus stopped and said, "Call him!" So they called the blind man and told him, "Have courage! Get up. He's calling you." 


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Then Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man told him, "Rabbouni, <n>{ Rabbouni is Heb. for My Master and/or Teacher}</n> I want to see again." 


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Jesus told him, "Go. Your faith has made you well." At once the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> could see again, and he began to follow Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> down the road. 


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<n>{The King Enters Jerusalem}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)}</n> d When they came near Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent two of his disciples on ahead 


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and told them, "Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you go into it, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it, and bring it along. 


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If anyone asks you, «Why are you doing this?,'say, «The Lord needs it,'and he will send it back here at once." 


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So they went and found the colt outside in the street tied up next to a doorway. While they were untying it, 


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The disciples <n>{Lit. They}</n> told them what Jesus had said, and the men <n>{Lit. they}</n> let them go. 


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Many people spread their coats on the road, while others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 


text:
Those who went ahead and those who followed him were shouting, "Hosanna! <n>{ Hosanna is Heb. for Please save or Praise.}</n> How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 


text:
How blessed is the coming kingdom <n>{Ps 148:1}</n> of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" <n>{Ps 118:25-26; Ps 148:1}</n> 


text:
Then Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the Temple and looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out with the Twelve to Bethany. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Curses a Fig Tree}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:18-19)}</n> d The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> became hungry. 


text:
Seeing in the distance a fig tree covered with leaves, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves because it wasn't the season for figs. 


text:
So he told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" Now his disciples were listening to this. 


text:
<n>{Confrontation in the Temple over Money}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:12-17; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:13-22)}</n> d When they came to Jerusalem, he went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling and those who were buying in the Temple. He overturned the moneychangers'tables and the chairs of those who sold doves. 


text:
Then he began to teach them: "It is written, is it not, «My house is to be called a house of prayer for all nations'? <n>{Isa 56:7; Jer 7:11}</n> But you have turned it into a hideout <n>{Lit. cave}</n> for bandits!" 


text:
When the high priests and elders heard this, they began to look for a way to kill him, because they were afraid of him, since the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 


text:
<n>{The Lesson from the Dried Fig Tree}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:20-22)}</n> d While they were walking along early the next morning, they saw the fig tree dried up to its roots. 


text:
Remembering what Jesus had said, <n>{The Gk. lacks what Jesus had said}</n> Peter pointed out to him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up!" 


text:
I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, if anyone says to this mountain, «Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,'if he doesn't doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 


text:
That is why I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received <n>{Other mss. read are receiving ; still other mss. read will receive}</n> it and it will be yours. 


text:
"Whenever you stand up to pray, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins. 


text:
But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins." <n>{Other mss. lack this verse}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus'Authority is Challenged}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:23-27; Luke 20:1-8)}</n> d Then they went into Jerusalem again. While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was walking in the Temple, the high priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 


text:
and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority to do them?" 


text:
Jesus told them, "I will ask you one question. <n>{Lit. one word}</n> Answer me, and then I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 


text:
Was John's authority to baptize <n>{Lit. John's baptism}</n> from heaven or from humans? Answer me." 


text:
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, «From heaven,'he will say, «Then why didn't you believe him? '


text:
But if we say, «From humans»?" They were afraid of the crowd, because everyone really thought John was a prophet. 


text:
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things." 


text:
<n>{The Parable about the Tenant Farmers}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-19)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went abroad. 


text:
At the right time, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect from them a share of the produce from the vineyard. 


text:
But the farmers <n>{Lit. they}</n> grabbed the servant, <n>{Lit. him}</n> beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. 


text:
Again, the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent another servant to them. They beat the servant <n>{Lit. him}</n> over the head and treated him shamefully. 


text:
Then the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent another, and that one they killed. So it was with many other servants. <n>{Lit. with many others}</n> Some of these they beat, and others they killed. 


text:
He still had one more person to send, <n>{The Gk. lacks more person to send}</n> a son whom he loved. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, «They will respect my son.» 


text:
But those farmers told one another, «This is the heir. Come on, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!'


text:
"Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, execute the farmers, and give the vineyard to others. 


text:
Haven't you ever read this Scripture: «The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. <n>{Or capstone}</n> 


text:
They were trying to arrest him but were afraid of the crowd. Realizing that he had spoken this parable against them, they left him alone and went away. 


text:
<n>{A Question about Paying Taxes}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26)}</n> d Then they sent some Pharisees and some Herodians <n>{I.e. Royal party sympathizers}</n> to him, intending to trap him in what he said. 


text:
They came and told him, "Teacher, we know that you are sincere. You don't favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or should we not?" 


text:
Seeing through their hypocrisy, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 


text:
So they brought one. Then he asked them, "Whose face and name are on this?" They told him, "Caesar's." 


text:
So Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him. 


text:
<n>{A Question about the Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:23-33; Luke 20:27-40)}</n> d Then some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and asked him, 


text:
"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, he should marry the widow and have children for his brother. <n>{Deut 25:5-6}</n> 


text:
In the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven had married her?" <n>{Lit. had her as wife}</n> 


text:
When people <n>{Lit. they}</n> rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 


text:
As for the dead being raised, haven't you read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said, «I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? <n>{Exod 3:6}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Greatest Commandment}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:34-40; Luke 10:25-28)}</n> d Then one of the scribes came near and heard the Sadducees <n>{Lit. heard them}</n> arguing with one another. He saw how well Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?" 


text:
and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'<n>{Deut 6:4-5}</n> 


text:
The second is this: «You must love your neighbor as yourself.'<n>{Lev 19:18}</n> No other commandment is greater than these." 


text:
Then the scribe told him, "Well said, <n>{The Gk. lacks said}</n> Teacher! You have told the truth that «God <n>{Lit. he}</n> is one, and there is no other besides him.'<n>{Deut 6:4}</n> 


text:
To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices." 


text:
When Jesus saw how wisely the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> answered, he told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him another question. 


text:
<n>{A Question about David's Son}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44)}</n> d While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> is David's son? 


text:
David himself said by the Holy Spirit, «The Lord told my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet."'<n>{Ps 110:1; other mss read until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'}</n> 


text:
David himself calls him «Lord,'so how can he be his son?" And the large crowd kept listening to him with delight. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Denounces the Scribes}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 23:1-36; Luke 20:45-47)}</n> d As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes, to be greeted in the marketplaces, 


text:
They devour widows'houses <n>{I.e. rob widows by taking their houses}</n> and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!" 


text:
<n>{The Widow's Offering}</n> <n>{ (Luke 21:1-4)}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> sat facing the offering box, he watched how the crowd was dropping their money into it. <n>{Lit. into the offering box}</n> Many rich people were dropping in large amounts. 


text:
Then a destitute widow came and dropped in two small copper coins, <n>{Lit. lepta , the smallest coin denominated in the 1 st century Jewish economy}</n> worth about a cent. <n>{Lit. quadrans , worth of the Roman assarion coin, or about 1/10 of a day's wage}</n> 


text:
He called his disciples and told them, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, this destitute widow has dropped in more than everyone who is contributing to the offering box, 


text:
because all of them contributed out of their surplus, but out of her poverty she has given everything she had to live on." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:1-2; Luke 21:5-6)}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was leaving the Temple, one of his disciples told him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what beautiful buildings!" 


text:
"Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down." 


text:
<n>{Cults, Revolutions, Famines, and Earthquakes}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:3-14; Luke 21:7-19)}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was sitting on the Mount of Olives facing the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew were asking him privately, 


text:
"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when these things will be put into effect?" 


text:
Many will come in my name and say, «I AM,'and they will deceive many people. <n>{The Gk. lacks people}</n> 


text:
But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, stop being alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, 


text:
because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes and famines in various places. These things are only the beginning of the birth pains." 


text:
<n>{Future Persecution and Evangelism}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:16-25; Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 21:12-19)}</n> d "As for yourselves, be on your guard! People <n>{Lit. They}</n> will hand you over to local councils, and you will be beaten in their synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings to testify to them because of me. 


text:
"When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 


text:
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 


text:
You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved." 


text:
<n>{Signs of the End}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:15-28; Luke 21:20-24)}</n> d "So when you see the destructive desecration standing where it should not be (let the reader take note) , <n>{Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11}</n> then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 


text:
The one who is on his housetop must not come down and go into his house to take anything out of it, 


text:
because those days will be a time of suffering, <n>{Or tribulation}</n> a kind that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and certainly will never happen again. 


text:
If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect whom he has chosen, he has shortened those days. 


text:
"At that time, if anyone says to you, «Look! Here is the Messiah!', <n>{Or Christ}</n> or, «Look! There he is!', don't believe it, 


text:
because false messiahs <n>{Or christs}</n> and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect. 


text:
<n>{The Coming of the Son of Man}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:29-31; Luke 21:25-28)}</n> d "But after the suffering of those days, «The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, 


text:
the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.'<n>{Isa 13:10; 34:4; Joel 2:10}</n> 


text:
Then people <n>{Lit. they}</n> will see «the Son of Man coming in clouds'<n>{Dan 7:13}</n> with great power and glory. 


text:
He will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven." 


text:
<n>{The Lesson from the Fig Tree}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:32-35; Luke 21:29-33)}</n> d "Now learn a lesson <n>{Or parable}</n> from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 


text:
In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man <n>{Lit. that he}</n> is near, right at the door. 


text:
I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 


text:
<n>{The Unknown Day and Hour of the Messiah's Return}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:36-44)}</n> d "No one knows when that day or hour will come <n>{Lit. about that day and hour}</n> not the angels in heaven, not the Son, but only the Father. 


text:
It's like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge, each with his own work, and he ordered the doorkeeper to be alert. 


text:
So keep on watching, because you don't know when the master of the house is coming whether in the evening, at three o'clock in the morning, <n>{Lit. at cock crow}</n> or at dawn. 


text:
<n>{The Plot to Kill Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:1-5; Luke 22:1-2; John 11:45-53)}</n> d Now it was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus secretly and to have him put to death, 


text:
because they kept saying, "This must not happen during the festival. Otherwise, there'll be a riot among the people." 


text:
<n>{A Woman Anoints Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:6-13; John 12:1-8)}</n> d While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was in Bethany sitting at the table in the home of Simon the leper, a woman arrived with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume made from pure nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume on his head. 


text:
This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii <n>{A denarius was the average day's wage for a laborer.}</n> and the money <n>{The Gk. lacks the money}</n> given to the destitute." So they got extremely angry with her. 


text:
But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me, 


text:
because you will always have the destitute with you and can help them whenever you want, but you will not always have me. 


text:
I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told as a memorial to her." 


text:
<n>{Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:14-16; Luke 22:3-6)}</n> d Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to them. 


text:
After they had listened to him, <n>{The Gk. lacks to him}</n> they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began to look for a good opportunity to betray him. 


text:
<n>{The Passover with the Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:17-25; Luke 22:7-14, 21-23; John 13:21-30)}</n> d On the first day of the Festival <n>{The Gk. lacks of the Festival}</n> of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover meal?" 


text:
He sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jug of water. Follow him. 


text:
When he goes into a house, <n>{Lit. Wherever he enters}</n> say to its owner that the Teacher asks, «Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?» 


text:
Then he will show you a large upstairs room that is furnished and ready. Get everything ready for us there." 


text:
So the disciples left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 


text:
While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, one of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me." 


text:
For the Son of Man is going away, just as it has been written about him, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had never been born." 


text:
<n>{The Lord's Supper}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:26-30; Luke 22:15-20)}</n> d While they were eating, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> took a loaf of bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and handed it to them, saying, "Take some. This is my body." 


text:
I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, I will never again drink the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:31-35; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:36-38)}</n> d Then Jesus told them, "All of you will turn against me, because it is written, «I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'<n>{Zech 13:7}</n> 


text:
Jesus told him, "I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> with certainty, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." 


text:
But Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> kept saying emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the others kept saying the same thing. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Prays in the Garden of Gethsemane}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46)}</n> d Then they came to a place called Gethsemane, and he told his disciples, "Sit down here while I pray." 


text:
Going on a little farther, he fell to the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. 


text:
He kept repeating, "Abba! <n>{ Abba is Heb./Aram. for Father}</n> Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want but what you want." 


text:
When he went back, he found his disciples <n>{Lit. found them}</n> asleep. "Simon, are you asleep?" he asked Peter. "You couldn't stay awake for one hour, could you? 


text:
Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him. 


text:
He came back a third time. "Are you still sleeping and resting?" <n>{Or You might as well keep on sleeping and resting.}</n> he asked. "Enough of that! The time has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Arrested}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:47-56; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-12)}</n> d Just then, while Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd armed with swords and clubs was with him. They were from the high priests, the scribes, and the elders. 


text:
Now the betrayer personally had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss <n>{People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.}</n> is the man. Arrest him, and lead him safely away." 


text:
So Judas <n>{Lit. he}</n> immediately went up to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and said, "Rabbi," <n>{Other mss. read Rabbi, Rabbi. The word is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> and kissed him tenderly. 


text:
But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. 


text:
Jesus asked them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a bandit? <n>{Or revolutionary}</n> 


text:
Day after day I was with you in the Temple teaching, yet you didn't arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 


text:
<n>{The Young Man who Ran Away}</n> d A certain young man, who was wearing nothing but a linen sheet, was following Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> When the men <n>{Lit. they}</n> grabbed him, 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Tried before the High Priest}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:57-68; Luke 22:54-55; John 18:13-14, 19-24)}</n> d Then they took Jesus to the high priest. All the high priests, elders, and scribes had gathered together. 


text:
Peter followed Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire. 


text:
Meanwhile, the high priests and the whole Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> were looking for some testimony against Jesus in order to have him put to death, but they couldn't find any. 


text:
"We ourselves heard him say, «I will destroy this sanctuary made by human <n>{The Gk. lacks human}</n> hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human <n>{The Gk. lacks human}</n> hands.» " 


text:
Then the high priest stood up before them <n>{Lit. in the middle}</n> and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men are testifying against you?" 


text:
But he kept silent and didn't answer at all. The high priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> the Son of the Blessed One?" 


text:
Jesus said, "I AM, and «you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power'<n>{Ps 110:1}</n> and «coming with the clouds of heaven.»" <n>{Dan 7:13}</n> 


text:
"You have heard his blasphemy! What is your verdict?" All of them condemned him as deserving death. 


text:
Some of them began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and kept hitting him with their fists and telling him, "Prophesy!" Even the servants took him and slapped him around. 


text:
<n>{Peter Denies Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:56-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27)}</n> d While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant girls came by. 


text:
When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth." 


text:
But he denied it, saying, "I don't know or even understand what you're talking about!" Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed. <n>{Other mss. lack Just then a rooster crowed}</n> 


text:
Again he denied it. After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, "Obviously you're one of them, because you are a Galilean!" 


text:
Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, "I don't know this man you're talking about!" 


text:
Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus told him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." Then he broke down and cried. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Taken to Pilate}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:28-38)}</n> d As soon as it was morning, the high priests convened a meeting with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> They bound Jesus with chains, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 


text:
Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> answered him, "You say so." 


text:
So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Sentenced to Death}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:15-26; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:39-19:16)}</n> d At every festival, <n>{I.e. Passover}</n> Pilate <n>{Lit. he}</n> would release any one prisoner whom the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> requested. 


text:
Now there was a man in prison named Barabbas. He had been with the insurgents who had committed murder during the rebellion. 


text:
So the crowd came and began to request that Pilate <n>{The Gk. lacks Pilate}</n> do for them what he always did. <n>{I.e. release one condemned prisoner during Passover}</n> 


text:
So Pilate asked them again, "Then what should I do with the man you call <n>{Other mss. lack the man you call}</n> «the King of the Jews'?" 


text:
So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified. 


text:
<n>{The Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:27-31; John 19:2-3)}</n> d The soldiers led Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters) <n>{Lit. praetorium}</n> and called out the whole guard. 


text:
They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted some thorns into a victor's crown, and placed it on his head. <n>{Lit. on him}</n> 


text:
They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, kneeling in front of him, and worshiping him. 


text:
When they had finished making fun of him, they stripped him of the purple robe, put his own clothes back on him, and led him away to crucify him. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Crucified}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:32-44; Luke 23:26-43; John 19:17-27)}</n> d They forced a certain passer-by named <n>{The Gk. lacks named}</n> Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who happened to be coming in from the country, to carry Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> cross. 


text:
Then they crucified him. They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get. 


text:
They crucified two bandits <n>{Or revolutionaries}</n> with him, one on his right and the other on his left. <n>{Other mss. read on his left.}</n> 


text:
Those who passed by kept insulting <n>{Or blaspheming}</n> him, shaking their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who were going to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days 


text:
In the same way, the high priests, along with the scribes, were also making fun of him among themselves. They kept saying, "He saved others but can't save himself! 


text:
Let the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, since seeing is believing!" Even the men who were crucified with him kept insulting him. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Dies on the Cross}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:45-56; Luke 23:44-49; John 19:28-30)}</n> d At noon, <n>{Lit. At the sixth hour}</n> darkness came over the whole land <n>{Or earth}</n> until three in the afternoon. <n>{Lit. the ninth hour}</n> 


text:
At three o'clock, <n>{Lit. the ninth hour}</n> Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, eloi, <n>{Eloi, eloi are Gk. transliterations for the Heb. My God, my God in Ps 22:1}</n> lema sabachthani?" , <n>{ lema sabachthani is a Gk. transliteration for the Aram. rendering of the Heb. in Ps 22:1, which means Why have you forsaken me?}</n> which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" <n>{Ps 22:1}</n> 


text:
When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "Listen! He's calling for Elijah!" <n>{ Elijah in Heb. sounds like Eloi .}</n> 


text:
So someone ran and soaked a sponge in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> a drink, saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down!" 


text:
The curtain <n>{This curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.}</n> in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 


text:
When the centurion <n>{A Roman centurion commanded about 100 men.}</n> who stood facing Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> saw how he had cried out and <n>{Other mss. lack cried out and}</n> breathed his last, he said, "This man certainly was the Son of God!" 


text:
Now there were women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> Mary the mother of young James and Joseph, and Salome. 


text:
They used to accompany him and care for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with him were there, too. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Buried}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:57-61; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42)}</n> d It was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath. Since it was already evening, 


text:
Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Council, <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> who was waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 


text:
Pilate was amazed to hear <n>{The Gk. lacks to hear}</n> that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had already died, so he summoned the centurion to ask him if he was in fact dead. 


text:
Joseph <n>{Lit. He}</n> bought some linen cloth, took the body <n>{Lit. it}</n> down, wrapped it in the cloth, laid it in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 


text:
Now Mary Magdalene <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> and Mary the mother of Joseph observed where the body <n>{Lit. where it}</n> had been laid. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Raised from the Dead}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10)}</n> d When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Very early on the first day of the week, <n>{Lit. first of the Sabbaths}</n> when the sun had just come up, they were going to the tomb. 


text:
They kept saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 


text:
As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were utterly astonished. 


text:
But he told them, "Stop being astonished! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 


text:
But go and tell his disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." 


text:
So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid. <n>{Some mss. end Mark here; others include verses 9-20. Some mss. conclude the book with the following shorter ending (others include the shorter ending and then continue with verses 9-20): They reported to those who were with Peter everything they had been commanded. After this, Jesus sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and indestructible message of eternal salvation. Amen.}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:9-10; John 20:11-18)}</n> d After Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had risen early on the first day of that week, <n>{Lit. first Sabbath}</n> he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> from whom he had driven out seven demons. 


text:
She went and told those who had been with Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and who now were grieving and crying. 


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When they heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, they refused to believe Mary. <n>{Lit. her}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to Two Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Luke 24:13-35)}</n> d After this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> appeared in a different form to two disciples <n>{Lit. two of them}</n> as they were walking into the country. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Commissions His Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:36-49; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8)}</n> d Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples <n>{The Gk. lacks disciples}</n> while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen. 


text:
Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone. <n>{Lit. to the whole creation}</n> 


text:
"These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; <n>{Other mss. lack with their hands}</n> 


text:
they will pick up snakes with their hands; <n>{Or new tongues}</n> even if they drink any deadly poison it will not hurt them; and they will place their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 


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<n>{Jesus is Taken Up to Heaven}</n> <n>{ (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11)}</n> d So the Lord Jesus, <n>{Other mss. lack Jesus}</n> after talking with his disciples, <n>{Lit. with them}</n> was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 


text:
Then his disciples <n>{Lit. Then they}</n> went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it. 


text:
<n>{ The Gospel According to}</n> <n>{ Luke}</n> d <n>{Luke's Dedication to Theophilus}</n> d Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us, 


text:
just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, 


text:
I, too, have carefully investigated everything from the beginning and have decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 


text:
<n>{The Birth of John the Baptist is Foretold}</n> d In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 


text:
Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 


text:
They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old. <n>{Lit. were advancing in their days}</n> 


text:
he was chosen by lot to go into the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense, according to the custom of the priests. 


text:
But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. 


text:
You will have great joy, <n>{Lit. have joy and gladness}</n> and many people will rejoice at his birth, 


text:
because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 


text:
He is the one who will go before the Lord <n>{Lit. before him}</n> with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and to prepare the people to be ready for the Lord." 


text:
Then Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this, since I am an old man, and my wife is getting older?" <n>{Lit. is advancing in her days}</n> 


text:
The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. I have been sent to speak to you and to announce this good news to you. 


text:
But because you did not believe my announcement, which will be fulfilled at its proper time, <n>{Lit. in their times}</n> you will become silent and unable to speak until the day this happens." 


text:
Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long. 


text:
But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak. 


text:
After this, <n>{Lit. After those days}</n> his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and remained in seclusion for five months. She said, 


text:
"This is what the Lord did for me when he looked favorably on me and took away my public disgrace." 


text:
<n>{The Birth of Jesus is Foretold}</n> d Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, <n>{The Gk. lacks of her pregnancy}</n> the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 


text:
to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant <n>{Lit. of the house}</n> of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 


text:
The angel <n>{Lit. He}</n> came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!" <n>{Other mss. read is with you! How blessed are you among women!}</n> 


text:
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 


text:
Mary asked the angel, "How can this happen, since I have not had relations with <n>{Lit. I have not known}</n> a man?" 


text:
The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God. 


text:
And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month. 


text:
Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her. 


text:
<n>{Mary Visits Elizabeth}</n> d Later on, <n>{Lit. In those days}</n> Mary set out for a Judean city in the hill country. 


text:
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 


text:
and she loudly exclaimed, "How blessed are you among women, and how blessed is the infant in <n>{Lit. the fruit of}</n> your womb! 


text:
How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!" 


text:
because he has looked favorably on his humble servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed, 


text:
He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart. <n>{Lit. in the mind of their heart}</n> 


text:
according to the promise he made <n>{Lit. just as he spoke}</n> to our ancestors to Abraham and his descendants forever." 


text:
<n>{The Birth of John the Baptist}</n> d When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. 


text:
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 


text:
On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father, 


text:
Suddenly, Zechariah could open his mouth, <n>{Lit. his mouth was opened}</n> his tongue was set free, and he began to speak and to praise God. 


text:
Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed. 


text:
Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him. 


text:
<n>{The Prophecy of Zechariah}</n> d Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: 


text:
He has raised up a mighty Savior <n>{Lit. a horn of salvation}</n> for us from the family of his servant David, 


text:
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, because you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way 


text:
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." 


text:
Now the child continued to grow and to become spiritually strong. <n>{Or become strong in the Spirit}</n> He lived in the wilderness until the day he appeared in Israel. 


text:
<n>{The Birth of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 1:18-25)}</n> d Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered. 


text:
Joseph, too, went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was a descendant <n>{The Gk. lacks a descendant}</n> of the household and family of David. 


text:
He went there <n>{The Gk. lacks He went there}</n> to be registered with Mary, who had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. 


text:
and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters. 


text:
<n>{The Shepherds Visit Jesus}</n> d In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night. 


text:
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 


text:
Then the angel told them, "Stop being afraid! Listen! I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. 


text:
And this will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a feeding trough." 


text:
"Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!" <n>{Other mss. read peace on earth, and favor to people}</n> 


text:
When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about." 


text:
Then the shepherds returned to their flock, <n>{The Gk. lacks to their flock}</n> glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Circumcised}</n> d After eight days had passed, the infant <n>{Lit. he}</n> was circumcised and named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Presented in the Temple}</n> d When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary <n>{Lit. they}</n> took Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 


text:
as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn son is to be designated as holy to the Lord." <n>{Exod 13:2, 12, 15}</n> 


text:
They also offered a sacrifice according to what is specified in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." <n>{Lev 12:8}</n> 


text:
Now a man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel, <n>{Lit. for the comfort of Israel}</n> and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 


text:
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die <n>{Lit. see death}</n> until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
Led <n>{The Gk. lacks Led}</n> by the Spirit, he went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the Law, 


text:
a light that will reveal salvation <n>{Lit. a light for revelation}</n> to unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> and bring glory to your people Israel." 


text:
Then Simeon <n>{Lit. he}</n> blessed them and told Mary, his mother, "This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed. 


text:
Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed." 


text:
Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 


text:
and then as a widow for 84 years. She never left the Temple, but continued to worship there night and day with times of fasting and prayer. 


text:
Just then she came forward and began to thank God and to speak about Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. 


text:
<n>{The Return to Nazareth}</n> d After doing everything required by the Law of the Lord, Joseph and Mary <n>{Lit. they}</n> returned to their hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. 


text:
Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor rested upon him. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Visits the Temple}</n> d Every year Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> parents would go to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 


text:
When the days of the festival <n>{The Gk. lacks of the festival}</n> were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 


text:
They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 


text:
Three days later, they found him in the Temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them. 


text:
When Jesus'parents <n>{Lit. they}</n> saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!" 


text:
He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?" <n>{Or about my Father's work}</n> 


text:
Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart. 


text:
<n>{John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-28)}</n> d Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 


text:
and Annas and Caiaphas high priests, a message from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 


text:
John <n>{Lit. He}</n> went throughout the entire Jordan region, proclaiming a baptism about repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 


text:
as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: «Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight! 


text:
Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked ways will be made straight, and the rough roads will be made smooth. 


text:
Everyone <n>{Lit. All flesh}</n> will see the salvation that God has provided.»" <n>{Isa 40:3-5}</n> 


text:
John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 


text:
Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, «We have father Abraham!'because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones! 


text:
The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire." 


text:
He answered them, "The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn't have any, and the person who has food must do the same." 


text:
Even some soldiers were asking him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Never extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay." 


text:
Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
John replied to all of them, "I am baptizing you with <n>{Or in}</n> water, but one is coming who is more powerful than I, and I'm not worthy to untie his sandal straps. It is he who will baptize you with <n>{Or in}</n> the Holy Spirit and fire. 


text:
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor. He will gather the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with inextinguishable fire." 


text:
With many other exhortations John <n>{Lit. he}</n> continued to proclaim the good news to the people. 


text:
Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John <n>{Lit. him}</n> because he had married <n>{Lit. because of}</n> his brother's wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Baptized}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11)}</n> d When all the people had been baptized, Jesus, too, was baptized. While he was praying, heaven opened, 


text:
and the Holy Spirit descended on him, appearing in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, <n>{The Gk. lacks saying}</n> "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you!" <n>{Other mss. read You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Ancestry of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 1:1-17)}</n> d Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. <n>{The Gk. lacks his ministry}</n> He was (so it was thought) <n>{Or was (as legally calculated) ; i.e. in conformity to genealogy reckonings then in effect}</n> the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 


text:
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, <n>{Or Shealtiel ; cf. 1Chr 3:17; Ezra 3:2,8; 5:2; Neh 12:1; Matt 1:12}</n> the son of Neri, 


text:
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, <n>{Other mss. read Sala}</n> the son of Nahshon, 


text:
the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 


text:
the son of Cainan, <n>{The inclusion of Cainan here follows the LXX; cf. Gen 10:4,24; 11:12-13; 1Chron 1:7}</n> the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 


text:
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Tempted by Satan}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13)}</n> d Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. <n>{The Gk. lacks River}</n> He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 


text:
where he was being tempted by the devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry. 


text:
The devil told him, "Since <n>{Or "If, as is the case,}</n> you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread." 


text:
Jesus answered him, "It is written, «One must not live on bread alone, but on every word of God.»" <n>{Deut 8:3; Other mss. lack but on every word of God}</n> 


text:
The devil <n>{Lit. He}</n> also took him to a high place <n>{Lit. took him up}</n> and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 


text:
He told Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 


text:
But Jesus answered him, "It is written, «You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.»" <n>{Deut 6:13}</n> 


text:
The devil <n>{Lit. He}</n> also took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. He told Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Since <n>{Or "If, as is the case,}</n> you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 


text:
because it is written, «God <n>{Lit. He}</n> will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. 


text:
With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.»" <n>{Ps 91:11-12}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15)}</n> d Then Jesus returned to Galilee by the power of the Spirit. Meanwhile, the news about him spread throughout the surrounding country. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> came to Nazareth, where he had been raised. As was his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. When he stood up to read, 


text:
the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, 


text:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has anointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set oppressed people free, 


text:
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. While the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him, 


text:
he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud." <n>{Lit. fulfilled in your ears}</n> 


text:
All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, "This is Joseph's son, isn't it?" 


text:
So he told them, "You will probably quote this proverb to me, «Doctor, heal yourself! Do everything here in your hometown that we hear you did in Capernaum.»" 


text:
He added, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, a prophet is not accepted in his hometown. 


text:
I'm telling you the truth there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when it didn't rain <n>{Lit. when the heavens were closed}</n> for three years and six months and there was a severe famine everywhere in the land. 


text:
There were also many lepers in Israel in the prophet Elisha's time, yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." 


text:
They got up, forced Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill on which their city was built, intending to throw him off. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit}</n> <n>{ (Mark 1:21-28)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and began teaching the people <n>{Lit. them}</n> on Sabbath days. <n>{Lit. Sabbaths}</n> 


text:
They were utterly amazed at what he taught, because his message was spoken <n>{The Gk. lacks spoken}</n> with authority. 


text:
In the synagogue was a man who had a demon. <n>{Lit. a spirit of a demon of uncleanness}</n> He screamed with a loud voice, 


text:
"Oh, no! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God!" 


text:
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" At this, the demon threw the man <n>{Lit. him}</n> down in the middle of the synagogue <n>{The Gk. lacks of the synagogue}</n> and came out of him without hurting him. 


text:
Overwhelmed with amazement, they all kept saying to one another, "What kind of statement is this? because with authority and power he gives orders to unclean spirits, and they come out!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals Many People}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> got up to leave the synagogue and went into Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, so they asked Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> about her. 


text:
When the sun was setting, everyone who had any friends <n>{Lit. people}</n> suffering from various diseases brought them to him. He placed his hands on each of them and began healing them. 


text:
Even demons came out of many people, screaming, "You are the Son of God!" But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> rebuked them and ordered them not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Goes on a Preaching Tour}</n> <n>{ (Mark 1:35-39)}</n> d At daybreak he left and went to a deserted place, while the crowds kept looking for him. When they came to him, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 


text:
But he told them, "I have to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God in other cities, because I was sent to do that also." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Calls His First Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20)}</n> d One day, as the crowd was pressing in on him to listen to God's word, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 


text:
He saw two boats lying on the shore, but the fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets. 


text:
So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> got into one of the boats (the one that belonged to Simon) and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat. 


text:
When he had finished speaking, he told Simon, "Push out into deep water, and lower your nets for a catch." 


text:
Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets." 


text:
After the men <n>{Lit. they}</n> had done this, they caught so many fish that the nets began to tear. 


text:
So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats until the boats <n>{Lit. they}</n> began to sink. 


text:
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus'knees and said, "Leave me, Lord! I am a sinful man!" 


text:
because Simon <n>{Lit. he}</n> and all the people who were with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught, 


text:
and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons and Simon's partners. Then Jesus told Simon, "Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching people." 


text:
So when they brought the boats to shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Cleanses a Leper}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45)}</n> d One day, while Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was in one of the cities, a man covered with leprosy saw Jesus and fell on his face, begging him, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." 


text:
So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> reached out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do want to. Be clean!" Instantly the leprosy left him. 


text:
Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered him, "Don't tell anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as proof to the authorities." <n>{Lit. to them}</n> 


text:
But the news about Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> spread even more, and many crowds began gathering to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12)}</n> d One day, as Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law happened to be sitting nearby. The people <n>{Lit. They}</n> had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present to heal them. <n>{Other mss. read was present with him to heal}</n> 


text:
Some men were bringing a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to take him into the house <n>{The Gk. lacks the house}</n> and place him in front of Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
When they couldn't find a way to get him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on his stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the room, <n>{The Gk. lacks of the room}</n> right in front of Jesus. 


text:
When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> saw their faith, he said, "Mister, <n>{Lit. Man}</n> your sins are forgiven." 


text:
The scribes and the Pharisees began to argue among themselves, saying, "Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 


text:
Because Jesus knew that they were arguing, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about this among yourselves? <n>{Lit. in your hearts}</n> 


text:
But I want you to know <n>{Lit. So that you will know}</n> that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he told the paralyzed man, "I say to you: Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home!" 


text:
So the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> immediately stood up in front of them and picked up what he had been lying on. Then he went home, praising God. 


text:
Amazement seized all the people, and they began to praise God. They were filled with fear <n>{Or awe}</n> and declared, "We have seen wonderful things today!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Calls Levi}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17)}</n> d After that, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector's desk. He told him, "Follow me!" 


text:
Then Levi gave a large banquet at his home for Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 


text:
The Pharisees and their scribes started complaining to Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 


text:
<n>{A Question about Fasting}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2:18-22)}</n> d Then they told him, "John's disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do those of the Pharisees. But your disciples <n>{Lit. yours}</n> keep right on eating and drinking." 


text:
But Jesus told them, "You can't force the wedding guests <n>{Lit. The children of the wedding hall ; or The children of the groom}</n> to fast while the groom is still with them, can you? 


text:
But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and at that time they will fast." 


text:
<n>{The Unshrunk Cloth}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 9:16; Mark 2:21)}</n> d Then he told them a parable: "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old garment. If he does, the new cloth will tear, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 


text:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will make the skins burst, the wine <n>{Lit. it}</n> will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. 


text:
No one who has been drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, «The old wine is good enough!»" <n>{Other mss. lack this verse}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 2:23-28)}</n> d One time Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was walking through some grain fields on a Sabbath. <n>{Other mss. read on the second Sabbath after the first}</n> His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. 


text:
Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what is not lawful on Sabbath days?" <n>{Lit. on the Sabbaths}</n> 


text:
How was it that he went into the house of God, took the Bread of the Presence and ate it, which was not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and then gave some of it to his companions?" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Man with a Paralyzed Hand}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:9-14; Mark 3:1-6)}</n> d Once, on another Sabbath, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went into a synagogue and began teaching. A man whose right hand was paralyzed was there. 


text:
The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> closely to see <n>{The Gk. lacks to see}</n> whether he would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find a way of accusing him of doing something wrong. 


text:
But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up, and stand in the middle of the synagogue." <n>{The Gk. lacks of the synagogue}</n> So he got up and stood there. 


text:
Then Jesus asked them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?" 


text:
He looked around at all of them and then told the man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Hold out your hand." The man <n>{Lit. He}</n> did so, and his hand was restored to health. 


text:
The others were furious <n>{Or were stupefied}</n> and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appoints Twelve Apostles}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19)}</n> d Now it was in those days that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. 


text:
When daylight came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also called apostles: 


text:
<n>{Jesus Ministers to Many People}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 4:23-25)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> came down with them and stood on a level place, along with many of his disciples and a large gathering of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 


text:
They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Even those who were being tormented by unclean spirits were being healed. 


text:
The entire crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing all of them. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Pronounces Blessings and Judgment}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 5:1-12)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> looked at his disciples and said, "How blessed are you who are destitute, because the kingdom of God is yours! 


text:
How blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be satisfied! How blessed are you who are crying now, because you will laugh! 


text:
"How blessed are you whenever people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because of the Son of Man! 


text:
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because your reward in heaven is great! That's the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets. 


text:
How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry! How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and cry! 


text:
"How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!" 


text:
<n>{Teaching about Love for Enemies}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 5:38-48)}</n> d "But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 


text:
If someone strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one as well, and if someone takes your coat, don't keep back your shirt, either. 


text:
Keep on giving to everyone who asks you for something, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not insist on getting it back. 


text:
"If you love those who love you, what thanks do you deserve? Why, even sinners love those who love them. 


text:
If you lend to those from whom you expect to get something back, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back what they lend. 


text:
Rather, love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind even to ungrateful and evil people. 


text:
<n>{Judging Others}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 7:1-5)}</n> d "Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 


text:
Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap, because you will be evaluated by the same standard with which you evaluate others." 


text:
He also told them a parable: "One blind person can't lead another blind person, can he? Both will fall into a ditch, won't they? 


text:
A disciple is not better than his teacher. But everyone who is fully-trained will be like his teacher. 


text:
How can you say to your brother, «Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,'when you don't see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you'll see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." 


text:
<n>{A Tree is Known by Its Fruit}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 7:17-20)}</n> d "A good tree doesn't produce rotten fruit, and a rotten tree doesn't produce good fruit, 


text:
because every tree is known by its own fruit. People <n>{Lit. They}</n> don't gather figs from thorny plants or pick grapes from a thorn bush. 


text:
A good person produces good from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil person produces evil from an evil treasure, because the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart." 


text:
<n>{The Two Foundations}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 7:24-27)}</n> d "Why do you keep calling me «Lord, Lord,'but don't do what I tell you? 


text:
They are like a person building a house, who dug a deep hole to lay the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house but couldn't shake it, because it had been founded on the rock. <n>{Other mss. read had been built well}</n> 


text:
But the person who hears what I say <n>{The Gk. lacks what I say}</n> but doesn't act on it is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. When the floodwaters pushed against it, that house <n>{Lit. it}</n> quickly collapsed, and the resulting destruction of that house was extensive." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:5-13; John 4:43-54)}</n> d After Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had finished saying all these things <n>{Lit. finished all his sayings}</n> to the people who were there listening, he went to Capernaum. 


text:
When the centurion <n>{Lit. he}</n> heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servant's life. 


text:
So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Sir, <n>{Or Lord}</n> stop troubling yourself, because I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof. 


text:
because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one «Go'and he goes, to another «Come'and he comes, and to my servant «Do this'and he does it." 


text:
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Raises a Widow's Son}</n> d Soon afterwards, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were going along with him. 


text:
As he approached the entrance to the city, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. 


text:
Then he went up and touched the bier, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 


text:
The man who had been dead sat up and began to speak, and Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> gave him back to his mother. 


text:
Fear gripped everyone, and they began to praise God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us," and "God has helped his people." 


text:
This news about Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding countryside. 


text:
<n>{John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 11:2-19)}</n> d John's disciples told him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples 


text:
When the men had come to Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, «Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?»" 


text:
At that time Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits and had given sight to many who were blind. 


text:
So he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. 


text:
When John's messengers had gone, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> began to ask the crowds about John. "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 


text:
Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fine clothes and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 


text:
This is the man about whom it is written, «See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'<n>{Mal 3:1; Exod 23:20}</n> 


text:
I tell you, no one has ever been born who is <n>{Lit. one among those born of women have been}</n> greater than John. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 


text:
By having been baptized with John's baptism, all the people who listened, including the tax collectors, acknowledged God's justice. <n>{Or judgment}</n> 


text:
But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God's plan for themselves <n>{Or God's decision in their case}</n> by refusing to be baptized by John. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Jesus continued, <n>{The Gk. lacks Jesus continued}</n> "To what may I compare the people living today? <n>{Lit. people of this generation}</n> 


text:
They are like little children who sit in the marketplace and shout to each other, «A wedding song we played for you, the dance you simply scorned. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you did not mourn.» 


text:
Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, «He has a demon!» 


text:
The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, «Look! He's <n>{The Gk. lacks He's}</n> a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'


text:
<n>{Jesus Forgives a Sinful Woman}</n> d Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee's home and took his place at the table. 


text:
There was a woman who was a notorious <n>{The Gk. lacks notorious}</n> sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was eating at the Pharisee's home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume 


text:
and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. <n>{Lit. the hair of her head}</n> Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume. 


text:
Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> saw this and told himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She's a sinner!" 


text:
"Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, <n>{A denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer.}</n> and the other 50. 


text:
When they couldn't pay it back, he generously canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 


text:
Simon answered, "I suppose the one who had the larger debt canceled." Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "You have answered correctly." 


text:
Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn't give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 


text:
You didn't give me a kiss, <n>{People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.}</n> but this woman, from the moment I came in, has not stopped kissing my feet. 


text:
So I'm telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that's why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little." 


text:
Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 


text:
<n>{Some Women Accompany Jesus}</n> d After this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> traveled from one city and village to another, preaching and spreading the good news about God's kingdom. The Twelve were with him, 


text:
as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary, also called Magdalene, <n>{I.e. Mary of Magdala}</n> from whom seven demons had gone out; 


text:
Joanna, the wife of Herod's household manager Chuza; Susanna; and many others. These women <n>{Lit. They}</n> continued to support them <n>{Other mss. read him}</n> out of their personal resources. 


text:
<n>{The Parable about a Farmer}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 13:1-9; Mark 4:1-9)}</n> d Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> from every city, he said in a parable: 


text:
"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up. 


text:
Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture. 


text:
But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced 100 times as much as was planted." As he said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!" 


text:
<n>{The Purpose of the Parables}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 13:10-17; Mark 4:10-12)}</n> d Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant. 


text:
So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given <n>{The Gk. lacks they are given}</n> in parables, so that «they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.»" <n>{Isa 6:9-10}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Explains the Parable about the Farmer}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 13:18-23; Mark 4:13-20)}</n> d "Now this is what the parable means. The seed is God's word. 


text:
The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 


text:
The ones on the stony ground are the people who joyfully welcome the word when they hear it. But since they don't have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. 


text:
The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature. 


text:
But the ones on the good soil are the people who hear the word but also hold on to it with good and honest hearts, producing a crop through endurance." 


text:
<n>{A Light under a Bowl}</n> <n>{ (Mark 4:21-25)}</n> d "No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light. 


text:
There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and there is nothing secret that will not become known and come to light. 


text:
So pay attention to how you listen, because to the one who has something, more will be given. However, from the one who doesn't have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him." 


text:
<n>{The True Family of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35)}</n> d His mother and his brothers came to him, but they couldn't get near him because of the crowd. 


text:
Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and want to see you." 


text:
But he answered those people, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "My mother and my brothers are those who hear a message from God and heed it." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Calms the Sea}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41)}</n> d One day, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> and his disciples got into a boat. He told them, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." So they started out. 


text:
Now as they were sailing, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> fell asleep. A violent storm swept over the lake, and they were taking on water and were in great danger. 


text:
So his disciples <n>{Lit. So they}</n> went to him, woke him up, and kept telling him, "Master! Master! We're going to die!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves. They stopped, and there was calm. 


text:
Then he asked the disciples, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "Where's your faith?" Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, "Who is this man? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20)}</n> d They landed in the region of the Gerasenes, <n>{Other mss. read Gadarenes ; still other mss. read Gergesenes}</n> which is just across the lake from Galilee. 


text:
When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> stepped out on the shore, a man from the city met him. This man was controlled by <n>{Lit. He had}</n> demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He did not live in a house but in the tombs. 


text:
When he saw Jesus, he screamed, fell down in front of him, and cried out in a loud voice, "What do you want from me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you not to torture me!" 


text:
because Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was in the process of ordering the unclean spirit to come out of the man. On many occasions the unclean spirit <n>{Lit. it}</n> had seized the man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and though he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, he would break the chains and be driven by the demon into deserted places. 


text:
Jesus asked the man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "What's your name?" He answered, "Legion," <n>{A Roman legion consisted of about 6,000 men.}</n> because many demons had gone into him. 


text:
Then the demons <n>{Lit. they}</n> began begging Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> not to order them to go into the bottomless pit. <n>{I.e. the realm of punishment in the afterlife}</n> 


text:
Now a large herd of pigs was grazing there on the hillside. So the demons <n>{Lit. they}</n> begged Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to let them go into those pigs, and he consented to that. 


text:
Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and drowned. 


text:
Now when those who had been taking care of the pigs saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and in the countryside. 


text:
So the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesus'feet, dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened. 


text:
Then all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes <n>{Other mss. read Gadarenes ; still other mss. read Gergesenes}</n> asked Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to leave them, because they were terrified. So he got into a boat and started back. 


text:
Now the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to let him go with him. But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent him away, saying, 


text:
"Go home and tell what God has done for you." So the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> left and kept proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Woman and Resurrects a Girl}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43)}</n> d When Jesus came back, the crowd welcomed him, because everyone was expecting him. 


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Just then a synagogue leader by the name of Jairus arrived. He fell at Jesus'feet and kept begging him to come to his home, 


text:
because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was on his way, the crowds continued to press in on him. 


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A woman was there <n>{The Gk. lacks was there}</n> who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had spent all she had on doctors, <n>{Other mss. lack Though she had spent all she had on doctors}</n> no one could heal her. 


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She came up behind Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and touched the tassel of his garment, and her bleeding stopped at once. 


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Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" While everyone was denying it, Peter and those who were with him <n>{Other mss. lack and those who were with him}</n> said, "Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you." 


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When the woman saw that she couldn't hide, she came forward trembling. Bowing down in front of him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and how she had been instantly healed. 


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While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader's home <n>{Lit. from the synagogue leader}</n> and told him, <n>{The Gk. lacks him}</n> "Your daughter is dead. Stop bothering the teacher anymore." 


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But when Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Stop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well." 


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When he arrived at the man's <n>{The Gk. lacks man's}</n> house, he allowed no one to go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the young girl's father and mother. 


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Now everyone was crying and wailing for her. But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "Stop crying! She's not dead. She's sleeping." 


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So her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> directed that she be given something to eat. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Sends Out the Twelve}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:5-15; Mark 6:7-13)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. 


text:
He told them, "Don't take anything along on your trip no walking stick, traveling bag, bread, money, or even an extra shirt. <n>{Lit. two shirts}</n> 


text:
if people don't welcome you, when you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them." 


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So they left and went from village to village, spreading the good news and healing diseases everywhere. 


text:
<n>{Herod Tries to See Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29)}</n> d Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 


text:
by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. 


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Herod said, "I beheaded John. But who is this man I'm hearing so much about?" So Herod <n>{Lit. he}</n> kept trying to see Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; John 6:1-14)}</n> d The apostles came back and told Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> everything they had done. Then he took them away with him privately to a city called Bethsaida. 


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But the crowds found out about this and followed him. He welcomed them and began to speak to them about the kingdom of God and to heal those who needed healing. 


text:
As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place." 


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But he told them, "You give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing more than five loaves of bread and two fish unless we go and buy food for all these people." 


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Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50." 


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Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and kept giving them to the disciples to pass on to the crowd. 


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All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets. 


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<n>{Peter Declares His Faith in Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:13-19; Mark 8:27-29)}</n> d One day, while Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was praying privately and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" 


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They answered, "Some say <n>{The Gk. lacks Some say}</n> John the Baptist, others Elijah, and still others one of the ancient prophets who has come back to life." 


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<n>{Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:21-28; Mark 8:31-9:1)}</n> d He gave them strict orders, commanding them not to tell this to anyone. 


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He said, "The Son of Man must suffer a great deal and be rejected by the elders, the high priests, and the scribes. Then he must be killed, but on the third day he will be raised." 


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Then he told all of them, "If anyone wants to come with me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross every day, and follow me continually, 


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because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 


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If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and the glory of <n>{Lit. and that of}</n> the Father and the holy angels. 


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I tell you with certainty, some people who are standing here will not experience <n>{Lit. taste}</n> death until they see the kingdom of God." 


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<n>{Jesus'Appearance is Changed}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8)}</n> d Now about eight days after Jesus said this, <n>{Lit. after these sayings}</n> he took Peter, John, and James with him and went up on a mountain to pray. 


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They had a glorified appearance, and were discussing Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> departure that he would shortly bring about in Jerusalem. 


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Now Peter and the men with him had been overcome by sleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> glory and the two men standing with him. 


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Just as Moses and Elijah <n>{Lit. Just as they}</n> were leaving, <n>{Lit. leaving him}</n> Peter told Jesus, "Master, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters <n>{Or tents}</n> one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter <n>{Lit. He}</n> didn't know what he was saying.) 


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But while he was saying this, a cloud appeared and surrounded them, and they became terrified as they were being overshadowed by the cloud. 


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Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. <n>{Other mss. read whom I love}</n> Keep listening to him!" 


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After the voice had spoken, Jesus was <n>{Lit. was found to be}</n> alone. The disciples <n>{Lit. They}</n> kept silent and at that time <n>{Lit. in those days}</n> told no one about what they had seen. 


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<n>{Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:14-18; Mark 9:14-27)}</n> d The next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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Suddenly, a man in the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he is my only child. <n>{Lit. only one}</n> 


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Without warning a spirit takes control of him, and he suddenly screams, goes into convulsions, and foams at the mouth. The spirit <n>{Lit. It}</n> mauls him and refuses to leave him. 


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Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and perverted generation! How much longer must I be with you <n>{The Gk. you is plural}</n> and put up with you? <n>{The Gk. you is plural}</n> Bring your <n>{The Gk. your is singular}</n> son here!" 


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Even while the boy <n>{Lit. he}</n> was coming, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 


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<n>{Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32)}</n> d All the people continued to be amazed at the greatness of God. Indeed, everyone was astonished at all the things Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was doing. So he told his disciples, 


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"Listen carefully to these words. <n>{Lit. Put these words into your ears}</n> The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands." 


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But they didn't know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement. 


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<n>{True Greatness}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37)}</n> d Later, an argument started among the disciples <n>{Lit. among them}</n> as to which of them might be the greatest. 


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Then he told them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, because the one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest." 


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<n>{The Person who is Not against You is for You}</n> <n>{ (Mark 9:38-40)}</n> d John said, "Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he wasn't a follower like us." 


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<n>{A Samaritan Village Refuses to Welcome Jesus}</n> d When the days grew closer for Jesus <n>{Lit. for him}</n> to be taken up to heaven, <n>{The Gk. lacks to heaven}</n> he was determined to continue his journey to Jerusalem. 


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So he sent messengers on ahead of him. On their way they went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 


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But the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> would not welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 


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When his disciples James and John observed this rejection, <n>{The Gk. lacks rejection}</n> they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" <n>{Other mss. read them, as Elijah did?"}</n> 


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But he turned and rebuked them, <n>{Other mss. read them, saying, "You don't know what kind of spirit you are! 56 For the son of man did not come to destroy the souls of men, but to save them."}</n> 


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<n>{The Would-be Followers of Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:19-22)}</n> d While they were walking along the road, a man told him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 


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He told another man, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, <n>{Other mss. lack Lord}</n> first let me go and bury my father." 


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Jesus told him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." 


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<n>{The Mission of the Seventy}</n> d After this, the Lord appointed 70 <n>{Other mss. read 72}</n> other disciples <n>{Lit. others}</n> and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go. 


text:
So he instructed them, "The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers out into his harvest. 


text:
If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if that's not the case, your greeting <n>{Lit. it}</n> will come back to you. 


text:
Stay with the same family, eating and drinking whatever they provide, because the worker deserves his pay. Don't move from house to house. 


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"Whenever you go into a town and the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> welcome you, eat whatever they serve you, 


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But whenever you go into a town and people <n>{Lit. they}</n> don't welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 


text:
«We are wiping off your town's dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!» 


text:
I tell you, on the last <n>{The Gk. lacks last}</n> day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Denounces Unrepentant Cities}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 11:20-24)}</n> d "How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 


text:
And you, Capernaum! You won't be lifted up to heaven, will you? You'll go down to Hell! <n>{Lit. Hades ; i.e. the realm of the dead}</n> 


text:
The person who listens to you listens to me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 


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<n>{The Return of the Seventy}</n> d The 70 <n>{Other mss. read 72}</n> disciples <n>{The Gk. lacks disciples}</n> came back and joyously reported, "Lord, even the demons are submitting to us in your name!" 


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Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy <n>{Lit. and over}</n> all the enemy's power, and nothing will ever hurt you. 


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However, stop rejoicing because the spirits are submitting to you. Rather, rejoice because your names are written in heaven." 


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<n>{Jesus Praises the Father}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 11:25-27; 13:16-17)}</n> d At that moment, the Holy Spirit <n>{Other mss. read in the spirit}</n> made Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> extremely joyful, so Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. 


text:
"All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows <n>{The Gk. lacks no one knows}</n> who the Father is except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." 


text:
Then turning to his disciples in private, he told them, "How blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 


text:
Because I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see the things you see but didn't see them, and to hear the things you hear but didn't hear them." 


text:
<n>{The Good Samaritan}</n> d Just then an expert in the Law stood up to test Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> He asked, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 


text:
He answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. <n>{Deut 6:5}</n> And you must love <n>{The Gk. lacks you must love}</n> your neighbor as yourself." <n>{Lev 19:18}</n> 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "You have answered correctly. «Do this, and you will live.»" <n>{Cf. Gen 42:18}</n> 


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After careful consideration, Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of bandits. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 


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By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> he went by on the other side. 


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Similarly, a descendant of Levi came to that place. When he saw the man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> he also went by on the other side. 


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But as he was traveling along, a Samaritan came across the man. <n>{Lit. him}</n> When the Samaritan <n>{Lit. he}</n> saw him, he was moved with compassion. 


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He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 


text:
The next day, he took out two denarii <n>{A denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer.}</n> and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, «Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll repay you when I come back.» 


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"Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the bandits?" 


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<n>{Jesus Visits Mary and Martha}</n> d Now as they were traveling along, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 


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She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord's feet and kept listening to what he was saying. 


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But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to him and asked, "Lord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, don't you? Then tell her to help me." 


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But there's only <n>{Other mss. read out of a few things, there's only}</n> one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, <n>{Lit. the better part}</n> and it is not to be taken away from her." 


text:
<n>{Teaching about Prayer}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 6:9-15; 7:7-11)}</n> d Once Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was praying in a certain place. After he had finished, one of his disciples told him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 


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So he told them, "Whenever you pray you are to say, «Father, <n>{Other mss. read Our Father in heaven}</n> may your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come. <n>{Other mss. read kingdom come. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.}</n> 


text:
and forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who sins against us. <n>{Lit. is indebted to us}</n> And never bring us into temptation.»" <n>{Other mss. read into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one}</n> 


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Then he told them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, «Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. 


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Suppose he answers from inside, «Stop bothering me! The door is already locked, and my children are here with us in the bedroom. <n>{Lit. with me in the bed}</n> I can't get up and give you anything!» 


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I tell you, even though that man <n>{Lit. though he}</n> doesn't want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. 


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<n>{Ask, Search, Knock}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 7:7-12)}</n> d So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door <n>{Lit. it}</n> will be opened for you, 


text:
because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door <n>{Lit. it}</n> opened. 


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"What father among you, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, <n>{Other mss. read What father among you, if his son asks for a fish}</n> would give him a snake instead of the fish? 


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So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who keep asking him!" 


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<n>{Jesus is Accused of Working with Beelzebul}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:22-30; Mark 3:20-27)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> was driving a demon out of a man who was <n>{Lit. driving out a demon that was}</n> unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man <n>{Lit. the man who was unable to talk}</n> began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 


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Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses. <n>{Lit. and house falls on house}</n> 


text:
Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 


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But if I drive out demons by the power <n>{Lit. finger}</n> of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 


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But when a stronger man than he attacks and defeats him, the stronger man <n>{Lit. him, he}</n> strips off that man's armor in which he trusted and then divides his plunder. 


text:
<n>{The Return of the Unclean Spirit}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:43-45)}</n> d "Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest but doesn't find any. So it says, «I will go back to my home that I left.» 


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Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person is worse than the first." 


text:
<n>{True Blessedness}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and told him, "How blessed is the womb that gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you!" 


text:
<n>{The Sign of Jonah}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 12:38-42; Mark 8:12)}</n> d Now as the crowds continued to throng around Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> he went on to say, "This people living today are <n>{Lit. This generation is}</n> an evil generation. It craves a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah, 


text:
because just as Jonah became a sign <n>{The Gk. lacks a sign}</n> to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation. 


text:
The queen of the south will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, <n>{Lit. condemn this generation}</n> because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look, something greater than Solomon is here! 


text:
The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, <n>{Lit. condemn this generation}</n> because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look, something greater than Jonah is here!" 


text:
<n>{The Lamp of the Body}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 5:15; 6:22-23)}</n> d "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hiding place <n>{Or cellar}</n> or under a basket, <n>{Other mss. lack or under a basket}</n> but on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see its light. 


text:
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light. But when it is evil, your body is full of darkness. 


text:
Now if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Denounces the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47)}</n> d After Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had said this, a Pharisee invited him to have a meal with him. So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went and took his place at the table. 


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But the Lord told him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil. 


text:
"How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others. 


text:
How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces. 


text:
How terrible it will be for you! You are like unmarked graves people walk on them without realizing it." 


text:
Then one of the experts in the Law told him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us, too." 


text:
Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you don't even lift a finger to ease those burdens. 


text:
How terrible it will be for you! You build monuments for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them! 


text:
So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed those for whom you are building monuments. 


text:
That is why the Wisdom of God said, «I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,'<n>{The source of this quotation is unknown.}</n> 


text:
so those living today <n>{Lit. 50 that this generation}</n> will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world, 


text:
from the blood of Abel <n>{Gen 4:8}</n> to the blood of Zechariah, <n>{2Chr 24:20-21}</n> who died between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation! 


text:
How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn't go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in." 


text:
As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was leaving, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely, interrogating him about many things. 


text:
<n>{A Warning against Hypocrisy}</n> d Meanwhile, the people <n>{Lit. crowd}</n> had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast that is, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees! 


text:
There is nothing covered up that will not be exposed and nothing secret that will not be made known. 


text:
Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered <n>{Lit. spoken in the ear}</n> in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops." 


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<n>{Fear God}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:28-31)}</n> d "But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can't do anything more. 


text:
I'll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the authority to throw you into hell <n>{Lit. Gehenna ; a transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom}</n> after killing you. Yes, I tell you, be afraid of him! 


text:
Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows." 


text:
<n>{Acknowledging the Messiah}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:32-33; 12:32; 10:19-20)}</n> d "But I tell you, the Son of Man will acknowledge before God's angels everyone who acknowledges me before people. 


text:
Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 


text:
When people <n>{Lit. they}</n> bring you before synagogue leaders, <n>{Lit. synagogues}</n> rulers, or authorities, don't worry about how you will defend yourselves or what <n>{Lit. how or what}</n> you will say, 


text:
<n>{The Parable of the Rich Fool}</n> d Then someone in the crowd told him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." 


text:
But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked him, "Mister, <n>{Lit. Man}</n> who appointed me to be a judge or arbitrator over you people?" 


text:
Then he told them, "Be careful to guard yourselves against every kind of greed, because a person's life doesn't consist of the amount of possessions he has." 


text:
Then he said, «This is what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I'll store all my grain and goods in them. 


text:
Then I'll say to myself, "You've stored up plenty of good things for many years. Take it easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself."» 


text:
But God told him, «You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you. Now who will get the things you've accumulated?» 


text:
<n>{Stop Worrying}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 6:25-34, 19-21)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told his disciples, "That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life what you will eat or about your body what you will wear, 


text:
Consider the crows. <n>{Or ravens}</n> They don't plant or harvest, they don't even have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds! 


text:
Can any of you add an hour to the length of your life <n>{Or add one cubit to your height}</n> by worrying? 


text:
Consider how the lilies grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 


text:
Now if that's the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you you who have little faith? 


text:
"So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed, 


text:
because it is the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them! 


text:
Instead, be concerned about his <n>{Other mss. read God's}</n> kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well. 


text:
"Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything. 


text:
<n>{The Watchful Servants}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:45-51)}</n> d "You must keep your belts fastened and your lamps burning. 


text:
Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. 


text:
How blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching for him when he comes! I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, he himself will put on an apron, make them sit down at the table, and go around and serve them. 


text:
How blessed they will be if their master <n>{Lit. if he}</n> comes in the middle of the night or near dawn <n>{Lit. in the second or the third watch}</n> and finds them awake! <n>{Lit. finds them so}</n> 


text:
But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and <n>{Other mss. lack would have watched and}</n> would not have let his house be broken into. 


text:
The Lord said, "Who, then, is the faithful and careful servant manager whom his master will put in charge of giving all his other servants their share of food at the right time? 


text:
"But if that servant says to himself, <n>{Lit. in his heart}</n> «My master is taking a long time to come back,'and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk, 


text:
the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know. Then his master <n>{Lit. he}</n> will punish him severely <n>{Lit. cut him in pieces}</n> and assign him a place with unfaithful people. 


text:
That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating. 


text:
But the servant <n>{Lit. the one}</n> who did things that deserved a beating without knowing it will receive a light beating. Much will be required from everyone to whom much has been given. But even more will be demanded from the one to whom much has been entrusted." 


text:
<n>{Not Peace, but Division}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:34-36)}</n> d "I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze! 


text:
From now on, five people in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 


text:
They will be divided father against son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." 


text:
<n>{Interpreting the Time}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 16:2-3; Mark 8:11-13)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told the crowds, "When you see a cloud coming in the west, you immediately say, «There's going to be a storm,'and that's what happens. 


text:
You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, yet you don't know how to interpret the present time?" 


text:
<n>{Settling with Your Opponent}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 5:25-26)}</n> d "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? 


text:
For example, when you go with your opponent in front of a ruler, do your best to settle with him on the way there. Otherwise, you will be dragged in front of the judge, and the judge will hand you over to an officer, and the officer will throw you into prison. 


text:
<n>{Repent or Die}</n> d At that time, some people who were there told Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. <n>{I.e. whom Pilate had executed while they were sacrificing animals}</n> 


text:
He asked them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this? 


text:
What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 


text:
<n>{The Parable about an Unfruitful Fig Tree}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told them this parable: "A man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it but didn't find any. 


text:
So he told the gardener, «Look here! For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this tree but haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?» 


text:
But the gardener <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, «Sir, leave it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Woman on the Sabbath}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 


text:
A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years. She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight. 


text:
But the synagogue leader, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, told the crowd, "There are six days when work is to be done. So come on those days to be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." 


text:
The Lord replied to him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey and lead it out of its stall to give it some water? 


text:
Shouldn't this woman, a descendant of Abraham whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?" 


text:
Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing. 


text:
<n>{The Parables about a Mustard Seed and Yeast}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 13:31-33; Mark 4:30-32)}</n> d So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went on to say, "What is the kingdom of God like? What can I compare it to? 


text:
It is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches." 


text:
It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with <n>{Lit. hid in}</n> three measures of flour until all of it was leavened." 


text:
<n>{The Narrow Door}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> taught in one town and village after another as he made his way to Jerusalem. 


text:
"Keep on struggling to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you that many people will try to enter, but won't be able to do so. 


text:
After the homeowner gets up and closes the door, you can stand <n>{Lit. begin to stand}</n> outside, knock on the door, and say again and again, «Lord, open the door for us!'But he will answer you, «I don't know where you come from.» 


text:
Then you will say, <n>{Lit. begin to say}</n> «We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'


text:
But he will tell you, «I don't know where you come from. Get away from me, all you who practice evil!» 


text:
In that place there will be crying and gnashing of teeth <n>{I.e. extreme pain}</n> when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves being driven away on the outside. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 23:37-39)}</n> d At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!" 


text:
He told them, "Go and tell that fox, «Listen! I am driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my work. 


text:
But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it's not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.» 


text:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling! 


text:
Look! Your house is left vacant to you. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, «How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!»" <n>{Ps 118:26}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Man on the Sabbath}</n> d One Sabbath, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. The guests <n>{Lit. They}</n> were watching Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> closely. 


text:
Then he asked them, "If your son <n>{Other mss. read donkey ; still other mss. read sheep}</n> or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, you would pull him out immediately, wouldn't you?" 


text:
<n>{A Lesson about Guests}</n> d When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor, he told them a parable. 


text:
"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don't sit down at the place of honor in case someone more important than you was invited by the host. <n>{Lit. by him}</n> 


text:
Then the host who invited both of you would come to you and say, «Give this person your place.'In disgrace, you would have to take the place of least honor. 


text:
But when you are invited, go and sit down at the place of least honor. Then, when your host comes, he will tell you, «Friend, move up higher,'and you will be honored in the presence of everyone who eats with you. 


text:
Because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted." 


text:
Then he told the man who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, stop inviting only <n>{The Gk. lacks only}</n> your friends, brothers, relatives, or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return and you would be repaid. 


text:
Instead, when you give a banquet, make it your habit to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 


text:
Then you will be blessed because they can't repay you. And you will be repaid when the righteous are resurrected." 


text:
<n>{The Parable about a Banquet}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:1-10)}</n> d Now one of those eating with him heard this and told him, "How blessed is the person who will eat <n>{Lit. eat bread}</n> in the kingdom of God!" 


text:
When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, «Come! Everything is now ready.» 


text:
Every single one of them began asking to be excused. The first told him, «I bought a field, and I need to go out and inspect it. Please excuse me.» 


text:
"So the servant went back and reported all this to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and told his servant, «Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring back the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.» 


text:
Then the master told the servant, «Go out into the streets and the lanes and make the people come in, so that my house may be full. 


text:
<n>{The Cost of Discipleship}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:37-39)}</n> d Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> He turned and told them, 


text:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as his own life, he can't be my disciple. 


text:
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. He will first sit down and estimate the cost to see whether he has enough money to finish it, won't he? 


text:
Otherwise, if he lays a foundation and can't finish the building, <n>{The Gk. lacks the building}</n> everyone who watches will begin to ridicule him 


text:
"Or suppose a king is going to war against another king. He will first sit down and consider whether with 10,000 men he can fight the one coming against him with 20,000 men, won't he? 


text:
If he can't, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other king <n>{Lit. while he}</n> is still far away. 


text:
<n>{Tasteless Salt}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50)}</n> d "Now, salt is good. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can its flavor be restored? 


text:
It is suitable neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. People <n>{Lit. They}</n> throw it away. Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!" 


text:
<n>{The Parable about the Faithful Shepherd}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 18:12-14)}</n> d Now all the tax collectors and sinners kept coming to listen to Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 


text:
"Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn't he? 


text:
Then he goes home, calls his friends and neighbors together, and says to them, «Rejoice with me, because I've found my lost sheep!» 


text:
In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don't need to repent." 


text:
<n>{The Story of the Diligent Housewife}</n> d "Or suppose a woman has ten coins and loses one of them. <n>{Lit. one coin}</n> She lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches carefully until she finds it, doesn't she? 


text:
When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, «Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!» 


text:
In the same way, I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents." 


text:
The younger one told his father, «Father, give me my share of the estate.'So the father <n>{Lit. he}</n> divided his property between them. 


text:
A few days later, the younger son gathered everything he owned and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted it all <n>{Lit. wasted his possessions}</n> on wild living. 


text:
After he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 


text:
So he went out to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 


text:
No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating. 


text:
"Then he came to his senses and said, «How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death! 


text:
I will get up, go to my father, and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven <n>{I.e. God}</n> and you. 


text:
"So he got up and went to his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, <n>{The Gk. lacks to his son}</n> threw his arms around him, and kissed him affectionately. 


text:
Then his son told him, «Father, I have sinned against heaven <n>{I.e. God}</n> and you. I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.'<n>{Other mss. read anymore. Treat me like one of your hired men.}</n> 


text:
But the father told his servants, «Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 


text:
Because my son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.'And they began to celebrate. 


text:
"Now the father's <n>{Lit. Now his}</n> older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing. 


text:
The servant <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «Your brother has come home, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got him back safely.» 


text:
"Then the older son <n>{Lit. he}</n> became angry and wouldn't go into the house. <n>{Lit. wouldn't go in}</n> So his father came out and began to plead with him. 


text:
But he answered his father, «Listen! All these years I've worked like a slave for you. I've never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you've never given me so much as a young goat for a festival <n>{The Gk. lacks for a festival}</n> so I could celebrate with my friends. 


text:
But this son of yours spent your money on prostitutes, and when he came back, you killed the fattened calf for him!» 


text:
"His father <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «My child, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 


text:
But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life. He was lost and has been found.»" 


text:
<n>{The Parable about a Dishonest Manager}</n> d Now Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was saying to the disciples, "A rich man had a servant manager who was accused of wasting his assets. 


text:
So he called for him and asked him, «What's this I hear about you? You can't be my manager any longer. Now give me a report about your management!» 


text:
"Then the servant manager told himself, «What should I do? My master is taking my position away from me. I'm not strong enough to plow, and I'm ashamed to beg. 


text:
I know what I'll do so that people <n>{Lit. they}</n> will welcome me into their homes when I'm dismissed from my job.» 


text:
"So he called for each of his master's debtors. He asked the first, «How much do you owe my master?» 


text:
The man replied, «A hundred jars of olive oil.'The manager <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «Get your bill. Sit down quickly and write "50."» 


text:
Then he asked another debtor, <n>{The Gk. lacks debtor}</n> «How much do you owe? 'The man replied, «A hundred containers of wheat.'The manager <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «Get your bill and write "80."» 


text:
The master praised the dishonest servant manager for being so clever, because worldly people <n>{Lit. the sons of this age}</n> are more clever than enlightened people <n>{Lit. the sons of light}</n> in dealing with their own. <n>{Lit. own generation}</n> 


text:
"I'm telling you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails, they will welcome you into eternal homes. <n>{Lit. tents}</n> 


text:
Whoever is faithful with very little is also faithful with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with very little is also dishonest with a lot. 


text:
And if you haven't been faithful with what belongs to foreigners, who will give you what is your own? 


text:
"No servant can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth!" 


text:
<n>{The Law and the Kingdom of God}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 11:12-13)}</n> d Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
So he told them, "You try to justify yourselves in front of people, but God knows your hearts, because what is highly valued by people is detestable to God. 


text:
"The Law and the Prophets remained <n>{The Gk. lacks remained}</n> until John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone entering it is under attack. 


text:
However, it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for one stroke of a letter in the Law to be dropped. 


text:
Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery." 


text:
<n>{The Rich Man and Lazarus}</n> d "Once there was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and live in great luxury every day. 


text:
He was always trying to satisfy his hunger with what fell <n>{Other mss. read the scraps that fell}</n> from the rich man's table. Even the dogs used to come and lick his sores. 


text:
"One day, the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 


text:
In the afterlife, <n>{Lit. Hades , i.e. the realm of the dead}</n> where he was in constant torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus by his side. 


text:
So he shouted, «Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire.» 


text:
"But Abraham said, «My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, <n>{Lit. good things}</n> while Lazarus received hardships. <n>{Lit. and Lazarus in like manner evil things}</n> But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer. 


text:
Besides all this, a wide chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross from this side to you cannot do so, nor can they cross from your side to us.» 


text:
"The rich man <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, «Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to my father's house 


text:
because I have five brothers to warn them, so that they won't end up in this place of torture, too.» 


text:
"But the rich man <n>{Lit. he}</n> replied, «No, father Abraham! But if someone from the dead went to them, they would repent.» 


text:
"Then Abraham <n>{Lit. he}</n> told him, «If your brothers <n>{Lit. If they}</n> do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.»" 


text:
<n>{Causing Others to Sin}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 18:6-7, 21-22; Mark 9:42)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told his disciples, "It is inevitable that temptations to sin will come, but how terrible it will be for the person through whom they come! 


text:
It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 


text:
Even if he sins against you seven times in a day and comes back to you seven times and says, «I repent,'you must forgive him." 


text:
The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of <n>{Lit. faith of}</n> a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, «Be uprooted and planted in the sea,'and it would obey you! 


text:
"Suppose a man among you has a servant plowing or watching sheep. Would he say to him when he comes in from the field, «Come at once and have something to eat'? 


text:
Of course not. Instead, he would say to him, «Get dinner ready for me, and put on your apron and wait on me until I eat and drink. Then you can eat and drink.» 


text:
That's the way it is with you. When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, «We are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done.»" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers}</n> d One day, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee on the way to Jerusalem. 


text:
When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> saw them, he told them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." While they were going, they were made clean. 


text:
He fell on his face at Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> feet and thanked him. Now that man <n>{Lit. Now he}</n> was a Samaritan. 


text:
<n>{The Coming of the Kingdom}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:23-28, 36-41)}</n> d Once Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display. 


text:
People <n>{Lit. They}</n> won't be saying, «Look! Here it is!'or «There it is!'because now the kingdom of God is among <n>{Or within}</n> you." 


text:
Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told the disciples, "The time will come during which you will long to see one of these days when the Son of Man is with you, <n>{The Gk. lacks is with you}</n> but you will not see it. 


text:
People <n>{Lit. They}</n> will say to you, «Look! There he is!'or «Look! Here he is!'But don't go and chase after him. 


text:
Because just as lightning flashes and shines from one end of the sky to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his time. <n>{Lit. day ; other mss. lack in his day}</n> 


text:
But first he must suffer a great deal and be rejected by those living today. <n>{Lit. by this generation}</n> 


text:
People <n>{Lit. They}</n> were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed all of them. 


text:
So it was in the days of Lot. People <n>{Lit. They}</n> were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 


text:
But on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed all of them. 


text:
"The person who is on the housetop that day must not come down to get his belongings out of his house. The person in the field, too, must not turn back to what's left behind. 


text:
Whoever tries to save his life <n>{Other mss. read to make his life secure}</n> will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. 


text:
I tell you, two will be seated on the same couch <n>{I.e. an armless divan upon which guests reclined to partake of a meal}</n> that night. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 


text:
Two women will be grinding grain <n>{The Gk. lacks grain}</n> together. The one will be taken, and the other will be left behind." <n>{Other mss. read left behind.}</n> 


text:
Then they asked him, "Where, Lord, will this take place?" <n>{The Gk. lacks will this take place}</n> He told them, "Wherever there's a corpse, there the vultures <n>{Or eagles}</n> will gather." 


text:
<n>{The Parable about the Judge and the Widow}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told his disciples <n>{Lit. them}</n> a parable about their need to pray all the time and never give up. 


text:
In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, «Grant me justice against my adversary.» 


text:
For a while the judge <n>{Lit. he}</n> refused. But later, he told himself, «I don't fear God or respect people, 


text:
yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.»" 


text:
Won't God grant his chosen people justice when they cry out to him day and night? Is he slow to help them? 


text:
I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 


text:
<n>{The Parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else: 


text:
The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, «O God, I thank you that I'm not like other people thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector. 


text:
"But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even look up to heaven. Instead, he continued to beat his chest and said, «O God, be merciful to me, the sinner that I am!'<n>{The Gk. lacks that I am}</n> 


text:
I tell you, this man, rather than the other one, went down to his home justified, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be exalted." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Blesses the Little Children}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16)}</n> d Now some people <n>{Lit. they}</n> were even bringing their infants to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people <n>{Lit. them}</n> not to do that. 


text:
Jesus, however, called for the children <n>{Lit. them}</n> and said, "Let the little children come to me, and stop keeping them away, because the kingdom of God belongs to people like these. 


text:
I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, whoever doesn't receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never get into it at all." 


text:
<n>{A Rich Man Comes to Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31)}</n> d Then an official asked Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 


text:
You know the commandments: «Never commit adultery. <n>{Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18}</n> Never murder. <n>{Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17}</n> Never steal. <n>{Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19}</n> Never give false testimony. <n>{Exod 20:16; Deut 5:20}</n> Honor your father and mother.»" <n>{Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16}</n> 


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When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money <n>{The Gk. lacks the money}</n> to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me." 


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<n>{Salvation and Reward}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 19:23-26; Mark 10:23-31)}</n> d So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he <n>{Other mss. read So Jesus looked at him and}</n> said, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God! 


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Indeed, it is easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into the kingdom of God." 


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Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told them, "I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of the kingdom of God 


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who will not receive many times as much in this world, as well as eternal life in the age to come." 


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<n>{Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Third Time}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 20:17-19; Mark 10:32-34)}</n> d Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> took the Twelve aside and told them, "Pay attention! We're going up to Jerusalem. Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled, 


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because he will be handed over to the unbelievers, <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> and will be mocked, insulted, and spit on. 


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But they didn't understand any of this. What he said was hidden from them, and they didn't know what he meant. 


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<n>{Jesus Heals a Blind Man}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-50)}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road begging. 


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They told him that Jesus from Nazareth <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}</n> was coming by. 


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The people at the front of the crowd <n>{The Gk. lacks of the crowd}</n> sternly told him to be quiet, but he started shouting even louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 


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Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked him, 


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Immediately the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> could see again and began to follow Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> glorifying God. All the people saw this and gave praise to God. 


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<n>{Jesus and Zacchaeus}</n> d As Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> entered Jericho and was passing through it, 


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He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he couldn't do so due to the crowd, since he was a short man. 


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So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> who was going to pass that way. 


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When Jesus came to the tree, <n>{Lit. to the place}</n> he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today." 


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Zacchaeus <n>{Lit. He}</n> came down quickly and was glad to welcome him into his home. <n>{The Gk. lacks into his home}</n> 


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But all the people who saw this began to complain: "Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> is going to be the guest of a notorious <n>{The Gk. lacks notorious}</n> sinner!" 


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Later, Zacchaeus stood up and announced to the Lord, "Lord, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor. I'll pay four times as much as I owe <n>{The Gk. lacks as I owe}</n> if I have cheated anyone in any way." 


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Then Jesus told him, "Today salvation has come to this home, because this man <n>{Lit. because he}</n> is also a descendant of Abraham, 


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<n>{The Parable about the Coins}</n> d As they were listening to this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 


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He called ten of his servants and gave them ten coins. <n>{Lit. minas. A mina was equivalent to about eight months of wages for a laborer.}</n> He told them, «Invest this money until I come back.» 


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But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation to follow him and to announce, «We don't want this man to rule over us!» 


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"After he was appointed king, the prince <n>{Lit. he}</n> came back. He ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called so he could find out what they had earned by investing. 


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The first servant <n>{The Gk. lacks servant}</n> came and said, «Sir, your coin has earned ten more coins.» 


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The king <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «Well done, good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.» 


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"The second servant <n>{The Gk. lacks servant}</n> came and said, «Your coin, sir, has earned five coins.» 


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"Then the other servant <n>{The Gk. lacks servant}</n> came and said, «Sir, look! Here's your coin. I've kept it in a cloth for safekeeping 


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because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn't deposit and harvest what you didn't plant.» 


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The king <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didn't deposit and harvest what I didn't plant? 


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Then why didn't you put my money in the bank? When I returned, I could have collected it with interest.» 


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"So the king <n>{Lit. he}</n> told those standing nearby, «Take the coin away from him and give it to the man who has the ten coins.» 


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«I tell you, to everyone who has something, more will be given, but from the person who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 


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But as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!»" 


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<n>{The King Enters Jerusalem}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-19)}</n> d After Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had said this, he traveled on and went up to Jerusalem. 


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When he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples on ahead 


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and said, "Go into the village ahead of you. As you enter, you will find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. <n>{Lit. ever sat on}</n> Untie it, and bring it along. 


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He was now approaching the descent from the Mount of Olives. The whole crowd of disciples began to rejoice and to praise God with a loud voice because of all the miracles they had seen. 


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They said, "How blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! <n>{Ps 118:26}</n> Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" 


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Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet." 


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"If you <n>{I.e. the city of Jerusalem personified; and so throughout the paragraph}</n> had only known today what could have brought you peace! But now it is hidden from your sight, 


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because the days will come <n>{Lit. come on you}</n> when your enemies will build walls around you, surround you, and close you in on every side. 


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They will level you to the ground you and those who live <n>{Lit. and your children}</n> within your city limits. <n>{The Gk. lacks city limits}</n> They will not leave one stone on another within your walls, <n>{Lit. within you}</n> because you didn't recognize the time when God came to help you." <n>{Lit. the time of your visitation}</n> 


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<n>{Confrontation in the Temple over Money}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; John 2:13-22)}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling things. 


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He told them, "It is written, «My house is to be called a house of prayer,'<n>{Isa 56:7}</n> but you have turned it into a hideout <n>{Lit. cave}</n> for bandits!" 


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Then he began teaching in the Temple every day. The high priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him, 


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<n>{Jesus'Authority is Challenged}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33)}</n> d One day, while Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the high priests and the scribes came with the elders 


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and asked him, "Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 


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They discussed this among themselves: "If we say, «From heaven,'he will ask, «Then why didn't you believe him? '


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But if we say, «From humans,'all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet." 


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<n>{The Parable about the Tenant Farmers}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12)}</n> d Then he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went abroad for a long time. 


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At the right time he sent a servant to the farmers in order to get his share of the produce of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him back empty-handed. 


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He sent another servant, and they beat him, too, treated him shamefully, and sent him back empty-handed. 


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"Then the owner of the vineyard said, «What should I do? I'll send my son whom I love. Maybe they'll respect him.» 


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But when the farmers saw him, they talked it over among themselves and said, «This is the heir. Let's kill him so that the inheritance will be ours!» 


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So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 


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He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "That must never happen!" 


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But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> looked at them and asked, "What does this text mean: «The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? <n>{Or capstone ; Ps 118:22}</n> 


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Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 


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When the scribes and the high priests realized that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had told this parable about them, they wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the crowd. 


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<n>{A Question about Paying Taxes}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17)}</n> d So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction <n>{Lit. the power and authority}</n> of the governor. 


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So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you don't favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully. 


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So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 


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So they couldn't catch him before the people in what he said. Amazed at his answer, they became silent. 


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<n>{A Question about the Resurrection}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27)}</n> d Now some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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and asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, the man <n>{Lit. the brother}</n> should marry the widow and have children for his brother. 


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but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 


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Nor can they die anymore, because they are like the angels and, since they share in the resurrection, are God's children. 


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Even Moses demonstrated in the story about the bush that the dead are raised, when he calls the Lord, «the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'<n>{Exod 3:6, 15, 16}</n> 


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He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, because he considers all people to be alive to him." 


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<n>{A Question about David's Son}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37)}</n> d Then he asked them, "How can people <n>{Lit. they}</n> say that the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> is David's son? 


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<n>{Jesus Denounces the Scribes}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 11:37-54)}</n> d While all the people were listening, he told his disciples, 


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"Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 


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<n>{The Widow's Offering}</n> <n>{ (Mark 12:41-44)}</n> d Now Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> looked up and saw rich people dropping their gifts into the offering box. <n>{Or treasury}</n> 


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Then he saw a destitute widow drop in two small copper coins. <n>{Lit. lepta , the smallest coin denominated in the 1 st century Jewish economy}</n> 


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because all the others contributed to the offering <n>{Other mss. read to the offering of God}</n> out of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, dropped in everything she had to live on." 


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<n>{Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2)}</n> d Now while some people were talking about the Temple how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God he said, 


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"As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be knocked down." 


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<n>{The Coming Wars and Revolutions}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:3-8; Mark 13:3-8)}</n> d Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?" 


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He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, «I AM'and, «The time has come.'Don't follow them. 


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When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away." 


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Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 


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There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven." 


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<n>{Future Persecutions}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 10:16-25; Matthew 24:9-14; Mark 13:9-13)}</n> d "But before all these things take place, people <n>{Lit. they}</n> will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. 


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because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 


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"You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 


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<n>{Signs of the End}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:15-21; Mark 13:14-19)}</n> d "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then understand that its devastation is approaching. 


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Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in the countryside must not go into it, 


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"How terrible it will be for those women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Because there will be great distress in the land <n>{Or on earth}</n> and wrath against this people. 


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They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> until the times of the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> are fulfilled." 


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<n>{The Coming of the Son of Man}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27)}</n> d "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and there will be distress on earth among the nations that are confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. 


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People will faint from fear and apprehension because of the things that are to come on the inhabited world, because the powers of heaven will be shaken. 


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"Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is approaching." 


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<n>{The Lesson from the Fig Tree}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 24:32-35; Mark 13:28-31)}</n> d Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 


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In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near. 


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"I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place. 


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<n>{Be Alert}</n> d "Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise 


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So be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man." 


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Now during the day Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> would teach in the Temple, but when evening came he would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives. 


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<n>{The Plot to Kill Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16; Mark 14:1-2, 10-11; John 11:45-53)}</n> d Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near. 


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So the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the crowd. 


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But Satan went into Judas called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle <n>{Lit. number}</n> of the Twelve. 


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So he went off and discussed with the high priests and the Temple police how he could betray Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to them. 


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Judas <n>{Lit. He}</n> accepted their offer and began to look for a good opportunity to betray Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> to them when no crowd was present. 


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<n>{The Passover with the Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:17-25; Mark 14:12-21; John 13:21-30)}</n> d Then the day of the Festival <n>{The Gk. lacks of the Festival}</n> of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed. 


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So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover meal." 


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He told them, "Just after you go into the city, a man carrying a jug of water will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters 


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and say to the owner of the house, «The Teacher asks you, "Where is the room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?"» 


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So they went and found everything just as Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 


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<n>{The Lord's Supper}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26)}</n> d Now when the hour came, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> took his place at the table, along with his apostles. 


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because I tell all of you, <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> I will never eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 


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because I tell you, from now on I will never drink the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 


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Then he took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it in pieces, and handed it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Keep on doing this in memory of me." 


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He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant sealed <n>{The Gk. lacks sealed}</n> by my blood, which is being poured out for you. 


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The Son of Man is going away, just as it has been determined, but how terrible it will be for that man by whom he is betrayed!" 


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<n>{An Argument about Greatness}</n> d Now an argument sprang up among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 


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But he told them, "The kings of the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> lord it over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. 


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But you are not to do so. On the contrary, the greatest among you should become like the youngest, and the one who leads should become like the one who serves. 


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Because who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? It is the one at the table, isn't it? But I am among you as one who serves. 


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And I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred a kingdom <n>{The Gk. lacks a kingdom}</n> on me, 


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so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit down on thrones to govern the twelve tribes of Israel." 


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<n>{Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; John 13:36-38)}</n> d "Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, 


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but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers." 


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But Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you deny three times that you know me." 


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<n>{Be Prepared for Trouble}</n> d Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked his disciples, <n>{Lit. to them}</n> "When I sent you out without a wallet, traveling bag, or sandals, you didn't lack anything, did you?" They replied, "Nothing at all." 


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Then he told them, "But now whoever has a wallet must take it along, and his traveling bag, too. And the one who has no sword must sell his coat and buy one. 


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Because I tell you, what has been written about me must be fulfilled: «He was counted among the criminals.'<n>{Isa 53:12}</n> Indeed, what is written about me must be fulfilled." 


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So they said, "Lord, look! Here are two swords." He answered them, "Enough of that!" <n>{Or That is enough}</n> 


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<n>{Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42)}</n> d Then he left and went to the Mount of Olives, as usual. The disciples went with him. 


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In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like large drops of blood falling on the ground. <n>{Other mss. lack verses 43 and 44}</n> 


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<n>{Jesus is Arrested}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-50; John 18:3-11)}</n> d While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was still speaking, a crowd arrived. The man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them, and he came close to Jesus to kiss <n>{People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.}</n> him. 


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When those who were around Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> saw what was about to take place, they asked, "Lord, should we attack with our swords?" 


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But Jesus said, "No more of this!" So he touched the wounded man's <n>{The Gk. lacks wounded man's}</n> ear and healed him. 


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Then Jesus told the high priests, the Temple police, and the elders, who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? <n>{Or revolutionary}</n> 


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While I was with you day after day in the Temple, you didn't lay a hand on me. But this is your hour, when darkness reigns!" <n>{Lit. your hour and the power of darkness}</n> 


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<n>{Peter Denies Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:57-58, 69-75; Mark 14:53-54, 66-72; John 18:12-18, 25-27)}</n> d Then they arrested him, led him away, and brought him to the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. 


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When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats, Peter, too, sat down among them. 


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A little later, a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them, too." But Peter said, "Mister, <n>{Lit. Man}</n> I am not!" 


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About an hour later, another man emphatically asserted, "This man was certainly with him, because he is a Galilean!" 


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But Peter said, "Mister, <n>{Lit. Man}</n> I don't know what you're talking about!" Just then, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 


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Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word from the Lord, and how he had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." 


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<n>{Jesus is Insulted and Beaten}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65)}</n> d Then the men who were holding Jesus in custody began to make fun of him while they beat him. 


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As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled and brought him before their Council. <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> 


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They said, "If you are the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> tell us." But he told them, "If I tell you, you won't believe me, 


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But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." <n>{Or the power of God}</n> 


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<n>{Jesus is Taken to Pilate}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; John 18:28-38)}</n> d Then the whole crowd got up and took him to Pilate. 


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They began to accuse him, "We found this man corrupting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that he is the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> a king." 


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But they kept insisting, "He is stirring up the people with what he teaches all over Judea, from where he started in Galilee to this place." 


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When he learned with certainty that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> came from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time. 


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Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, because he had been wanting to see him for a long time on account of what he had heard about him. He was also hoping to see some sign done by him. 


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So he continued to question him for a long time, but Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> gave him no answer at all. 


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Even <n>{Other mss. lack Even}</n> Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> and sent him back to Pilate. 


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So Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. Before this they had been enemies. 


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<n>{Jesus is Sentenced to Death}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; John 18:39-19:16)}</n> d Then Pilate called the high priests, the other <n>{The Gk. lacks other}</n> leaders, and the people together 


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and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty" of the charges you make against him. 


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Nor does Herod, because he sent him back to us. Indeed, this man <n>{Lit. Indeed, he}</n> has done nothing to deserve death. 


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Now he was obligated to release someone for them at the festival. <n>{Other mss. lack verse 17}</n> 


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Then he spoke to them a third time: "What has he done wrong? I have found nothing in him worthy of death. So I will punish him and let him go." 


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But they kept pressing him with loud shouts, demanding that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> be crucified, and their shouts began to prevail. 


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So he released the man who had been put in prison for revolt and murder the man whose release <n>{The Gk. lacks whose release}</n> they continued to demand but he let them have their way with Jesus. <n>{Lit. he turned Jesus over to their will}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Crucified}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:32-44; Mark 15:21-32; John 19:17-27)}</n> d As they led Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> away, they grabbed Simon, a man from Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 


text:
But Jesus turned to them and said, "Women <n>{Lit. Daughters}</n> of Jerusalem, stop crying for me. Instead, cry for yourselves and for your children, 


text:
because the time is surely coming when people <n>{Lit. they}</n> will say, «How blessed are the women who couldn't bear children and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!» 


text:
Then people <n>{Lit. they}</n> will begin to say to the mountains, «Fall on us!', and to the hills, «Cover us up!'<n>{Hos 10:8}</n> 


text:
When they reached the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 


text:
Jesus kept saying, "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they're doing." <n>{Other mss. lack Jesus kept saying, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."}</n> Then they divided his clothes among them by throwing dice. 


text:
Meanwhile, the people stood looking on. The leaders were mocking him by saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> of God, the chosen one!" 


text:
There was also an inscription over him written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: <n>{Other mss. lack written in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew}</n> "This is the King of the Jews." 


text:
Now one of the criminals hanging there kept insulting <n>{Or blaspheming}</n> him, "You are the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> aren't you? Save yourself and us!" 


text:
But the other criminal rebuked him, "Aren't you afraid of God, since you are suffering the same penalty? 


text:
We have been condemned justly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong." 


text:
Then he went on to plead, "Jesus, remember me when you come into <n>{Other mss. read in}</n> your kingdom!" 


text:
Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> with certainty, today you will be with me in Paradise." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Dies on the Cross}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; John 19:28-30)}</n> d It was already about noon, <n>{Lit. the sixth hour}</n> and the whole land <n>{Or earth}</n> became dark until three in the afternoon <n>{Lit. the ninth hour}</n> 


text:
because the sun had stopped shining. And the curtain <n>{This curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.}</n> in the sanctuary was torn in two. 


text:
Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit." <n>{Ps 31:5}</n> After he said this, he breathed his last. 


text:
When the centurion <n>{A Roman centurion commanded about 100 men.}</n> saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, "This man certainly was righteous!" 


text:
When all the crowds who had come together for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they beat their chests and left. 


text:
But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, were standing at a distance watching these things. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Buried}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42)}</n> d Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> a good and righteous man 


text:
he had not voted for their plan and action from the Jewish town of Arimathea; and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 


text:
Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb cut in the rock, in which no one had yet been laid. 


text:
So the women who had come with Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> from Galilee, following close behind, saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 


text:
Then they went back and prepared spices and perfumes, and on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Raised from the Dead}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; John 20:1-10)}</n> d But at early dawn on the first day of the week, <n>{Lit. first of the Sabbaths}</n> they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 


text:
but when they went in, they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. <n>{Other mss. lack of the Lord Jesus}</n> 


text:
While the women remained terrified, bowing their faces to the ground, the men <n>{Lit. they}</n> asked them, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is living? 


text:
He is not here, but has been raised. <n>{Other mss. lack He is not here, but has been raised}</n> Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee: 


text:
They returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven disciples <n>{The Gk. lacks disciples}</n> and all the others. 


text:
The women who told the apostles about it were Mary Magdalene, <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some <n>{Lit. the}</n> others. 


text:
Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He stooped down and saw only the linen cloths. Then he went home, wondering about what had happened. <n>{Other mss. lack verse 12.}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Meets Two Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Mark 16:12-13)}</n> d On the same day, two of Jesus'followers <n>{Lit. of them}</n> were walking to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles <n>{Lit. sixty stadia ; The Roman mile contained eight stadia, one stadion was about 604.5 feet long.}</n> from Jerusalem. 


text:
While they were discussing and analyzing what had happened, <n>{The Gk. lacks what had happened}</n> Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them, 


text:
He asked them, "What are you discussing with each other as you're walking along?" They stood still and looked gloomy. 


text:
The one whose name was Cleopas answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know what happened there in the past few days?" 


text:
He asked them, "What things?" They answered him, "The events involving Jesus of Nazareth, <n>{Other mss. read the Nazorean}</n> who was a prophet, mighty in what he said and did before God and all the people, 


text:
and how our high priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and had him crucified. 


text:
But we kept hoping that he would be the one to redeem <n>{Or to free}</n> Israel. What is more, this is now the third day since these things occurred. 


text:
Even some of our women have startled us by what they told us. <n>{The Gk. lacks by what they told us}</n> They were at the tomb early this morning 


text:
and didn't find his body there, so they came back and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who were saying that he was alive. 


text:
Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. However, they didn't see him." 


text:
Then Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told them, "O, how foolish you are! How slow you are to believe everything the prophets said! 


text:
Then, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them all the passages of Scripture about himself. 


text:
As they came near the village where the two men <n>{Lit. where they}</n> were headed, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> acted as though he were going farther. 


text:
But they strongly urged him, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the daylight is nearly gone." So he went in to stay with them. 


text:
While he was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it in pieces, and gave it to them. 


text:
Then they asked each other, "Our hearts kept burning within us <n>{Other mss. lack within us}</n> as he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us, didn't they?" 


text:
They got up right away, went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven disciples <n>{The Gk. lacks disciples}</n> and their companions all together. 


text:
Then the two men <n>{Lit. Then they}</n> began to tell what had happened on the road and how they had recognized him when he broke the bread in pieces. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to the Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18; John 20:19-23; Acts 1:6-8)}</n> d While they were all talking about this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> himself stood among them and told them, "Peace be with you." <n>{Other mss. lack and told them, "Peace be with you."}</n> 


text:
Look at my hands and my feet, because it's really me. Touch me and look at me, because a ghost doesn't have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 


text:
Even though they were still skeptical due to their joy and astonishment, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 


text:
Then he told them, "These are the words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." 


text:
He told them, "This is how it is written: the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> was to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 


text:
and then repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 


text:
I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Taken up to Heaven}</n> <n>{ (Mark 16:19-20; Acts 1:9-11)}</n> d Later, he led them out as far as Bethany, lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 


text:
While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. <n>{Other mss. lack and was taken up to heaven}</n> 


text:
They worshipped him and <n>{Other mss. lack worshipped him and}</n> returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 


text:
They were continually in the Temple, blessing <n>{Other mss. read praising ; still other mss. read praising and blessing}</n> God. <n>{Other mss. read God. Amen.}</n> 


text:
<n>{ The Gospel According to}</n> <n>{ John}</n> d <n>{The Word and Creation}</n> d In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 


text:
And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. <n>{Or understood it}</n> 


text:
John <n>{Lit. He}</n> was not the light, but he came <n>{The Gk. lacks he came}</n> to testify about the light. 


text:
This <n>{Lit. He}</n> was the true light that enlightens every person by his coming into the world. <n>{Or every person who is coming into the world}</n> 


text:
<n>{Responses to the Word}</n> d He came to his own creation, <n>{Or possessions}</n> yet his own people did not receive him. 


text:
However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become God's children, 


text:
who were born, not merely in a genetic sense, <n>{Lit. not of bloods}</n> nor from lust, <n>{Lit. from desire of the flesh}</n> nor from man's desire, but from the will of <n>{The Gk. lacks the will of}</n> God. 


text:
<n>{The Word Becomes Human}</n> d The Word became flesh and lived <n>{Lit. pitched his tent}</n> among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father's unique Son, <n>{The Gk. lacks Son}</n> who is full of grace and truth. 


text:
John told the truth about him when he cried out, "This is the person about whom I said, «The one who comes after me ranks higher than me, because he existed before me.»" 


text:
We have all received one gracious gift after another from his abundance, <n>{Lit. received grace for grace}</n> 


text:
because while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
No one has ever seen God. The unique God, <n>{Other mss. read Son}</n> who is close to the Father's side, has revealed him. 


text:
<n>{The Testimony of John the Baptist}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:15-17)}</n> d This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> sent priests and descendants of Levi to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 


text:
He spoke openly and, remaining true to himself, <n>{Lit. and did not deny}</n> admitted, "I am not the Messiah." <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
So they asked him, "Well then, are you Elijah?" John <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 


text:
"Who are you?" they asked him. "We must give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 


text:
He replied, "I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare the Lord's highway,"'<n>{Isa 40:3}</n> as the prophet Isaiah said." 


text:
They asked him, "Why, then, are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> or Elijah, or the Prophet?" 


text:
John answered them, "I am baptizing with <n>{Or in}</n> water, but among you stands a man whom you do not know, 


text:
This happened in Bethany <n>{Other mss. read Bethabara}</n> on the other side <n>{I.e. the east side}</n> of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 


text:
The next day, John <n>{Lit. he}</n> saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 


text:
This is the one about whom I said, «After me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.'


text:
I didn't recognize him, but I came baptizing with <n>{Or in}</n> water so that he might be revealed to Israel." 


text:
John also testified, "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 


text:
I didn't recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with <n>{Or in}</n> water told me, «The person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with <n>{Or in}</n> the Holy Spirit.'


text:
I have seen this and have testified that this is the Son <n>{Other mss. read Chosen One}</n> of God." 


text:
<n>{The First Disciples}</n> d The next day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples. 


text:
But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, he asked them, "What are you looking for?" They asked him, "Rabbi," (which is translated "Teacher" ), "where are you staying?" 


text:
He told them, "Come and see!" So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. <n>{Lit. the tenth hour}</n> 


text:
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
The first thing Andrew <n>{Lit. He}</n> did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, "We have found the Anointed One!" <n>{The Gk. word messias is a transliteration of the Heb. word for Messiah}</n> (which is translated "Messiah" ). <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
He led Simon <n>{Lit. him}</n> to Jesus. Jesus looked at him intently and said, "You are Simon, John's son. <n>{Cf. Matthew 16:17}</n> You will be called Cephas!" <n>{ Cephas means rock in Aram.}</n> (which is translated "Peter" ). <n>{ Peter means rock in Gk.}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Calls Philip and Nathaniel}</n> d The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, "Follow me." 


text:
Philip found Nathaniel and told him, "We have found the man about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth." 


text:
Nathaniel asked him, "Out of Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?" Philip told him, "Come and see!" 


text:
Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, "Look, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!" 


text:
Nathaniel asked him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 


text:
Nathaniel replied to him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 


text:
Jesus told him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that." 


text:
Then he told him, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, you will see heaven standing open and the angels of God going up and coming down to the Son of Man." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Changes Water into Wine}</n> d On the third day of that week <n>{The Gk. lacks of that week}</n> there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Jesus'mother was there, 


text:
"How does that concern us, dear lady?" <n>{Or us, woman}</n> Jesus asked her. "My time hasn't come yet." 


text:
Now standing there were six stone water jars used for the Jewish rites of purification, each one holding from 20 to 30 gallons. 


text:
Jesus told the servants, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them up to the brim. 


text:
Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the man in charge of the banquet." So they did. 


text:
When the man in charge of the banquet tasted the water that had become wine (without knowing where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he <n>{Lit. the man in charge of the banquet}</n> called for the bridegroom 


text:
and told him, "Everyone serves the best wine first, and the cheap kind when people <n>{Lit. they}</n> are drunk. But you have kept the best wine until now!" 


text:
Jesus did this, the first <n>{Or beginning}</n> of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him. 


text:
After this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> went down to Capernaum he, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples and they remained there for a few days. 


text:
<n>{Confrontation in the Temple over Money}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46)}</n> d The Jewish Passover was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 


text:
In the Temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as moneychangers sitting at their tables. 


text:
After making a whip out of cords, he drove all of them out of the Temple, including the sheep and the cattle. He scattered the coins of the moneychangers and knocked over their tables. 


text:
Then he told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" 


text:
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." <n>{Ps 69:9}</n> 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> asked him, "What sign can you show us as authority for doing these things?" 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> said, "This sanctuary has been under construction for 46 years, and you're going to rebuild it in three days?" 


text:
After he had been raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scripture and the statement that Jesus had made. <n>{Lit. spoken}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Knows All People}</n> d While Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many people believed in him <n>{Lit. in his name}</n> because they saw the signs that he was doing. 


text:
and didn't need anyone to tell him what people were like, because he himself knew what was in every person. <n>{Lit. in a person}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Talks with Nicodemus}</n> d Now there was a man from the Pharisees, a leader of the Jews, whose name was Nicodemus. 


text:
He came to Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> at night and told him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him." 


text:
Jesus replied to him, "Truly, I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> emphatically, unless a person is born from above <n>{Or born again}</n> he cannot see the kingdom of God." 


text:
Nicodemus asked him, "How can a person be born when he is old? He can't go back into his mother's womb a second time and be born, can he?" 


text:
Jesus answered, "Truly, I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> emphatically, unless a person is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. <n>{Other mss. read of heaven}</n> 


text:
The wind <n>{The Gk. word can be translated both wind and spirit.}</n> blows where it wants to. You hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. That's the way it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 


text:
Truly, I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> emphatically, we know what we're talking about, and we testify about what we've seen. Yet you people <n>{The Gk. lacks people}</n> do not accept our testimony. 


text:
If I have told you people <n>{The Gk. lacks people}</n> about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 


text:
"No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven. <n>{Other mss. lack who is in heaven}</n> 


text:
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. <n>{The quotation possibly concludes with this verse instead of with verse 21.}</n> 


text:
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life. 


text:
Because God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. 


text:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's unique Son. 


text:
And this is the basis for judgment: The light has come into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light because their actions were evil. 


text:
Everyone who practices wickedness hates the light and does not come to the light, so that his actions may not be exposed. <n>{Other mss. read as being evil}</n> 


text:
But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may become evident that his actions have God's approval." <n>{Lit. actions are in God}</n> 


text:
<n>{John the Baptist Talks about Jesus}</n> d After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside. He spent some time there with them and began baptizing. 


text:
John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People <n>{Lit. They}</n> kept coming and were being baptized, 


text:
Then a controversy about ritual purification sprang up between a certain Jew <n>{Other mss. read the Jews}</n> and John's disciples, 


text:
so they went to John and told him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> the man who was with you on the other side <n>{I.e. the east side}</n> of the Jordan, the one about whom you testified look, he's baptizing, and everyone is going to him!" 


text:
You yourselves are my <n>{Other mss. lack my}</n> witnesses that I said, «I am not the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> but I have been sent ahead of him.'


text:
It is the bridegroom who gets the bride, yet the bridegroom's friend, who merely <n>{The Gk. lacks merely}</n> stands by and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom's voice. That's why this joy of mine is now complete. 


text:
<n>{The One who Comes from Above}</n> d The one who comes from above is superior to everything. The one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. <n>{Lit. of the earth}</n> The one who comes from heaven is superior to everything. 


text:
The one whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God <n>{Lit. he}</n> does not give the Spirit in limited measure to him. <n>{The Gk. lacks to him}</n> 


text:
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Meets a Samaritan Woman}</n> d Now when Jesus <n>{Other mss. read the Lord}</n> realized that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 


text:
So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 


text:
Jacob's Well was also there, and Jesus, tired out by the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. <n>{Lit. the sixth hour}</n> 


text:
The Samaritan woman asked him, "How can you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" Because Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans. <n>{Other mss. lack For Jews do not have anything to do with Samaritans.}</n> 


text:
Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, «Please give me a drink,'you would have been the one to ask him, and he would have given you living water." 


text:
The woman <n>{Other mss. read She}</n> told him, "Sir, you don't have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this living water? 


text:
You're not greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it, along with his sons and his flocks, are you?" 


text:
But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never become thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become a well of water for him, springing up to eternal life." 


text:
The woman told him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I won't get thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." 


text:
The woman answered him, "I don't have a husband." Jesus told her, "You are quite right in saying, «I don't have a husband,» 


text:
because you have had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true." 


text:
Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain. But you Jews <n>{The Gk. lacks Jews}</n> say that the place where people should worship is in Jerusalem." 


text:
Jesus told her, "Believe me, dear lady, <n>{Or me, woman}</n> the hour is coming when you Samaritans <n>{The Gk. lacks Samaritans}</n> will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 


text:
You don't know what you're worshiping. We Jews <n>{The Gk. lacks Jews}</n> know what we're worshiping, because salvation comes from the Jews. 


text:
Yet the time is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit <n>{Or in the Spirit}</n> and truth. Indeed, the Father is looking for people like that to worship him. 


text:
God is spirit, <n>{Or Spirit}</n> and those who worship him must worship in spirit <n>{Or in the Spirit}</n> and truth." 


text:
The woman told him, "I know that the Anointed One <n>{The Gk. word messias is a transliteration of the Heb. word for Messiah}</n> is coming, who is being called «Messiah'. <n>{Or Christ}</n> When that person comes, he will explain everything." 


text:
At this point his disciples arrived, and they were astonished that he was talking to a woman. Yet no one said, "What do you want from her?" <n>{The Gk. lacks from her}</n> or, "Why are you talking to her?" 


text:
"Come, see a man who told me everything I've ever done! Could he possibly be the Messiah?" <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> have something to eat." 


text:
You say, don't you, «In four more months the harvest will begin? 'Look, I tell you, open your eyes and observe that the fields are ready <n>{Lit. white}</n> for harvesting now! 


text:
The one who harvests is already receiving his wages and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who harvests may rejoice together. 


text:
In this respect the saying is true: «One person sows, and another person harvests.'<n>{Mic 6:15}</n> 


text:
I have sent you to harvest what you have not worked for. Others have worked, and you have adopted their work as your own." 


text:
Now many of the Samaritans of that town believed in Jesus <n>{Lit. in him}</n> because the woman had testified, "He told me everything I've ever done." 


text:
So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there for two days. 


text:
They kept telling the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, because now we have heard him ourselves, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals an Official's Son}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)}</n> d Two days later, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> left for Galilee from there, 


text:
When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen everything that he had done in Jerusalem during the festival and because they, too, had gone to the festival. 


text:
So Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. Meanwhile, in Capernaum there was a government official whose son was ill. 


text:
When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him repeatedly to come down and heal his son, because he was about to die. 


text:
Jesus told him, "Unless you people <n>{The Gk. lacks people}</n> see signs and wonders, you will never believe." 


text:
Jesus told him, "Go home. Your son will live." The man believed what Jesus told him and started back home. 


text:
While he was on his way, his servants met him and told him that his child <n>{Other mss. read son}</n> was alive. 


text:
So he asked them at what hour he had begun to recover, and they told him, "The fever left him yesterday at one o'clock in the afternoon." <n>{Lit. the seventh hour}</n> 


text:
Then the father realized that this was the very hour when Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." So he himself believed, along with his whole family. 


text:
<n>{The Healing at the Pool}</n> d Later on, there was another <n>{Other mss. read the}</n> festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 


text:
Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem is a pool called Bethesda <n>{Other mss. read Bethzatha ; still other mss. read Bethsaida}</n> in Hebrew. It has five colonnades, 


text:
and under these a large number of sick people were lying blind, lame, or paralyzed waiting for the movement of the water. <n>{Other mss. lack waiting for the movement of the water}</n> 


text:
At certain times an angel of the Lord would go down into the pool and stir up the water, and whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had. <n>{Other mss. lack v. 4}</n> 


text:
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" 


text:
The sick man answered him, "Sir, I don't have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I'm trying to get there, someone else steps down ahead of me." 


text:
The man immediately became well, and he picked up his mat and started walking. Now that day was a Sabbath. 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> told the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat. 


text:
But the one who had been healed did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away from the crowd in that place. 


text:
Later on, Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "See, you have become well. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 


text:
The man went off and told the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> that it was Jesus who had made him well. 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> began persecuting Jesus, <n>{Other MSS add and were seeking to kill him}</n> because he kept doing such things on the Sabbath. 


text:
But Jesus <n>{Other mss. read he}</n> answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I, too, am working." 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> were trying all the harder to kill him, because he was not only breaking the Sabbath but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. 


text:
<n>{The Authority of the Son}</n> d Jesus told them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the Son can do nothing on his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing, What the Father does, the Son does likewise. 


text:
The Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him even greater actions than these, so that you may be amazed. 


text:
Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to those he chooses. 


text:
so that everyone may honor the Son as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 


text:
"Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, whoever hears what I say and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has passed from death to life. 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the time approaches, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live. 


text:
"Don't be amazed at this, because the time is approaching when everyone in their graves will hear the Son of Man's <n>{Lit. hear his}</n> voice 


text:
and will come out those who have done what is good to the resurrection that leads to <n>{Lit. resurrection of}</n> life, and those who have practiced what is evil to the resurrection that ends in <n>{Lit. resurrection of}</n> condemnation. <n>{Or judgment}</n> 


text:
I can do nothing on my own accord. I judge according to what I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me." 


text:
<n>{Jesus'Greater Testimony}</n> d "If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not trustworthy. 


text:
There is another who testifies about me, and I know <n>{Other mss. read you know}</n> that the testimony he gives about me is true. 


text:
You have sent messengers <n>{The Gk. lacks messengers}</n> to John, and he has testified to the truth. 


text:
That man John <n>{The Gk. lacks John}</n> was a lamp that burns and brightly shines, and for a while you were willing to rejoice in his light. 


text:
"But I have a greater testimony than John's, because the actions that the Father has given me to complete the very actions that I am doing testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. 


text:
Moreover, the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen what he looks like, 


text:
nor do you have his word at work <n>{Lit. word abiding}</n> in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he sent. 


text:
You examine the Scriptures carefully because you suppose that in them you have eternal life. Yet they testify about me. 


text:
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me. Yet if another man comes in his own name, you will accept him. 


text:
How can you believe when you accept each other's praise and do not look for the praise that comes from the only God? <n>{Other mss. read the only One}</n> 


text:
Do not suppose that I will be the one to accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope, 


text:
<n>{Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17)}</n> d After this, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). 


text:
A large crowd kept following him because they had seen the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. 


text:
When Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward him, he asked Philip, "Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?" 


text:
Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii <n>{The denarius was the usual day's wage for a laborer.}</n> worth of bread isn't enough for each of them to have a little." 


text:
"There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?" 


text:
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." Now there was plenty of grass in that area, so they sat down, numbering about 5,000 men. 


text:
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated. He also distributed <n>{Lit. Likewise also}</n> as much fish as they wanted. 


text:
When they were completely satisfied, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told his disciples, "Collect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted." 


text:
So they collected and filled twelve baskets full of pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 


text:
When the people saw the sign <n>{Other mss. read signs}</n> that he had done, they kept saying, "Truly this is the Prophet who was to come into the world!" 


text:
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew <n>{Other mss. read fled}</n> again to the hillside by himself. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Walks on the Sea}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 14:22-27; Mark 6:45-52)}</n> d When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 


text:
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already fallen, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 


text:
After they had rowed about three or four miles, <n>{Lit. 25 or 30 stadia ; The Roman mile contained eight stadia, one stadion was about 604.5 feet long.}</n> they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward their boat. They became terrified. 


text:
So they were glad to take him on board, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going. 


text:
<n>{Jesus the Bread of Life}</n> d The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea noticed that only one boat had been there, and no other, and that Jesus had not gotten into that boat with his disciples. Instead, his disciples had gone away by themselves. 


text:
Other small boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. <n>{Other mss. lack after the Lord had given thanks}</n> 


text:
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. 


text:
When they had found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> when did you get here?" 


text:
Jesus replied to them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the loaves and were completely satisfied. 


text:
Do not work for food that perishes but for food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set his seal on him." 


text:
So they asked him, "What sign are you going to do so that we may see it and believe in you? What actions are you performing? 


text:
Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, «He gave them bread from heaven to eat.»" <n>{Ps 78:24; Exod 16:15; Num 11:7-9}</n> 


text:
Jesus told them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 


text:
Jesus told them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty. 


text:
And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything that he has given me, but should raise it to life on the last day. 


text:
This is my Father's will: That everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day." 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> began grumbling about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 


text:
They kept saying, "This is Jesus, the son of Joseph, isn't it, whose father and mother we know? So how can he say, «I have come down from heaven» ?" 


text:
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him to life on the last day. 


text:
It is written in the Prophets, «And all of them will be taught by God.'<n>{Isa 54:13}</n> Everyone who has listened to the Father and has learned anything comes to me. 


text:
Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who comes from God. This one has seen the Father. 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the one who believes in me <n>{Other mss. lack in me}</n> has eternal life. 


text:
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. And the bread I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> debated angrily with each other, asking, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 


text:
So Jesus told them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life in yourselves. 


text:
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day, 


text:
Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will also live because of me. 


text:
This is the bread that came down from heaven, not the kind that your ancestors ate. They died, but the one who eats this bread will live forever." 


text:
<n>{The Words of Eternal Life}</n> d When many of his disciples heard this, they said, "This is a difficult statement. Who can accept <n>{Lit. listen to}</n> it?" 


text:
But Jesus, knowing within himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, "Does this offend you? 


text:
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 


text:
But there are some among you who do not believe..." because Jesus knew from the beginning those who weren't believing, as well as the one who would betray him. 


text:
So he said, "That's why I told you that no one can come to me unless it be granted him by the Father." 


text:
As a result, <n>{Or From this time}</n> many of his disciples turned back and no longer associated <n>{Lit. walked}</n> with him. 


text:
Besides, we have believed and remain convinced that you are the Holy One of God." <n>{Other mss. read the Messiah, the Son of the living God}</n> 


text:
Now he was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, <n>{Other mss. read Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon}</n> because this man was going to betray him, even though he was one of the Twelve. 


text:
<n>{The Unbelief of Jesus'Brothers}</n> d After this, Jesus traveled about <n>{Lit. walked}</n> in Galilee, because he didn't want to travel <n>{Lit. to walk}</n> in Judea, since the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> there were trying to kill him. 


text:
So his brothers told him, "You should leave this place and go to Judea, so that your disciples can see the actions that you're doing, 


text:
since no one acts in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you're going to do these things, you should reveal yourself to the world!" 


text:
Go up to the festival yourselves. I am not yet <n>{Other mss. lack yet}</n> going to this festival, because my time has not yet fully come." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem}</n> d But after his brothers had gone up to the festival, he went up himself, not openly but, as it were, <n>{Other mss. lack as it were}</n> in secret. 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> kept looking for him at the festival, asking, "Where is that man?" 


text:
And there was a great deal of discussion about him among the crowds. <n>{Other mss. read crowd}</n> Some were saying, "He is a good man," while others were saying, "No, he is deceiving the crowds!" 


text:
Nevertheless, no one would speak openly about him because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus Openly Declares His Authority}</n> d Halfway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began teaching. 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> were astonished and remarked, "How can this man be so educated when he has never gone to school?" 


text:
If anyone wants to do his will, he will know whether this teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 


text:
The one who speaks on his own seeks his own praise. But the one who seeks the praise of him who sent him is genuine, and there is nothing false in him. 


text:
Moses gave you the Law, didn't he? Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are you trying to kill me?" 


text:
Moses gave you circumcision not that it is from Moses, but from the Patriarchs and so you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 


text:
If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I made a man perfectly well on the Sabbath? 


text:
<n>{Is This the Messiah?}</n> d Then some of the people of Jerusalem began saying, "This is the man they are trying to kill, isn't it? 


text:
And look, he is speaking in public, and they are not saying anything to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
We know where this man comes from. But when the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> comes, no one will know where he comes from." 


text:
At this point Jesus, still teaching in the Temple, shouted, "So you know me and know where I have come from? I have not come on my own accord. But the one who sent me is true, and he is the one you do not know. 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. 


text:
However, many in the crowd believed in him, saying, "When the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> comes, he won't do more signs than this man has done, will he?" 


text:
<n>{Officers are Sent to Arrest Jesus}</n> d The Pharisees heard the crowd debating these things about him, so the high priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus. <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


text:
Then Jesus said, "I will be with you only a little while longer, and then I am going back to the one who sent me. 


text:
You will look for me but will not find me. <n>{Other mss. lack me}</n> And where I am, you cannot come." 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> asked one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we won't be able to find him? Surely he's not going to the Dispersion <n>{I.e. the Jewish communities outside the land of Israel}</n> among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he? 


text:
What does this statement mean that he said, «You will look for me but will not find me,» and, «Where I will be, you cannot come» ?" 


text:
<n>{Rivers of Living Water}</n> d On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me <n>{Other mss. lack to me}</n> and drink! 


text:
The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have rivers of living water flowing from his heart." 


text:
Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who were believing in him were to receive, because the Spirit <n>{Other mss. read Holy Spirit}</n> was not yet present <n>{Other mss. read given}</n> and Jesus had not yet been glorified. 


text:
<n>{Division among the People}</n> d When they heard these words, some in the crowd were saying, "This really is the Prophet," 


text:
while others were saying, "This is the Messiah!" <n>{Or Christ}</n> But some were saying, "The Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> doesn't come from Galilee, does he? 


text:
Doesn't the Scripture say that the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> is from David's family and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" 


text:
<n>{The Unbelief of the Authorities}</n> d Then the officers returned to the high priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why didn't you bring him?" 


text:
One of their own, Nicodemus (the man who had previously met with Jesus), <n>{Lit. him}</n> asked them, 


text:
"Surely our Law does not condemn <n>{Or judge}</n> a person without first hearing from him and finding out what he is doing, does it?" 


text:
They answered him, "You aren't from Galilee, too, are you? Search and see that no prophet comes from Galilee." 


text:
At daybreak he appeared again in the Temple, and all the people came to him. So he sat down and began to teach them. 


text:
But the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. <n>{Other mss. read in sin}</n> After setting her before them, <n>{Lit. in the middle}</n> 


text:
They said this to test him, so that they might have a charge against him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 


text:
When they persisted in questioning him, he straightened up and told them, "Let the person among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 


text:
Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground. <n>{Other mss read ground the sins of each one of them}</n> 


text:
When they heard this, they went away one by one, <n>{Other mss. read one by one, being convicted by their conscience}</n> beginning with the oldest, <n>{Other mss. read from the oldest to the youngest}</n> and he was left alone with the woman standing there. <n>{Lit. in the middle}</n> 


text:
Then Jesus stood up and asked her, "Dear lady, <n>{Or Woman}</n> where are your accusers? <n>{Other mss. read where are they?}</n> Hasn't anyone condemned you?" 


text:
"No one, sir," <n>{Or Lord}</n> she replied. Then Jesus said, "I don't condemn you, either. Go home, and from now on do not sin anymore." <n>{Some mss. lack 7:53-8:11; one ms. locates the text after Luke 21:38; some mss. locate it after John 7:36, some after John 7:52, and some after John 21:25.}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus the Light of the World}</n> d Later on, Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 


text:
The Pharisees told him, "You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid." <n>{Or true}</n> 


text:
Jesus answered them, "Even though I am testifying about myself, my testimony is valid <n>{Or true}</n> because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 


text:
You are judging by human standards, <n>{Lit. according to the flesh}</n> but I am not judging anyone. 


text:
Yet even if I should judge, my judgment would be valid, <n>{Or true}</n> because it is not I alone who judges, but I and the one who sent me. 


text:
Then they asked him, "Where is this Father of yours?" Jesus replied, "You do not know me or my Father. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also." 


text:
He spoke these words in the treasury, while he was teaching in the Temple. Yet no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 


text:
<n>{The One from Above}</n> d Later on, he told them again, "I am going away, and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. <n>{I.e. their sinful nature}</n> You cannot come where I am going." 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> were asking, "He isn't going to kill himself, is he? Is that why he said, <n>{Lit. Because he said}</n> «You cannot come where I am going» ?" 


text:
He told them, "You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, but I am not of this world. 


text:
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins, for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." 


text:
Then they asked him, "Who are you?" Jesus told them, "What have I been telling you all along? <n>{Or from the beginning}</n> 


text:
I have much to say about you and to condemn you for. <n>{The Gk. lacks you for}</n> But the one who sent me is truthful, <n>{Or true}</n> and what I have heard from him I declare to the world." 


text:
So Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own authority. Instead, I speak only what the Father has taught me. 


text:
Moreover, the one who sent me is with me. He has never left me alone because I always do what pleases him." 


text:
<n>{Freedom and Slavery}</n> d So Jesus told those Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. 


text:
They replied to him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves to anybody. So how can you say, «You will be set free» ?" 


text:
Jesus answered them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. <n>{Other mss. lack of sin}</n> 


text:
<n>{The Real Children of Abraham}</n> d "I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me because you've not received what I've told you. 


text:
I declare what I have seen in my <n>{Other mss. read the}</n> Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father." 


text:
They replied to him, "Our father is Abraham!" Jesus told them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did. <n>{Lit. the works of Abraham}</n> 


text:
But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would not have done that. 


text:
You are doing your father's actions." They told him, "We are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, God himself." 


text:
Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would have loved me, because I came from God and am here. I have not come on my own accord, but he sent me. 


text:
You belong to your father the devil, and you want to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and has never stood for truth, since there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 


text:
The one who belongs to God listens to the words of God. The reason you do not listen is because you do not belong to God." 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Superior to Abraham}</n> d The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> replied to him, "Surely we are right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon, aren't we?" 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> told him, "Now we really know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, «If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.» 


text:
You aren't greater than our father Abraham, who died, are you? The prophets also died. Who are you making yourself out to be?" 


text:
Jesus answered, "If I were trying to glorify myself, my glory would mean nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, «He is our God.» 


text:
You don't know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I don't know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and keep his word. 


text:
Then the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> asked him, "You are not even 50 years old, yet you have seen Abraham?" <n>{Other mss. read Abraham has seen you?}</n> 


text:
Jesus told them, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, before there was an Abraham, I AM!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Heals a Blind Man}</n> d As he was walking along, he observed a man who had been blind from birth. 


text:
His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> who sinned, this man or his parents, that caused him to be born blind?" 


text:
Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. This happened so that <n>{Lit. But so that}</n> God's work might be revealed in him. 


text:
I <n>{Other mss. read We}</n> must do the work of the one who sent me <n>{Other mss. read us}</n> while it is day. Night is approaching, when no one can work. 


text:
After saying this, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he spread the mud on the man's eyes 


text:
and told him, "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated "Sent One" ). So he went off, washed, and came back seeing. 


text:
Then the neighbors and those who had previously seen him as a beggar said, "This is the man who used to sit and beg, isn't it?" 


text:
Some were saying, "It's him," while others were saying, "No, but it's someone like him." He himself kept saying, "It's me!" 


text:
He said, "The man named Jesus made some mud, spread it on my eyes, and told me, «Go to Siloam and wash.» So off I went and washed, and I received my sight." 


text:
<n>{The Pharisees Investigate the Healing}</n> d So they brought to the Pharisees the man who had once been blind. 


text:
So the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had gained his sight. He told them, "He put mud on my eyes, then I washed, and now I can see." 


text:
Some of the Pharisees began to remark, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath." But others were saying, "How can a sinful man perform such signs?" And there was a division among them. 


text:
So they asked the formerly <n>{The Gk. lacks formerly}</n> blind man again, "What do you say about him, since it was your eyes he healed?" <n>{Lit. opened}</n> He said, "He is a prophet." 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> did not believe that the man <n>{Lit. believe about him that he}</n> had been blind and had gained sight until they summoned his parents <n>{Lit. the parents of the man who had been given sight}</n> 


text:
But we don't know how it is that he now sees, and we don't know who opened his eyes. Ask him. He is of age and can speak for himself." 


text:
His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> since the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> would be thrown out of the synagogue. 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{Lit. They}</n> summoned the man who had been blind a second time and told him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." 


text:
But he responded, "I don't know whether he is a sinner or not. The one thing I do know is that I used to be blind and now I can see!" 


text:
He answered them, "I've already told you, but you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become his disciples, too, do you?" 


text:
At this, they turned on him in fury and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 


text:
The man answered them, "This is an amazing thing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he healed <n>{Lit. opened}</n> my eyes. 


text:
We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but he does listen to anyone who worships him and does his will. 


text:
Ever since creation it has never been heard that anyone healed <n>{Lit. opened}</n> the eyes of a man who was born blind. 


text:
They asked him, "You were born a sinner <n>{Lit. born entirely in sins}</n> and you are trying to instruct us?" And they threw him out. 


text:
<n>{Spiritual Blindness}</n> d Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. So when he found him, he asked him, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" <n>{Other mss. read Son of God}</n> 


text:
He answered, "And who is he, sir? <n>{Or Lord}</n> Tell me, <n>{The Gk. lacks Tell me}</n> so that I may believe in him." 


text:
Then Jesus said, "I have come into this world to judge it, so that those who are blind may see and so that those who see may become blind." 


text:
Some of the Pharisees who were near him overheard this and asked him, "We aren't blind, too, are we?" 


text:
Jesus told them, "If you were blind, you would not have any sin. But now that you insist, «We see,'your sin still exists." 


text:
<n>{The Illustration of the Sheepfold}</n> d "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the person who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a bandit. 


text:
It is to him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and it is his voice the sheep hear. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 


text:
When he has driven out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 


text:
They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." 


text:
<n>{Jesus the Good Shepherd}</n> d So again Jesus said, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, I am the gate for the sheep. 


text:
All who came before me <n>{Other mss. lack before me}</n> are thieves and bandits, but the sheep didn't listen to them. 


text:
I am the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 


text:
The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 


text:
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down <n>{Other mss. read gives}</n> his life for the sheep. 


text:
The hired worker, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, deserts the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf snatches them and scatters them, 


text:
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down <n>{Other mss. read give}</n> my life for the sheep. 


text:
I have other sheep that don't belong to this fold. I must lead these also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd. 


text:
No one is taking it from me; I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This is what my Father has commanded me." 


text:
Once again there was a division among the Jews <n>{I.e. Judean leaders}</n> because of what Jesus had been saying. 


text:
Others were saying, "These are not the words of a man who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can it?" 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Rejected by the Jews}</n> d Now <n>{Other mss. read Then}</n> Hanukkah <n>{Or the Festival of Dedication}</n> was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> surrounded him and quizzed him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> tell us so plainly." 


text:
Jesus answered them, "I have told you, but you do not believe it. The actions that I do in my Father's name testify on my behalf, 


text:
but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. <n>{Other mss. read my sheep, just as I told you}</n> 


text:
What my Father has given me <n>{Some MSS read My father, who gave them to me,}</n> is more important than anything, <n>{Or is greater than everything else}</n> and no one can snatch it from the Father's hand. 


text:
Again the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> picked up stones to stone him to death. 


text:
Jesus replied to them, "I have shown you many good actions from my <n>{Other mss. read the}</n> Father. For which of them are you going to stone me?" 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> answered him, "We are not going to stone you for a good action, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God!" 


text:
Jesus replied to them, "Is it not written in your <n>{Other mss. read the}</n> Law, «I said, "You are gods"'? <n>{Ps 82:6}</n> 


text:
If he called those to whom a message from God came «gods'(and the Scripture cannot be disregarded), 


text:
how can you say to the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, «You are blaspheming,'because I said, «I am the Son of God'? 


text:
But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe me, believe the actions, so that you may know and understand <n>{Other mss. read believe}</n> that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." 


text:
Again they tried to seize him, but he slipped away from them. <n>{Lit. away out of their hands}</n> 


text:
Then he went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and he remained there. 


text:
Many people came to him and kept saying, "John never performed a sign, but everything that John said about this man is true!" 


text:
<n>{The Death of Lazarus}</n> d Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 


text:
Mary was the woman who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was the one who was ill. 


text:
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, <n>{Lit. sent to him}</n> saying, "Lord, the one whom you love is ill." 


text:
But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness is not meant to end in death. It is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 


text:
Yet, when he heard that Lazarus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was ill, he stayed where he was for two more days. 


text:
The disciples told him, "Rabbi, <n>{ Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher}</n> the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> were just now trying to stone you to death, and you are going back there again?" 


text:
Jesus replied, "There are twelve hours in the day, aren't there? If anyone walks during the day he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 


text:
These were the things he said. Then after this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am leaving to wake him up." 


text:
Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was speaking about resting or sleeping. 


text:
Then Thomas, who was called the Twin, <n>{Lit. Didymus}</n> told his fellow disciples, "Let's go, too, so that we may die with him!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus the Resurrection and the Life}</n> d When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had already been in the tomb for four days. 


text:
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles <n>{Lit. 15 stadia ; The Roman mile contained eight stadia, one stadion was about 604.5 feet long.}</n> away, 


text:
Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. <n>{Other mss. lack and the life}</n> The person who believes in me, even though he dies, will live. 


text:
"Yes, Lord," she told him. "I believe that you are the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world." 


text:
When she had said this, she went away and called her sister Mary and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you!" 


text:
When the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> who had been with her, consoling her in the house, saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she had gone to the tomb to cry there. 


text:
As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and told him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 


text:
When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was greatly troubled in spirit and deeply moved. 


text:
So the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> said, "See how much he loved him!" 


text:
But some of them said, "Surely the one who opened the eyes of the blind man could have kept this man from dying, couldn't he?" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Brings Lazarus Back to Life}</n> d Groaning deeply again, Jesus came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying in front of it. 


text:
Jesus said, "Remove the stone." Martha, the dead man's sister, told him, "Lord, there must be a stench by now, because he's been dead for four days." 


text:
I know that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." 


text:
The man who had died came out, his hands and feet tied with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a handkerchief. Jesus told them, "Untie him, and let him go." 


text:
<n>{The Jewish Council Plans to Kill Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:1; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:1-2)}</n> d Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had observed what Jesus did believed in him. 


text:
So the high priests and the Pharisees assembled the Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> and said, "What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 


text:
If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our Temple <n>{Lit. place}</n> and our nation." 


text:
You don't realize that it is better for you <n>{Other mss. read for us}</n> to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed." 


text:
Now he did not say this on his own initiative. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 


text:
and not only for the nation, but that he would also gather into one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 


text:
As a result, Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews. <n>{I.e. Judean leaders}</n> Instead, he went from there <n>{I.e. from Bethany}</n> to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness. There he remained with his disciples. 


text:
Now the Jewish Passover was approaching, and before the Passover many people from the countryside went up to Jerusalem to purify themselves. 


text:
They kept looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the Temple, "What do you think? Surely he won't come to the festival, will he?" 


text:
Now the high priests and the Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where he was should tell them so that they could arrest him. 


text:
<n>{Mary Anoints Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9)}</n> d Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived in Bethany, where Lazarus lived, <n>{Lit. was}</n> the man whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 


text:
There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 


text:
Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume made of pure nard and anointed Jesus'feet. She wiped his feet with her hair, and the house became filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 


text:
"Why wasn't this perfume sold for 300 denarii <n>{Three hundred denarii was about a year's wages for a laborer.}</n> and the money <n>{The Gk. lacks the money}</n> given to the destitute?" 


text:
He said this, not because he cared about the destitute, but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and would steal what was put into it. 


text:
<n>{The Plot against Lazarus}</n> d When the large crowd of Jews realized that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 


text:
<n>{The King Enters Jerusalem}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40)}</n> d The next day, the large crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming into Jerusalem. 


text:
So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! <n>{ Hosanna is Heb. for Please save or Praise}</n> How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord, <n>{Ps 118:25-26}</n> the King of Israel!" 


text:
"Stop being afraid, people <n>{Lit. daughter}</n> of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting upon a donkey's colt!" <n>{Zech 9:9}</n> 


text:
At first his disciples didn't understand these things. However, when Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that people <n>{Lit. they}</n> had done these things to him. 


text:
So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify to what they had seen. <n>{The Gk. lacks to what they had seen}</n> 


text:
The crowd was going out to meet Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> because they had heard that he had performed this sign. 


text:
Then the Pharisees told one another, "You see, there is nothing you can do. Look, the world has gone after him!" 


text:
<n>{Some Greeks Ask to See Jesus}</n> d Now some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. 


text:
They went to Philip (who was from Bethsaida in Galilee) and told him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces a lot of grain. 


text:
The one who loves his life will destroy it, and the one who hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. 


text:
If anyone serves me, he must follow me. And where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Speaks about His Death}</n> d "Now my soul is in turmoil, and what should I say«Father, save me from this hour'? No! It was for this very reason that I came to this hour. 


text:
Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again!" 


text:
The crowd standing there heard this and said that it was thunder. Others were saying, "An angel has spoken to him." 


text:
Now is the time for the judgment of this world to begin. <n>{Lit. Now is the judgment of this world}</n> Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out. 


text:
Then the crowd answered him, "We have learned <n>{Lit. heard}</n> from the Law that the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> remains forever. So how can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" 


text:
Jesus replied to the crowd, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "The light is among you only for a short time. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The person who walks in the darkness is in the darkness and does not know where he is going. 


text:
As long as you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light." After Jesus had said this, he went away and hid from them. 


text:
<n>{The Unbelief of the Jews}</n> d Although he had performed numerous signs in their presence, they did not believe in him, 


text:
so that what the prophet Isaiah spoke might be fulfilled when he said: "Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the Lord's power <n>{Lit. arm}</n> been revealed?" <n>{Isa 53:1}</n> 


text:
"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not perceive with their eyes, and understand with their mind <n>{Lit. heart}</n> and turn, and I would heal them." <n>{Isa 6:9-10}</n> 


text:
Yet many people, even some of the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not admit it so they would not be thrown out of the synagogue. 


text:
<n>{Judgment by Jesus'Word}</n> d Then Jesus said loudly, "The one who believes in me does not believe in me only, but also <n>{Lit. me but}</n> in the one who sent me. 


text:
I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in the darkness. 


text:
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not condemn him, because I did not come to condemn the world but to save it. <n>{Lit. save the world}</n> 


text:
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has something to judge him: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day, 


text:
because I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak. 


text:
And I know that what he commands brings eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Washes the Disciples'Feet}</n> d Now before the Passover Festival, Jesus realized that his hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. <n>{Or loved them completely}</n> 


text:
By supper time, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him. 


text:
Because Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his control, <n>{Lit. hands}</n> that he had come from God, and that he was returning to God, 


text:
therefore he got up from the table, removed his outer robe, and took a towel and fastened it around his waist. 


text:
Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the disciples'feet and to dry them with the towel that was tied around his waist. 


text:
Peter told him, "You must never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you cannot be involved with me." 


text:
Jesus told him, "Whoever has bathed is entirely clean. He doesn't need to wash himself further, except for his feet. And you men <n>{The Gk. lacks men}</n> are clean, though not all of you." 


text:
When Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had washed their feet and put on his outer robe, he sat down again and told them, "Do you realize what I have done to you? 


text:
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right <n>{Lit. you speak well}</n> because that is what I am. 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 


text:
I'm not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: «The one who ate bread with me <n>{Other mss. read ate my bread}</n> has turned against me.'<n>{Lit. has lifted up his heel against me ; cf. Ps 41:9}</n> 


text:
I'm telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM. 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the one who receives whomever I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Predicts His Betrayal}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:20-25; Mark 14:17-21; Luke 22:21-23)}</n> d After saying this, Jesus was deeply troubled in spirit and declared solemnly, "Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, one of you is going to betray me!" 


text:
Jesus answered, "He is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish." <n>{The Gk. lacks in the dish}</n> Then he took a piece of bread, dipped it, and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. <n>{Other mss. read Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon}</n> 


text:
After he had taken the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus told him, "Do quickly what you are going to do!" 


text:
Some thought that, since Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the festival or to give something to the destitute. 


text:
<n>{The New Commandment}</n> d After Judas <n>{Lit. he}</n> had gone out, Jesus said, "The Son of Man is now glorified, and God has been glorified by him. 


text:
If God has been glorified by him, <n>{Other mss. lack If God has been glorified by him}</n> God himself also will glorify the Son of Man, <n>{Lit. him}</n> and he will do so <n>{Lit. will glorify him}</n> quickly. 


text:
Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me, but what I told the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders}</n> I now tell you, «Where I am going, you cannot come.» 


text:
I am giving you a new commandment to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:31-34; Mark 14:27-31; Luke 22:31-34)}</n> d Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him, "I am going where you cannot follow me now, though you will follow me later on." 


text:
"Lord, <n>{Other mss. lack Lord}</n> why can't I follow you now?" Peter asked him. "I would lay down my life for you!" 


text:
Jesus answered him, "Would you lay down your life for me? I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is sing.}</n> emphatically, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times." 


text:
<n>{Jesus the Way to the Father}</n> d "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe <n>{Or You believe}</n> in God, believe also in me. 


text:
There are many rooms in my Father's house. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going away to prepare a place for you? 


text:
And if I am going away to prepare a place for you, I will come back again and welcome you into my presence, so that you may be where I am. 


text:
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 


text:
"Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?" Jesus asked him. "The person who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, «Show us the Father'? 


text:
You believe, don't you, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own. It is the Father who dwells in me and who carries out his work. 


text:
Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe me <n>{Other mss. lack me}</n> because of what I've been doing. <n>{Lit. of the works themselves}</n> 


text:
"Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, the one who believes in me will also do what I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 


text:
<n>{The Promise of the Helper}</n> d "If you love me, keep <n>{Other mss. read you will keep}</n> my commandments. 


text:
I will ask the Father to give <n>{Lit. and he will give}</n> you another Helper, to be with you always. 


text:
He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in <n>{Or among}</n> you. 


text:
"In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 


text:
The person who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I, too, will love him and reveal myself to him." 


text:
Judas (not Iscariot) asked him, "Lord, how is it that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?" 


text:
Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him, and we will go to him and make our home within him. 


text:
The one who does not love me does not keep my words. The words that you're hearing me say are not mine, but come from the Father who sent me. 


text:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you. 


text:
I am leaving you at peace. I am giving you my own peace. I am not giving it to you as the world gives. So don't let your hearts be troubled, and don't be afraid. 


text:
You have heard me tell you, «I am going away, but I am coming back to you.'If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 


text:
I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me. <n>{Lit. has nothing in me}</n> 


text:
But I am doing what the Father has commanded me to let the world know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us leave this place." 


text:
He cuts off every branch that does not produce fruit in me, and he cuts back every branch that does produce fruit, so that it might produce more fruit. 


text:
"Abide in me, and I will abide in you. Just as the branch cannot produce fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 


text:
I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him <n>{Lit. and I in him}</n> produces much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 


text:
Unless a person abides in me, he is thrown away like a pruned <n>{The Gk. lacks pruned}</n> branch and dries up. People gather such branches, <n>{Lit. They gather them}</n> throw them into a fire, and they are burned up. 


text:
"If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask for anything you want, and you will receive it. 


text:
This is how my Father is glorified, when you produce a lot of fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 


text:
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 


text:
I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 


text:
"You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, <n>{Lit. produce fruit, and your fruit is to last}</n> so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 


text:
<n>{The World's Hatred}</n> d "If the world hates you, you should realize that it hated me before you. 


text:
If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But because you do not belong to the world and I have chosen you out of it, <n>{Lit. out of the world}</n> the world hates you. 


text:
Remember what I told you: «A servant is not greater than his master.'If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 


text:
They will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 


text:
"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have any sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 


text:
If I had not done among them the actions that no one else did, they would not have any sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 


text:
But this happened so that <n>{Lit. But so that}</n> what has been written in their Law might be fulfilled: «They hated me for no reason.'<n>{Ps 35:19; 69:4}</n> 


text:
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 


text:
You will be thrown out of the synagogues. Yes, a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is serving God. 


text:
But I have told you this so that when the time comes you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you this in the beginning, because I was still with you." 


text:
<n>{The Work of the Spirit}</n> d "But now I am going to the one who sent me. Yet none of you asks me, «Where are you going?» 


text:
However, I am telling you the truth. It is for your advantage that I am going away, because if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 


text:
Yet when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own accord, but will speak whatever he hears and will declare to you the things that are to come. 


text:
All that the Father has is mine. That is why I said, «He will take what is mine and declare it to you.» 


text:
At this point, some of his disciples asked each other, "What does he mean by telling us, «In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again,» and, «because I am going to the Father» ?" 


text:
They kept saying, "What is this «in a little while» that he keeps talking about? We don't know what he means." 


text:
<n>{Sorrow will Turn to Joy}</n> d Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him a question, so he asked them, "Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, «In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again'? 


text:
Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, you will cry and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be deeply distressed, but your pain will turn into joy. 


text:
When a woman is in labor she has pain, because her time has come. Yet when she has given birth to her child, she doesn't remember the agony anymore because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 


text:
Now you are having pain. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 


text:
On that day, you will not ask me for anything. Truly, I tell all of you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, whatever you ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you. <n>{Other mss. read ask the Father for, he will give it to you in my name}</n> 


text:
So far you haven't asked for anything in my name. Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete." 


text:
<n>{Victory over the World}</n> d "I have said these things to you in figurative language. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 


text:
At that time, you will make your requests in my name, so that I will have no need to ask the Father on your behalf, 


text:
because the Father himself loves you, and because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. <n>{Other mss. read from the Father}</n> 


text:
I left the Father and came into the world. Now <n>{Lit. Again}</n> I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." 


text:
Jesus'<n>{Lit. His}</n> disciples said, "Well, now you're speaking plainly and not using figurative language. 


text:
Now we know that you know everything and do not need to have anyone ask you any questions. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God." 


text:
Listen, the time is coming, indeed it has already come, when you will be scattered, each of you to his own home, and you will leave me all by myself. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 


text:
I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous I have overcome the world!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus Prays for Himself, His Disciples, and His Future Followers}</n> d After Jesus had said this, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, so that the Son may glorify you. 


text:
For <n>{Lit. Just as}</n> you have given him authority over all humanity <n>{Lit. flesh}</n> so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him. 


text:
And this is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent Jesus the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
"So now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed. 


text:
I have made your name known to these men whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 


text:
because the words that you gave me I passed on to them. They have received them and know for sure that I came from you. They have believed that you sent me. 


text:
"I am asking on their behalf. I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you gave me, because they are yours. 


text:
I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by your name, the name <n>{Lit. the one}</n> that you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 


text:
While I was with them, I protected them by the authority <n>{Lit. by your name}</n> that you gave me. I guarded them, and not one of them became lost except the one who was destined for <n>{Lit. the son of}</n> destruction, so that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 


text:
"And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 


text:
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 


text:
I ask not only on behalf of these men, <n>{The Gk. lacks men}</n> but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their message, 


text:
so that they may all be one. Just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one <n>{Other mss. lack one}</n> in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. 


text:
I am in them, and you are in me. May they be completely one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you have loved them as you loved me. 


text:
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 


text:
"Righteous Father, the world has never known you. Yet I have known you, and these men have known that you sent me. 


text:
I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me <n>{Lit. the love with which you loved me}</n> may be in them and I myself may be in them." 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-40; Luke 22:47-53)}</n> d After Jesus had said this, he went with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 


text:
So Judas took a detachment of soldiers and some officers from the high priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. 


text:
Then Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen, went forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" 


text:
They answered him, "Jesus from Nazareth." <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}</n> Jesus told them, "I AM." Judas, the man who betrayed him, was standing with them. 


text:
So he asked them again, "Who are you looking for?" They said, "Jesus from Nazareth." <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}</n> 


text:
Jesus replied, "I told you that I am the one, <n>{The Gk. lacks the one}</n> so if you are looking for me, let these men go." 


text:
This was to fulfill what he had said, "I did not lose a single one of those you gave me." <n>{cf. John 17:12}</n> 


text:
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. 


text:
Jesus told Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn't I drink the cup that the Father has given me?" 


text:
<n>{Jesus before the High Priest}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:57-58; Mark 14:53-54; Luke 22:54)}</n> d Then the soldiers, along with their commander and the Jewish officers, arrested Jesus and tied him up. 


text:
First they brought him to Annas, because he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 


text:
Caiaphas was the person who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one man die for the people. 


text:
<n>{Peter Denies Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:69-70; Mark 14:66-68; Luke 22:55-57)}</n> d Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, he accompanied Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. 


text:
Peter, however, stood outside the gate. So this other disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter inside. 


text:
The young woman at the gate asked Peter, "You aren't one of this man's disciples, too, are you?" "I am not," he replied. 


text:
Meanwhile, the servants and officers were standing around a charcoal fire they had built and were warming themselves because it was cold. Peter was also standing with them, keeping himself warm. 


text:
<n>{The High Priest Questions Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:59-66; Mark 14:55-64; Luke 22:66-71)}</n> d Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his own teaching. 


text:
Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world. I have always taught in the synagogue or in the Temple, where all Jews meet together, and I have said nothing in secret. 


text:
Why do you question me? Question those who heard what I said. These are the people who know what I said." 


text:
When he said this, one of the officers standing nearby slapped Jesus on the face and demanded, "Is that any way to answer the high priest?" 


text:
Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, tell me what it was. <n>{Lit. about the wrong}</n> But if I have told the truth, why do you hit me?" 


text:
<n>{Peter Denies Jesus Again}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 26:71-75; Mark 14:69-72; Luke 22:58-62)}</n> d Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people <n>{Lit. They}</n> asked him, "You aren't one of his disciples, too, are you?" He denied it by saying, "I am not!" 


text:
Then one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "I saw you in the garden with Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> didn't I?" 


text:
<n>{Pilate Questions Jesus}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5)}</n> d Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters <n>{Lit. to the praetorium}</n> early in the morning. The Jews <n>{Lit. they}</n> did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean <n>{I.e. ceremonially unqualified}</n> and unable to eat the Passover meal. 


text:
Pilate told them, "You take him and try him according to your Law." The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> told him, "It is not legal for us to put anyone to death." 


text:
This was to fulfill what Jesus had said <n>{Lit. the word of Jesus that he said}</n> when he indicated the kind of death he was to die. 


text:
So Pilate went back into the governor's headquarters, <n>{Lit. into the praetorium}</n> summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 


text:
Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? It is your own nation and high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 


text:
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> But for now my kingdom is not from here." 


text:
Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born for this, and I came into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is committed to the truth listens to my voice." 


text:
Pilate asked him, "What is «truth'?" After he said this, he went out to the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> again and told them, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 


text:
But you have a custom that I release one person for you at Passover. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?" 


text:
At this, they shouted out again, "Not this fellow, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary. <n>{Or bandit}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Sentenced to Death}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:15-31; Mark 15:6-20; Luke 23:13-25)}</n> d Then Pilate had Jesus taken away and whipped. 


text:
The soldiers twisted some thorns into a victor's crown, put it on his head, and threw a purple robe on him. 


text:
They kept coming up to him and saying, "Long live the king of the Jews!" Then they began to slap him on the face. 


text:
Pilate went outside again and told the Jews, <n>{Lit. them}</n> "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him." 


text:
Then Jesus came outside, wearing the victor's crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate told them, "Here is the man!" 


text:
When the high priests and the officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Pilate told them, "You take him and crucify him. I find no basis for a charge against him." 


text:
The Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. The Jews}</n> answered Pilate, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "We have a law, and according to that Law he must die because he made himself out to be the Son of God." 


text:
Returning to his headquarters, <n>{Lit. to the praetorium}</n> he asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer him. 


text:
So Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to speak to me? You realize, don't you, that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?" 


text:
Jesus answered him, "You have no authority over me at all, except what was given to you from above. That's why the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." 


text:
From then on, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> kept shouting, "If you release this fellow, you're not a friend of Caesar! Anyone who claims to be a king is defying Caesar!" 


text:
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in a place called The Pavement, which in Hebrew is called Gabbatha. 


text:
Now it was the Preparation Day for the Passover, about noon. <n>{Lit. about the sixth hour}</n> He told the Jewish leaders, <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> "Here is your king!" 


text:
Then they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate asked them, "Should I crucify your king?" The high priests responded, "We have no king but Caesar!" 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Crucified}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:32-44; Mark 15:21-32; Luke 23:26-43)}</n> d Carrying the cross all by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of a Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 


text:
Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus from Nazareth, <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}</n> the King of the Jews." 


text:
Many Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. 


text:
Then the Jewish high priests told Pilate, "Don't write, «The King of the Jews,'but that this fellow said, «I am the King of the Jews.» " 


text:
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier, and took his cloak <n>{Lit. and his tunic}</n> as well. The cloak was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down. 


text:
So they told each other, "Let's not tear it. Instead, let's throw dice to see who gets it." This was to fulfill the Scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they threw dice." <n>{Ps 22:18}</n> So that is what the soldiers did. 


text:
Meanwhile, standing near Jesus'cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> 


text:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he kept loving standing there, he told his mother, "Dear lady, <n>{Or Woman}</n> here is your son." 


text:
Then he told the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Dies on the Cross}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49)}</n> d After this, when Jesus realized that everything was now completed, he said (in order to fulfill the Scripture), "I'm thirsty." 


text:
A jar of sour wine was standing there, so they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 


text:
After Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. 


text:
<n>{Jesus'Side is Pierced}</n> d Since it was the Preparation Day, the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> did not want to leave the bodies on the crosses during the Sabbath, because that was a particularly important Sabbath. So they asked Pilate to have the men's legs broken and the bodies <n>{The Gk. lacks the bodies}</n> removed. 


text:
So the soldiers went and broke the legs of the first man and then of the other man who had been crucified with him. 


text:
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water immediately came out. 


text:
The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows he is telling the truth so that you, too, may believe, 


text:
because these things happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "None of his bones will be broken." <n>{Exod 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20}</n> 


text:
In addition, another passage of Scripture says, "They will look on the one whom they pierced." <n>{Zech 12:10}</n> 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Buried}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56)}</n> d Later on, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus (though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders), <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, and he came and removed his body. 


text:
Nicodemus, the man who had first come to Jesus at night, also arrived, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about a hundred pounds. 


text:
They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths along with spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 


text:
A garden was located in the place where he was crucified, and in that garden was a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. 


text:
<n>{Jesus is Raised from the Dead}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12)}</n> d On the first day of the week, <n>{Lit. first of the Sabbaths}</n> early in the morning and while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> went to the tomb and noticed that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 


text:
So she ran off and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus kept loving. She told them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" 


text:
The two of them were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first. 


text:
At this point Simon Peter arrived, following him, and went straight into the tomb. He observed that the linen cloths were lying there, 


text:
and that the handkerchief that had been on Jesus'head was not lying with the linen cloths but was rolled up in a separate place. 


text:
For they did not yet understand the Scripture that said <n>{The Gk. lacks that said}</n> that Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> had to rise from the dead. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene}</n> <n>{ (Mark 16:9-11)}</n> d Meanwhile, Mary <n>{I.e. Mary of Magdala}</n> stood crying outside the tomb. As she cried, she bent over and looked <n>{The Gk. lacks and looked}</n> into the tomb. 


text:
She saw two angels in white clothes who were sitting down, one at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesus'body had been lying. 


text:
They asked her, "Lady, <n>{Or Woman}</n> why are you crying?" She told them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have put him." 


text:
After she had said this, she turned around and noticed Jesus standing there, without realizing that it was Jesus. 


text:
Jesus asked her, "Dear lady, <n>{Or Woman}</n> why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she told him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away." 


text:
Jesus told her, "Mary!" She turned around and told him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means "Teacher" ). 


text:
Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, «I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.»" 


text:
So Mary Magdalene <n>{Or Mary of Magdala}</n> went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" She also told them what he had told her. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to the Disciples}</n> <n>{ (Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:36-49)}</n> d It was the evening of the first day of the week, <n>{Or evening of that day, the first of the Sabbaths}</n> and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. <n>{I.e. Judean leaders}</n> Jesus came and stood among them. He told them, "Peace be with you." 


text:
After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side, and when they saw the Lord the disciples were overjoyed. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to Thomas}</n> d Thomas, one of the Twelve (called the Twin), <n>{Lit. called Didymus}</n> wasn't with them when Jesus came. 


text:
So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he told them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into them, <n>{Lit. into the nail marks}</n> and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!" 


text:
A week later, his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were shut, Jesus came, stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 


text:
Then he told Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Take your hand, and put it into my side. Stop doubting, but believe." 


text:
Jesus told him, "Is it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!" 


text:
<n>{The Purpose of the Book}</n> d Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his <n>{Other mss. read the}</n> disciples that are not recorded in this book. 


text:
But these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> the Son of God, and so that through believing you may have life in his name. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Appears to Seven of His Disciples}</n> d Later on, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is what happened: 


text:
Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), <n>{Lit. Didymus}</n> Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two of his other disciples were together. 


text:
Simon Peter told them, "I'm going fishing." They all told him, "We'll go with you, too." So they went out and got into the boat but didn't catch a thing that night. 


text:
He told them, "Throw the net on the right hand side of the boat, and you'll catch <n>{Lit. find}</n> some." So they threw it out and were unable to haul it in because it was so full of fish. 


text:
That disciple whom Jesus kept loving told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his clothes back on, because he was practically naked, and jumped into the sea. 


text:
But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were only about a hundred yards <n>{Lit. two hundred cubits}</n> away from the shore. 


text:
So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish 153 of them. And although there were so many of them, the net was not torn. 


text:
Then Jesus told them, "Come, have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" , because they knew it was the Lord. 


text:
This was now the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he had been raised from the dead. 


text:
<n>{Jesus Speaks with Peter}</n> d When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Peter <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Feed my lambs." 


text:
Then he asked him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, "Take care of my sheep." 


text:
He asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was deeply hurt that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" So he told him, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!" Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep. 


text:
"Truly, I tell you <n>{The Gk. pronoun you is pl.}</n> emphatically, when you were young, you would fasten your belt and go wherever you liked. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you don't want to go." 


text:
Now he said this to show by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> told him, "Keep following me." 


text:
<n>{Jesus and the Beloved Disciple}</n> d Peter turned around and noticed the disciple whom Jesus kept loving following them. He was the one who had put his head on Jesus'chest at the supper and had asked, "Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?" 


text:
Jesus told him, "If it is my will for him to remain until I come back, how does that concern you? You must keep following me!" 


text:
So the rumor spread among the brothers <n>{I.e. Jesus'followers}</n> that this disciple wasn't going to die. Yet Jesus didn't say to Peter <n>{Lit. him}</n> that he wasn't going to die, but, "If it is my will for him to remain until I come back, how does that concern you?" 


text:
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them down. We know that his testimony is true. 


text:
Of course, Jesus also did many other things, and I suppose that if every one of them were written down the world couldn't contain the books that would be written. 


text:
<n>{ The Book of}</n> <n>{ Acts}</n> d <n>{Introduction}</n> d In my first book, Theophilus, I wrote about everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 


text:
up to the day when he was taken up to heaven <n>{The Gk. lacks to heaven}</n> after giving orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 


text:
After he had suffered, he had shown himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during a period of 40 days and telling them about the kingdom of God. 


text:
<n>{The Promise of the Holy Spirit}</n> d While he was meeting with them, he ordered them, "Don't leave Jerusalem. Instead, wait for what the Father has promised, about which you heard me speak. 


text:
For John baptized with <n>{Or in}</n> water, but you will be baptized with <n>{Or in}</n> the Holy Spirit a few days from now." 


text:
Now those who had gathered together began to ask Jesus, <n>{Lit. him}</n> "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 


text:
He answered them, "It is not for you to know what times or periods the Father has fixed by his own authority. 


text:
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 


text:
<n>{Jesus Goes Up to Heaven}</n> d After saying this, Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was taken up while those who had gathered together <n>{Lit. while they}</n> were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 


text:
While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, two men in white robes stood right beside them. 


text:
They asked, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven." 


text:
<n>{A New Apostle Takes the Place of Judas}</n> d Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, <n>{Lit. from the mountain called Olives}</n> which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. <n>{I.e. about a half mile away}</n> 


text:
When they came into the city, these men <n>{The Gk. lacks men}</n> went to the upstairs room where they had been staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son <n>{Or brother}</n> of James. 


text:
With one mind all of them kept devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 


text:
At that time <n>{Lit. In those days}</n> Peter got up among the brothers (there were about 120 people present) and said, 


text:
"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the voice of David about Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus, 


text:
because he was one of our number and was appointed <n>{Lit. was chosen by lot ; i.e. by an ostensibly random lottery, the outcome of which was entrusted to God's providence; cf. v. 26}</n> to share in this ministry." 


text:
(Now this man bought a field with the money he got for his crime. Falling on his face, he burst open in the middle, and all his intestines gushed out. 


text:
This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that this field is called in their language Hakeldama, that is, "The Field of Blood" .) 


text:
"For in the Book of Psalms it is written, «Let his estate be desolate, and let no one live on it,'<n>{Ps 69:25}</n> and, «Let someone else take over his office,'<n>{Ps 109:8}</n> 


text:
beginning when he was baptized by John until the day he was taken up from us. Therefore, someone like this <n>{The Gk. lacks like this}</n> must become a witness with us to his resurrection." 


text:
Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the hearts of all people. Show us which one of these two men you have chosen 


text:
to serve in this office of apostle, <n>{Lit. to receive the place of this service and apostleship}</n> from which Judas left to go to his own place." 


text:
So they drew lots for them, and when the lot fell on Matthias, he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. 


text:
<n>{The Coming of the Holy Spirit}</n> d When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated, <n>{Lit. Pentecost had fully arrived}</n> all of them were together in one place. 


text:
Suddenly, a sound like the roar of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 


text:
They saw tongues like flames <n>{Or tongues}</n> of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them. 


text:
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign <n>{Or different}</n> languages as the Spirit gave them that ability. 


text:
When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples <n>{Lit. them}</n> speaking in his own language. 


text:
So how is it that each one of us hears them speaking in his own native language: <n>{Lit. in our language in which we were born}</n> 


text:
Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the district of Libya near Cyrene, Jewish and proselyte visitors from Rome, 


text:
All of them continued to be stunned and puzzled, and they kept asking one another, "What can this mean?" 


text:
<n>{Peter Addresses the Crowd}</n> d Then Peter stood up among the eleven apostles <n>{The Gk. lacks apostles}</n> and raised his voice to address them: "Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand something, so pay close attention to my words. 


text:
These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it's only nine o'clock in the morning. <n>{Lit. the third hour of the day}</n> 


text:
«In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. <n>{Lit. on all flesh}</n> Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 


text:
In those days I will even pour out my Spirit on my slaves, men and women alike, and they will prophesy. 


text:
I will display wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke. 


text:
The sun will become dark, and the moon turn to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. 


text:
"Fellow Israelis, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth .}</n> was a man authenticated to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs that God performed through him among you, as you yourselves know. 


text:
After he was arrested according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified this very man and killed him by the hands of lawless men. 


text:
But God raised him up and put an end to suffering of death, <n>{Other mss. read Hades (the realm of the dead)}</n> since it was impossible for him to be held by it. 


text:
For David says about him, «I always keep my eyes on the Lord, <n>{Lit. always see the Lord in front of me}</n> for he is at my right hand so that I cannot be shaken. 


text:
That is why my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, yes, even my body still rests securely in hope. 


text:
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades <n>{I.e. the realm of the dead}</n> or allow your Holy One to experience decay. 


text:
You have made the ways of life known to me, and you will fill me with gladness in your presence.'<n>{Ps 16:8-11}</n> 


text:
"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and that his tomb is among us to this day. 


text:
Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to put one of his descendants on his throne, 


text:
he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah: <n>{Or Christ}</n> «He was not abandoned to Hades, <n>{I.e. the realm of the dead}</n> and his flesh did not experience decay.'<n>{Ps 16:10}</n> 


text:
He has been exalted to the right hand of God, has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, <n>{Or the promise of the Holy Spirit}</n> and has caused you to experience what you are seeing and hearing. 


text:
"Therefore, let all the people <n>{Lit. house}</n> of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!" <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
When the crowd that had gathered <n>{Lit. When they}</n> heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" 


text:
Peter answered them, "Every one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. <n>{Or the gift of the Holy Spirit}</n> 


text:
For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are distant, whom the Lord our God may call to himself." 


text:
Using many different expressions, Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> continued to testify and to plead with them, saying, "Be saved from this corrupt generation!" 


text:
So those who welcomed his message were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to their number. 


text:
<n>{Life among the Believers}</n> d The believers <n>{Lit. They}</n> continued to devote themselves to what the apostles were teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to times of prayer. <n>{Lit. to the prayers}</n> 


text:
A sense of fear <n>{Or awe}</n> came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 


text:
All the believers were united and shared everything with one another. <n>{Lit. and had all things in common}</n> 


text:
They made it their practice to sell their possessions and goods and to distribute the proceeds <n>{Lit. to distribute them}</n> to anyone who was in need. 


text:
United in purpose, they went to the Temple every day, ate at each other's homes, and shared their food with glad and humble hearts. 


text:
They were praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved. 


text:
<n>{A Crippled Man is Healed}</n> d One afternoon, Peter and John were on their way to the Temple for the three o'clock prayer time. <n>{Lit. temple at the ninth hour}</n> 


text:
Now a man who had been crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day people <n>{Lit. they}</n> would lay him at what was called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from those who were going into the Temple. 


text:
When he saw that Peter and John were about to go into the Temple, he asked them to give him something. 


text:
However, Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold, but I'll give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> from Nazareth, walk!" <n>{Other mss. read stand up and walk}</n> 


text:
Then Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> took hold of his right hand and began to help him up. Immediately his feet and ankles became strong, 


text:
and he sprang to his feet, stood up, and began to walk. Then he went with them into the Temple, walking, jumping, and praising God. 


text:
they knew that he was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 


text:
<n>{Peter Speaks to the Onlookers}</n> d While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them in what was called "Solomon's Colonnade" . They were dumbfounded. 


text:
When Peter saw this, he told the people: "Fellow Israelis, why are you wondering about this, and why are you staring at us as if by our own power or godliness we made him walk? 


text:
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and rejected in the presence of Pilate, even though he had decided to let him go. 


text:
It is his name that is, by faith in his name that has healed this man whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 


text:
This is how God fulfilled what he had predicted through the voice of all the prophets that his Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> would suffer. 


text:
so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and so that he may send you Jesus, whom he appointed long ago to be the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
He must remain in heaven until the time of universal restitution, which God announced long ago through the voice of his holy prophets. 


text:
In fact, Moses said, «The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you. <n>{Deut 18:15-16}</n> 


text:
Any person who will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.'<n>{Deut 18:19; Lev 23:29}</n> 


text:
"Indeed, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who followed him, also announced these days. 


text:
You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs <n>{The Gk. lacks the heirs}</n> of the covenant that God made with your <n>{Other mss. read our}</n> ancestors when he told Abraham, «Through your descendant <n>{Lit. seed}</n> all the families of the earth will be blessed.'<n>{Gen 22:18; 26:4}</n> 


text:
When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning every one of you from your evil ways." 


text:
<n>{Peter and John are Tried before the Jewish Council}</n> d While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the Temple guards, and the Sadducees came to them. 


text:
They were greatly disturbed that Peter and John <n>{Lit. they}</n> were teaching the people and announcing that Jesus had been resurrected <n>{Lit. that in the case of Jesus there had been a resurrection}</n> from the dead. 


text:
with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, <n>{Other mss. read Jonathan}</n> Alexander, and the rest of the high priest's family. 


text:
They made Peter and John <n>{Lit. them}</n> stand in front of them and began asking, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" 


text:
If we are being questioned today for a good deed done for someone who was sick or to learn how this man was healed, 


text:
you and all the people of Israel must understand that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus from Nazareth, whom you crucified but God raised from the dead. 


text:
He is «the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.'<n>{Or capstone ; Ps 118:22}</n> 


text:
There is no salvation by anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." 


text:
Now when the Jewish leaders <n>{Lit. when they}</n> saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus. 


text:
So they ordered them to leave the Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> and began to discuss the matter among themselves. 


text:
They said, "What should we do with these men? For it's obvious to everybody living in Jerusalem that an unmistakable sign has been done by them, and we cannot deny it. 


text:
But to keep it from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them never again to speak to anyone in this name." 


text:
So they called Peter and John <n>{Lit. called them}</n> back in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 


text:
But Peter and John answered them, "You must decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, 


text:
So they threatened Peter and John <n>{Lit. threatened them}</n> even more and then let them go. They couldn't find any way to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 


text:
<n>{The Believers Pray for Boldness}</n> d After they were released, Peter and John <n>{Lit. released, they}</n> went to their fellow believers <n>{Lit. their own}</n> and told them everything the high priests and the elders had said. 


text:
When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, "Master, you made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. 


text:
You said by the Holy Spirit through the voice of our ancestor, your servant David, «Why do the unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> rage, and the people devise useless plots? 


text:
The kings of the earth take their stand, and rulers meet together against the Lord and against his Messiah.'<n>{Or Christ ; cf. Ps 2:1-2}</n> 


text:
For in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate actually met together with unbelievers <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> and the people of Israel to oppose your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 


text:
as you stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 


text:
When they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak messages from <n>{Lit. speak the word of}</n> God boldly. 


text:
<n>{The Believers Share Their Possessions}</n> d Now all the believers were one in heart and soul, and nobody called any of his possessions his own. Instead, they shared everything they owned. 


text:
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was on them all. 


text:
For none of them needed anything, because everyone who had land or houses would sell them and bring the money received for the things sold 


text:
One man, <n>{Lit. Now}</n> Joseph, a descendant of Levi and a native of Cyprus, who was named Barnabas by the apostles (the name <n>{Lit. which}</n> means "a son of encouragement" ), 


text:
<n>{Ananias and Sapphira are Punished}</n> d But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold some property. 


text:
With his wife's full knowledge he kept back some of the money for himself and brought the remainder and laid it at the apostles'feet. 


text:
Peter asked, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money you got for the land? 


text:
As long as it remained unsold, wasn't it your own? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? So how could you have thought of doing what you did? You didn't lie only <n>{The Gk. lacks only}</n> to men, but also <n>{The Gk. lacks also}</n> to God!" 


text:
When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized everyone who heard about it. 


text:
After an interval of about three hours, Ananias'<n>{Lit. his}</n> wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 


text:
So Peter asked her, "Tell me, did you sell the land for that price?" She answered, "Yes, that was the price." 


text:
"How could you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?" Peter asked her. "Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and these men <n>{Lit. and they}</n> will carry you outside as well." 


text:
She instantly fell down at Peter's <n>{Lit. his}</n> feet and died. When the young men came in, they found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her next to her husband. 


text:
<n>{The Apostles Perform Many Miracles}</n> d Now many signs and wonders were being performed by the apostles among the people, who were gathered together in Solomon's Colonnade. 


text:
None of the others dared join them, although the rest of the people continued to hold them in high regard. 


text:
As a result, people <n>{Lit. they}</n> kept carrying their sick into the streets and placing them on stretchers and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he went by. 


text:
Even from the towns around Jerusalem crowds continued coming in to bring their sick and those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed. 


text:
<n>{The Apostles are Tried before the Jewish Council}</n> d Then the high priest and all those from the sect of the Sadducees who were with him were filled with jealousy. So they went out, 


text:
But at night the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and led them out. The angel <n>{Lit. He}</n> told them, 


text:
"Go, stand in the Temple, and keep on telling the people the whole message about this life they can have." <n>{The Gk. lacks they can have}</n> 


text:
After the apostles <n>{Lit. this, they}</n> heard this, they went into the Temple at daybreak and began to teach. The high priest and those who were with him arrived, called the Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> and all the elders of Israel together, and sent word <n>{The Gk. lacks word}</n> to the prison to have the men brought in. 


text:
When the Temple police got there, they did not find them in the prison. They came back and reported, 


text:
"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside." 


text:
When the commander of the Temple guards and the high priests heard these words, they were utterly at a loss as to what could have happened to them. 


text:
Then someone came and told them, "Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple and teaching the people!" 


text:
So the commander of the Temple guards went with his men to bring them back without force, because they were afraid of being stoned to death by the people. 


text:
When they brought them back, they made them stand before the Council, <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> and the high priest began to question them. 


text:
He said, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in his name, didn't we? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man's blood on us!" 


text:
God has exalted to his right hand this very man as our Leader and Savior in order to extend repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 


text:
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who keep on obeying him." 


text:
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 


text:
For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared. 


text:
After that man, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got people to follow him. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered. 


text:
"I'm telling you to keep away from these men for now. Leave them alone, because if this plan or movement is of human origin, it will fail. 


text:
However, if it is from God, you won't be able to stop them, and you may even discover that you are fighting against God!" So they were convinced by him. 


text:
After calling in the apostles and beating them, they again <n>{The Gk. lacks again}</n> ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus and let them go. 


text:
They left the Council, <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> rejoicing to have been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name. 


text:
Every day in the Temple and from house to house they kept teaching and proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
<n>{Seven Men are Chosen to Help the Apostles}</n> d In those days, as the number of the disciples was growing larger and larger, a complaint was made by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 


text:
So the Twelve called the whole group of disciples together and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect messages from <n>{Lit. neglect the word of}</n> God in order to wait on tables. 


text:
Therefore, brothers, appoint seven men among you who have a good reputation, who are full of the Spirit and wisdom, and we will put them in charge of this work. 


text:
This suggestion pleased the whole group. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. 


text:
So the word of God <n>{Other mss. read of the Lord}</n> continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem continued to grow rapidly. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. 


text:
<n>{Stephen is Arrested}</n> d Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 


text:
But some men who belonged to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), as well as some Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and began to debate with Stephen. 


text:
So they secretly got some men to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God." 


text:
They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. Then they rushed at Stephen, <n>{Lit. him}</n> grabbed him, and brought him before the Council. <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> 


text:
They had false witnesses stand up and say, "This man never stops saying things against this Holy Place and against the Law. 


text:
For we have heard him say that this Jesus from Nazareth <n>{Or Jesus the Nazarene ; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.}</n> will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." 


text:
Then everyone who was seated in the Council <n>{Or Sanhedrin}</n> glared at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel. 


text:
Stephen replied: "Listen, brothers and fathers! "The glorious God appeared to our ancestor Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia before he settled in Haran. 


text:
God <n>{Lit. He}</n> told him, «Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land I will show you.'<n>{Gen 12:1}</n> 


text:
So he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. Then after the death of his father, God had him move to this country where you now live. 


text:
God <n>{Lit. He}</n> gave him no property here, <n>{Lit. in it}</n> not even a foot of land, yet he promised to give it to him and to his descendants <n>{Lit. seed}</n> after him as a permanent possession, even though he had no child. 


text:
"This is what God promised: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and its people <n>{Lit. they}</n> would enslave them and oppress them for 400 years. 


text:
«But I will punish the nation they serve,'said God, «and afterwards they will leave and worship me in this place.'<n>{Gen 15:13-14; Exod 3:12}</n> 


text:
Later, God <n>{Lit. he}</n> gave Abraham <n>{Lit. him}</n> the covenant of circumcision. Later, he fathered Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day. Then Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered <n>{The Gk. lacks fathered}</n> the twelve patriarchs. 


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"Joseph's brothers <n>{Lit. The patriarchs}</n> became jealous of him and sold Joseph as a slave <n>{The Gk. lacks as a slave}</n> in Egypt. However, God was with him 


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and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler of Egypt and of his whole household. 


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"But a famine spread throughout Egypt and Canaan, and with it great suffering, and our ancestors couldn't find any food. 


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On their second trip, Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph introduced his family <n>{Lit. Joseph's family became known}</n> to Pharaoh. 


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Then Joseph invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him in Egypt <n>{The Gk. lacks in Egypt}</n> 75 persons in all. 


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They were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought at a high price <n>{Lit. Abraham for a sum of money}</n> from Hamor's descendants in Shechem. 


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"Now as the time approached for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people's population increased a great deal in Egypt. 


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Eventually, a different king who had not known Joseph became ruler of Egypt. <n>{Other mss. lack of Egypt}</n> 


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By shrewdly scheming against our people, he oppressed our ancestors and forced them to abandon their infants to the elements, so that they wouldn't live. 


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"At this time Moses was born. He was beautiful in the sight of God, and for three months he was cared for in his father's house. 


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So Moses learned all the wisdom of the Egyptians and became a great man, both in words and in deeds. 


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"When he was 40 years old, he decided <n>{Lit. old, his heart was moved}</n> to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. 


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When he saw one of them being mistreated, he defended him <n>{The Gk. lacks him}</n> and avenged the man who was being mistreated by killing the Egyptian. 


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He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was using him to rescue them, but they didn't understand. 


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The next day, he presented himself to some of them while they were fighting and tried to reconcile them. He said, «Men, you are brothers. Why should you be hurting another? '


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"But the man who was harming his neighbor pushed Moses <n>{Lit. him}</n> away and said, «Who made you ruler and judge over us? 


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"After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. 


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When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached the bush <n>{The Gk. lacks the bush}</n> to look at it, the voice of the Lord said, <n>{Lit. came}</n> 


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«I am the God of your ancestors the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.'<n>{Exod 3:6}</n> Moses became terrified and didn't dare to look. 


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Then the Lord told him, «Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 


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I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.'<n>{Exod 3:4-10}</n> 


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"This same Moses whom they rejected by saying, «Who made you ruler and judge? '<n>{Exod 2:14}</n> was the man whom God sent to be both their ruler and deliverer with the help of the angel who had appeared to him in the bush. 


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It was he who led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for 40 years. 


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It was this Moses who told the Israelis, «God will raise up a prophet for you from among your own brothers, just as he did <n>{The Gk. lacks he did}</n> me.'<n>{Deut 18:15}</n> 


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This Moses <n>{Lit. one}</n> is the one who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and to our ancestors. He received living truths to give to us, <n>{Other mss. read to you}</n> 


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They told Aaron, «Make gods for us who will lead us. This Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt we don't know what happened to him!'<n>{Exod 32:1, 23}</n> 


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"At that time they even made a calf to be their idol, offered a sacrifice to it, and delighted in what they had made with their hands. 


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So God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the heavenly bodies. As it is written in the book of the Prophets: «O house of Israel, you didn't offer me slaughtered animals and sacrifices those 40 years in the wilderness, did you? 


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You even took along the tent of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, and the images you made in order to worship them. So I will take you into exile as far as Babylon.'<n>{Amos 5:25-27}</n> 


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"Our ancestors had the Tent of Testimony <n>{I.e. the tent containing the Ark of the Covenant}</n> in the wilderness constructed, <n>{The Gk. lacks constructed}</n> just as the one who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. 


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Our ancestors brought it here with Joshua when they replaced the nations that God drove out in front of our ancestors, and it was here until the time of David. 


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He found favor with God and asked to design a dwelling for the house <n>{Other mss. read God}</n> of Jacob, 


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However, the Most High does not live in buildings made by human <n>{The Gk. lacks human}</n> hands. As the prophet says, 


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«Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house can you build for me,'declares the Lord, "or what place is there in which I can rest? 


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"You stubborn people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. 


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Which of the prophets did your ancestors fail to persecute? They killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. 


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<n>{Stephen is Stoned to Death}</n> d While they were listening to these things, they became more and more furious and began to grind their teeth at him. 


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But Stephen, <n>{Lit. he}</n> filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 


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ran him outside of the city, and began to stone him to death. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 


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Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" After he had said this, he died. <n>{Lit. fell asleep}</n> 


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<n>{The Church is Scattered}</n> d Now Saul heartily approved of putting Stephen <n>{Lit. him}</n> to death. That day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except for the apostles was scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. 


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But Saul kept trying to destroy the church. Going into one house after another, he began dragging off men and women and throwing them in prison. 


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<n>{Some Samaritans Become Believers}</n> d Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word. 


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Philip went down to the <n>{Other mss. read a}</n> city of Samaria and began to preach the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> to the people. <n>{Lit. to them}</n> 


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The crowds, hearing his message <n>{The Gk. lacks his message}</n> and seeing the signs that he was doing, paid close attention to what was said by Philip. 


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Unclean spirits screamed with a loud voice as they came out of the many people they had possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. 


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Now in that city there was a man named Simon. He was practicing occult arts and thrilling the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. 


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Everyone from the least to the greatest paid close attention to him, saying, "This is what we call <n>{Lit. This man is called}</n> the great power of God!" 


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They paid careful attention to him because he had thrilled them for a long time with his occult performances. 


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But when Philip proclaimed the good news about the kingdom of God and about the name of Jesus the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> men and women believed and were baptized. 


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Even Simon believed, and after he was baptized he became devoted to Philip. He was amazed to see the signs and great miracles that were happening. 


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Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 


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Before this he had not come on any of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 


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Then Peter and John <n>{Lit. Then they}</n> laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 


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Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles'hands, he offered them money 


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and said, "Give me this power too, so that when I lay my hands on someone, he will receive the Holy Spirit." 


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But Peter told him, "May your money perish with you because you thought you could obtain God's free gift with money! 


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So repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your heart's intent may be forgiven you. 


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Simon answered, "Both of you pray <n>{Lit. Pray (pl.)}</n> to the Lord for me that none of the things you have said will happen to me." 


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After they had given their testimony and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, continuing to proclaim the good news in many Samaritan villages. 


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<n>{Philip Tells an Ethiopian about Jesus}</n> d Now an angel of the Lord told Philip, "Get up and go south on the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a deserted road." 


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So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, who was a member of the court of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasures and had come up to Jerusalem to worship. 


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So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip <n>{Lit. He}</n> asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?" 


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The man <n>{Lit. He}</n> replied, "How can I unless someone guides me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 


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This was the passage of Scripture he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led away to be slaughtered, and like a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 


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In his humiliation, justice was denied him. Who can describe his descendants? <n>{Or generation}</n> For his life is taken away from the earth." <n>{Isa 53:7-8 (LXX)}</n> 


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Then Philip began to speak, and, starting from this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. 


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As they were going along the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, "Look, there's some water. What keeps me from being baptized?" 


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<n>{Other mss. read Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." He replied, "I believe that Jesus the Messiah is the Son of God."}</n> 


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So he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip <n>{Lit. he}</n> baptized him. 


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When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and did not see Philip <n>{Lit. him}</n> again. 


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But Philip found himself at Azotus. As he was passing through that region, <n>{The Gk. lacks the region}</n> he kept proclaiming the good news in all the towns until he came to Caesarea. 


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<n>{Saul Becomes a Believer}</n> d Meanwhile, still spewing death threats against the Lord's disciples, Saul went to the high priest. 


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He asked him for letters to take with him <n>{The Gk. lacks to take with him}</n> to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women belonging to the Way, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem. 


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As Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> traveled along and was approaching Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 


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He dropped to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" 


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He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" <n>{Or Sir}</n> The voice <n>{Lit. He}</n> said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 


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Meanwhile, the men who were traveling with Saul <n>{Lit. him}</n> were standing speechless, for they heard the voice but didn't see anyone. 


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When Saul got up off the ground, he couldn't see anything, even though his eyes were open. So his companions <n>{Lit. So they}</n> took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. 


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Now in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord told him in a vision, "Ananias!" He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 


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The Lord told him, "Get up, go to the street called Straight, and in the home of Judas look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. At this very moment he is praying. 


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He has seen in a vision <n>{Other mss. lack in a vision}</n> a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so he would see again." 


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But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many people tell how much evil this man has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 


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But the Lord told him, "Go, since he is my chosen instrument to carry my name to unbelievers, <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> to their kings, and to the descendants of Israel. 


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<n>{Saul's Sight is Restored}</n> d So Ananias left and went to that house. He laid his hands on Saul <n>{Lit. on him}</n> and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were traveling, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 


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All at once something like scales fell from Saul's <n>{Lit. his}</n> eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 


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and after eating some food, he felt strong again. For several days he stayed with the disciples in Damascus. 


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Everyone who heard him was astonished and said, "This is the man who harassed those who were calling on Jesus'<n>{Lit. his}</n> name in Jerusalem, isn't it? Didn't he come here to bring them in chains to the high priests?" 


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But Saul grew more and more persuasive, and continued to confound the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that this man was the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


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After several days had gone by, the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> plotted to murder Saul, <n>{Lit. him}</n> 


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but their plot became known to him. <n>{Lit. Saul}</n> They were even watching the gates day and night to murder him, 


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but his disciples took him one night and let him down through the city wall by lowering him in a basket. 


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When Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they all were afraid of him because they wouldn't believe he was a disciple. 


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Barnabas, however, introduced Saul <n>{Lit. him}</n> to the apostles, telling them how on the road Saul <n>{Lit. he}</n> had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how courageously he had spoken in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 


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So he freely circulated <n>{Lit. he went in and out}</n> among them in Jerusalem, speaking courageously in the name of the Lord. 


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When the brothers found out about the plot, <n>{Lit. about it}</n> they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus. 


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So the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed peace. As it continued to be built up and to live in the fear of the Lord, it kept increasing in numbers through the encouragement of the Holy Spirit. 


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<n>{Aeneas is Healed}</n> d Now when Peter was going around among all of the disciples, <n>{Lit. all of them}</n> he also visited the saints living in Lydda. 


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Peter told him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> is healing you. Get up and put away your mat!" At once he got up, 


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<n>{Tabitha is Healed}</n> d In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, <n>{ Tabitha is Aram. for gazelle .}</n> which in Greek is Dorcas. <n>{ Dorcas is Gk. for gazelle .}</n> She was known for her good actions and acts of charity that she was always doing. 


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Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to him and begged him, "Come here quickly!" 


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So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him upstairs. All the widows gathered around Peter, <n>{Lit. him}</n> crying and showing him all the shirts and coats Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 


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Peter made them all go outside. After kneeling down, he prayed, turned to the body, and said, "Tabitha, get up!" She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 


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He extended his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints, including the widows, and gave her back to them alive. 


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<n>{Cornelius Has a Vision}</n> d Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion <n>{A Roman centurion commanded about 100 men.}</n> in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 


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He was a devout man who feared God, as did everyone in his home. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and always prayed to God. 


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One day, about three in the afternoon, <n>{Lit. About the ninth hour of the day}</n> he had a vision and clearly saw an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!" 


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He stared at the angel <n>{Lit. at him}</n> in terror and asked, "What is it, Lord?" The angel <n>{Lit. He}</n> answered him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have arisen as a reminder <n>{Or memorial}</n> to God. 


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When the angel who had spoken to him had gone, Cornelius <n>{Lit. he}</n> summoned two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly. 


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<n>{Peter Has a Vision}</n> d Around noon <n>{Lit. About the sixth hour}</n> the next day, while they were on their way and coming close to the town, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 


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He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food <n>{Lit. it}</n> was being prepared, he fell into a trance 


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and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 


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Again the voice came to him a second time, "You must stop calling unclean what God has made clean." 


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This happened three times. Then the sheet <n>{Lit. the vessel}</n> was quickly taken back into heaven. 


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While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon's house and went to the gate. 


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Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, "Look! Three men are looking for you. 


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The men replied, "Cornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say." 


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So Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> welcomed them as his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him. 


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<n>{Peter Speaks with Cornelius}</n> d The next day, they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together. 


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When Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him, bowed down at his feet, and began to worship him. 


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He told them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with an unbeliever. <n>{Lit. gentiles ; i.e. unbelieving non-Jews}</n> But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean, 


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Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, three o'clock in the afternoon, <n>{Lit. the ninth hour}</n> I was praying in my home. All at once a man in radiant clothes stood in front of me 


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so send messengers <n>{The Gk. lacks messengers}</n> to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter, to come to you. He is a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker, by the sea.'


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So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say." 


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He has sent his word to the descendants of Israel and brought them the good news of peace through Jesus the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> This man is the Lord of everyone. 


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You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached. 


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God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, he went around doing good and healing everyone who was oppressed by the devil. 


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We are witnesses of everything Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> did in the land of the Jews, including Jerusalem. "They hung him on a tree and killed him, 


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not to all the people, but to us who were chosen by God to be witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 


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He also ordered us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 


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All the prophets testify to this: everyone who believes in Jesus <n>{Lit. him}</n> receives forgiveness of sins through his name." 


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<n>{Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit}</n> d While Peter was still making this statement, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message. 


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Then the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles, too. 


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For they heard them speaking in foreign languages <n>{Or in tongues ; the Gk. lacks foreign}</n> and praising God. Then Peter said, 


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"No one can stop us from using water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did, can they?" <n>{Lit. he}</n> 


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So Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> Then they asked him to stay there for several days. 


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<n>{Peter Reports to the Church in Jerusalem}</n> d Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 


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But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who emphasized circumcision <n>{Lit. those of the circumcision}</n> disagreed with him. 


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"I was in the town of Joppa praying when in a trance I saw a vision: Something like a large linen sheet descended down from heaven, lowered by its four corners, and it came right down to me. 


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When I examined it closely, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. 


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Then the voice from heaven answered a second time, «You must stop calling common what God has made clean!» 


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"At that very moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea. 


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The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitating. These six brothers went with me, too, and we entered the house of the man from Caesarea. <n>{The Gk. lacks from Caesarea}</n> 


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Then he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his home and saying, «Send messengers <n>{The Gk. lacks messengers}</n> to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. 


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Then I remembered what the Lord had said: «John baptized with <n>{Or in}</n> water, but you will be baptized with <n>{Or in}</n> the Holy Spirit.» 


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Now if God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> who was I to try to stop God?" 


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When they heard this, they calmed down, and praised God, saying, "So God has given repentance that leads to life even to gentiles." 


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<n>{The New Church in Antioch}</n> d Now the people who were scattered by the persecution that started because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 


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But among them were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began proclaiming the Lord Jesus even to the Hellenistic Jews. <n>{Other mss. read to the Greeks}</n> 


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When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, <n>{Lit. to see the grace of God}</n> and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord. 


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For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord. 


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When he found him, he brought him to Antioch, and for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. 


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One of them named Agabus got up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world. This happened during the reign of Claudius. 


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So all of the disciples decided they would send a contribution to the brothers living in Judea, as they were able, 


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<n>{An Angel Frees Peter from Prison}</n> d About that time, Herod arrested some people who belonged to the church and mistreated them. 


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When he saw how this was agreeable to the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter, too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 


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When he arrested Peter, Herod <n>{Lit. arrested him, he}</n> put him in prison and turned him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, planning to bring him out to the people after Passover season. <n>{The Gk. lacks season}</n> 


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So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer to God for him was being offered by the assembly. <n>{Or church}</n> 


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That very night, before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, and guards in front of the door were watching the prisoners. 


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Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on his side, woke him up, and said, "Get up quickly!" His chains fell from his wrists. 


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Then the angel told him, "Tuck in your shirt and put on your sandals!" He did this. Then the angel <n>{Lit. he}</n> told him, "Put on your coat and follow me!" 


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So Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> went out and began to follow him, not realizing that what was being done by the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. 


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They passed the first guard, then the second, and came to the iron gate that led into the city. It opened by itself for them, and they went outside and proceeded one block when the angel suddenly left him. 


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Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I'm sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from <n>{Lit. from the hands of}</n> Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting!" 


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When Peter <n>{Lit. he}</n> realized what had happened, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where a large number of people had gathered and were praying. 


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On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that she didn't open the gate but ran back inside and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. 


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The other people <n>{Lit. They}</n> told her, "You're out of your mind!" But she kept insisting that it was so. Then they said, "It's his angel." 


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Meanwhile, Peter kept on knocking and knocking. When they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. 


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He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet, and then he told them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He added, "Tell this to James and the brothers." Then he left and went somewhere else. 


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Herod searched for him but didn't find him, so he questioned the guards and ordered them to be executed. Then he left Judea, went down to Caesarea, and stayed there for a while. 


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<n>{The Death of Herod}</n> d Now Herod had been in a violent quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him as a group. After they had won over Blastus, who oversaw security <n>{The Gk. lacks security}</n> for the king's sleeping quarters, they asked for a peace agreement because their country depended on the king's country for food. 


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Therefore, at a set time Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the royal seat, and made a speech to them. 


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Immediately the angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. 


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When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission, they returned to <n>{Other mss. read from}</n> Jerusalem, bringing with them John who was also called Mark. 


text:
<n>{Barnabas and Saul Travel to Cyprus}</n> d Now Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen, who grew up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul were prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch. 


text:
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set Barnabas and Saul apart for me to do the work for which I called them." 


text:
After they had been sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. 


text:
Arriving in Salamis, they began to preach God's word in the Jewish synagogues. They also had John to help them. 


text:
They went through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish occult practitioner and false prophet named Bar-jesus. 


text:
He was associated with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 


text:
But Elymas the occult practitioner (that is the meaning of his name) continued to oppose them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 


text:
But Saul, also known as <n>{Lit. who was also}</n> Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked him straight in the eye 


text:
and said, "You are full of every form of deception and trickery, you son of the devil, you enemy of all that is right! You will never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord, will you? 


text:
The <n>{Lit. The hand of the}</n> Lord is against you now, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a while!" At that moment a dark mist came over him, and he went around looking for someone to lead him by the hand. 


text:
When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the Lord's teaching. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Barnabas Go to Antioch in Pisidia}</n> d Then Paul and his men set sail from Paphos and arrived in Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and went back to Jerusalem. 


text:
They left Perga and arrived in Antioch in Pisidia. On the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 


text:
After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders asked them, <n>{Lit. sent to them}</n> "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement <n>{Or word of exhortation}</n> for the people, you may speak." 


text:
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made them a great people during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with a public display of power <n>{Lit. with an uplifted arm}</n> he led them out of there. 


text:
he destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan. Then God gave their land to the Israelis <n>{Lit. to them}</n> as an inheritance 


text:
When they demanded a king, God gave them Kish's son Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, for 40 years. 


text:
Then God <n>{Lit. But he}</n> removed Saul <n>{Lit. him}</n> and made David their king, about whom he testified, «I have found that David, the son of Jesse, is a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my wishes.'<n>{Ps 89:20; 1 Sam 13:14}</n> 


text:
It was from this man's descendants that God, as he promised, brought to Israel a Savior, who is Jesus. 


text:
Before Jesus'appearance, John had already preached a baptism of repentance to all the people in Israel. 


text:
When John was finishing his work, he said, «Who do you think I am? I am not the Messiah. <n>{Lit. one}</n> No, but he is coming after me, and I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet.'


text:
"My brothers, descendants of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, it is to us <n>{Other mss. read to you}</n> that the message of this salvation has been sent. 


text:
For the people who live in Jerusalem and their leaders, not knowing who Jesus <n>{Lit. he}</n> was, condemned him and so fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 


text:
When they had finished doing everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb. 


text:
and for many days he appeared to those who had come with him to Jerusalem from Galilee. These are now his witnesses to the people. 


text:
he has fulfilled for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm, «You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.'<n>{Ps 2:7}</n> 


text:
God <n>{Lit. He}</n> raised him from the dead, never to experience decay, as he said, «I will give you the holy promises made to David.'<n>{Isa 55:3 (LXX)}</n> 


text:
In another Psalm <n>{The Gk. lacks Psalm}</n> he says, «You will not let your Holy One experience decay.'<n>{Ps 16:10 (LXX)}</n> 


text:
For David, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation, died <n>{Lit. fell asleep}</n> and was buried with his ancestors, and so he experienced decay. 


text:
"Therefore, brothers, you must understand that through him the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 


text:
and that everyone who believes in him is justified and freed from everything that kept you from being justified by the Law of Moses. 


text:
«Look, you mockers! Be amazed and die! For I am performing an action in your days, one that you would not believe even if someone told you!»" <n>{Hab 1:5 (LXX)}</n> 


text:
As Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. As they}</n> were leaving, the people kept urging them to tell them the same things the next Sabbath. 


text:
When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who kept talking to them and urging them to continue in the grace of God. 


text:
The next Sabbath almost the whole town gathered to hear the word of the Lord. <n>{Other mss. read of God}</n> 


text:
But when the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to object to the statements made by Paul and even to abuse him. 


text:
Then Paul and Barnabas boldly declared, "We had to speak God's word to you first, but since you reject it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we are now going to turn to the gentiles. 


text:
For that is what the Lord ordered us to do: «I have made you a light to the gentiles to be the means of salvation to the very ends of the earth.»" <n>{Isa 49:6}</n> 


text:
When the gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord. Meanwhile, all who had been destined to eternal life believed, 


text:
But the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> stirred up devout women of high social standing and the officials in the city, started a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their territory. 


text:
So Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. So they}</n> shook the dust off their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Barnabas in Iconium}</n> d In Iconium, Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. Iconium, they}</n> went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 


text:
But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 


text:
They stayed there a considerable time and continued to speak boldly for the Lord, who kept affirming his word of grace and granting signs and wonders to be done by them. 


text:
But the people of the city were divided. Some were with the Jews, while others were with the apostles. 


text:
Now when an attempt was made by both gentiles and Jews, along with their authorities, to mistreat and stone them, 


text:
Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. them , 6 they}</n> found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian towns of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding territory. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Barnabas in Lystra}</n> d Now in Lystra there was a man sitting down who couldn't use his feet. He had been crippled from birth and had never walked. 


text:
He was listening to Paul as he spoke. Paul <n>{Lit. He}</n> watched him closely, and when he saw that he had faith to be healed, 


text:
he said in a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" Then the man <n>{Lit. he}</n> jumped up and began to walk. 


text:
When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us!" 


text:
The priest of the temple of Zeus, which was just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the gates. He and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices. 


text:
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 


text:
"Men, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings with natures like yours. We are telling you the good news so you'll turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. <n>{Ex. 20:11; Psa 146:6}</n> 


text:
yet he has not abandoned his witness: he continues to do good, to give you rain from heaven, to give you <n>{The Gk. lacks to give you}</n> fruitful seasons, and to fill you with food and your hearts with joy." 


text:
Even by saying this, it was all Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. all they}</n> could do to keep the crowds from offering sacrifices to them. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Barnabas Return to Antioch in Syria}</n> d But some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds by persuasion. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the town, thinking he was dead. 


text:
But the disciples formed a circle around him, and he got up and went back to town. The next day, he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 


text:
As they were proclaiming the good news in that city, they discipled a large number of people. Then they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 


text:
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, "We must endure many hardships to get into the kingdom of God." 


text:
Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. They}</n> appointed elders for them in each church, and with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 


text:
They spoke the word <n>{Other mss. read the word of the Lord ; still other mss. read the word of God}</n> in Perga and went down to Attalia. 


text:
From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been entrusted to the grace of God for the work they had completed. 


text:
When they arrived, they called the church together and told them everything that God had done with them and how he had opened a door so that gentiles would believe. 


text:
<n>{Controversy about the Law}</n> d Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, "Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can't be saved." 


text:
Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question. 


text:
They were sent on their way by the church, and as they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria they told of the conversion of the gentiles and brought great joy to all the brothers. 


text:
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done through them. 


text:
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The gentiles <n>{Lit. They}</n> must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law of Moses." 


text:
After a lengthy debate, Peter stood up and told them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days, God chose me to be the one among you through whom the gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 


text:
God, who knows everyone's heart, showed them he approved by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 


text:
So why do you test God by putting on the disciples'neck a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we could carry? 


text:
We certainly believe that it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, <n>{Or Christ}</n> that we are saved, just as they are." 


text:
The whole crowd was silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the gentiles. 


text:
After Paul and Barnabas <n>{Lit. After they}</n> had finished speaking, James responded, "Brothers, listen to me: 


text:
Simeon <n>{I.e. Simon Peter}</n> has explained how God first showed his concern for the gentiles by taking from among them a people for his name. 


text:
"After this, I will come back and set up David's fallen tent again. I will restore its ruined places and set it up again 


text:
so that the rest of the people may search for the Lord, including all the gentiles who are called by my name,'declares the Lord. «He is the one who has been doing these things 


text:
Instead, we should write to them to keep away from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from anything strangled, <n>{Other mss. lack from anything strangled}</n> and from blood. <n>{I.e. uncooked meat}</n> 


text:
After all, Moses has had people to proclaim him in every city for generations, and on every Sabbath his books are <n>{Lit. Sabbath he is}</n> read aloud in the synagogues." 


text:
<n>{The Reply of the Church}</n> d Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. 


text:
They wrote this letter for them to deliver: <n>{Lit. They wrote through their hand}</n> "From: <n>{The Gk. lacks From}</n> The apostles and the elders, your brothers To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings. 


text:
We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you. <n>{Other mss. read you by saying, «You must be circumcised and keep the law.'}</n> 


text:
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: 


text:
to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, <n>{I.e. uncooked meat}</n> from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye." 


text:
So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 


text:
After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting <n>{Lit. sent back with peace}</n> from the brothers to those who had sent them. <n>{Other mss. read sent them.}</n> 


text:
Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Barnabas Disagree}</n> d A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they're doing." 


text:
but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. 


text:
while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord. <n>{Other mss. read of God}</n> 


text:
<n>{Timothy Joins Paul in Lystra}</n> d Paul <n>{Lit. He}</n> also went to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish wife whose husband was a Greek. 


text:
Paul wanted this man to go with him, so he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who lived in that region, because everyone knew that Timothy's <n>{Lit. that his}</n> father was a Greek. 


text:
As they went from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey. 


text:
<n>{Paul Has a Vision}</n> d Because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the word in Asia, Paul and Timothy <n>{Lit. Then they}</n> went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. 


text:
They went as far as Mysia and tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them, 


text:
During the night Paul had a vision. A man from Macedonia was standing there and pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" 


text:
As soon as he had seen the vision, we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia, because we were convinced that God had called us to tell the people there <n>{Lit. tell them}</n> the good news. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Silas in Philippi}</n> d Sailing from Troas, we went straight to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 


text:
and from there to Philippi, an important city of the district <n>{Other mss. read a city of the first district}</n> of Macedonia and a Roman <n>{The Gk. lacks Roman}</n> colony. We were in this city for several days. 


text:
On the Sabbath day, we went out the city gate and walked <n>{the Gk. lacks walked}</n> along the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and began talking to the women who had gathered there. 


text:
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a dealer in purple goods, was listening to us. She was a worshiper of God, and the Lord opened her heart to listen carefully to what was being said by Paul. 


text:
When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, "If you are convinced that I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she continued to insist that we do so. 


text:
<n>{The Fortune Teller}</n> d Once, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of fortune-telling and who had brought her owners a great deal of money by predicting the future. 


text:
She would follow Paul and us and shout, "These men are servants of the Most High God and are proclaiming to you <n>{Other mss. read us}</n> a way of salvation!" 


text:
She kept doing this for many days until Paul became annoyed, turned to her <n>{The Gk. lacks to her}</n> and told the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> to come out of her!" And it came out that very moment. <n>{Lit. that hour}</n> 


text:
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities in the public square. <n>{Or in the marketplace}</n> 


text:
They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are stirring up a lot of trouble in our city. They are Jews 


text:
The crowd joined in the attack against them. Then the magistrates had Paul and Silas <n>{Lit. had them}</n> stripped of their clothes and ordered them beaten with rods. 


text:
After giving them a severe beating, they threw them in jail and ordered the jailer to keep them under tight security. 


text:
Having received these orders, he put them into the inner cell and fastened their feet in leg irons. 


text:
Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 


text:
Suddenly, there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken. All the doors immediately flew open, and everyone's chains were unfastened. 


text:
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 


text:
The jailer <n>{Lit. He}</n> asked for torches and rushed inside. Trembling as he knelt in front of Paul and Silas, 


text:
Then they spoke the word of the Lord <n>{Other mss. read of God}</n> to him and everyone in his home. 


text:
At that hour of the night, he took them and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire family were baptized immediately. 


text:
He brought Paul and Silas <n>{Lit. brought them}</n> upstairs into his house and set food before them. He was thrilled, as was his household, to believe in God. 


text:
The jailer reported these words to Paul, and added, "The magistrates have sent word to release you. So come out now and go in peace." 


text:
But Paul told the guards, <n>{Lit. told them}</n> "The magistrates <n>{Lit. They}</n> have had us beaten publicly without a trial and have thrown us into jail, even though we are Roman citizens. Now are they going to throw us out secretly? Certainly not! Have them come and escort us out." 


text:
The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and they became afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas <n>{Lit. that they}</n> were Roman citizens. 


text:
So the magistrates <n>{Lit. So they}</n> came, apologized to them, and escorted them out. Then they asked them to leave the city. 


text:
Leaving the jail, Paul and Silas <n>{Lit. jail, they}</n> went to Lydia's house. They saw the brothers, encouraged them, and then left. 


text:
<n>{Paul and Silas in Thessalonica}</n> d Paul and Silas <n>{Lit. They}</n> traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 


text:
He explained and showed them that the Messiah <n>{Or Christ}</n> had to suffer and rise from the dead: "This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Messiah." <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
Some of them were persuaded and began to be associated with Paul and Silas, especially a large crowd of devout Greeks and the wives of many prominent men. 


text:
But the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> became jealous, and they took some contemptible characters who used to hang out in the public square, <n>{Or in the marketplace}</n> formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. They attacked Jason's home and searched it for Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the people. 


text:
When they didn't find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials and shouted, "These fellows who have turned the world upside down have come here, too, 


text:
and Jason has welcomed them as his guests. All of them oppose the emperor's decrees by saying that there is another king Jesus!" 


text:
<n>{Paul and Silas in Berea}</n> d That night the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 


text:
These people were more receptive than those in Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive the message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if those things were so. 


text:
But when the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> in Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul also in Berea, they went there to upset and incite the crowds. 


text:
<n>{Paul in Athens}</n> d The men who escorted Paul took him all the way to Athens and, after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left. 


text:
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was deeply disturbed to see the city full of idols. 


text:
So he began holding discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and other worshipers, as well as every day in the public square <n>{Or in the marketplace}</n> with anyone who happened to be there. 


text:
Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some asked, "What is this blabbermouth trying to say?" while others said, "He seems to be preaching about foreign gods." This was because Paul <n>{Lit. because he}</n> was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 


text:
Then they took him, brought him before the Areopagus, <n>{I.e. the city council}</n> and asked, "May we know what this new teaching of yours is? 


text:
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there used to spend their time doing nothing else other than listening to the latest ideas or repeating them. 


text:
So Paul stood up in front of the Areopagus <n>{I.e. the city council}</n> and said, "Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 


text:
For as I was walking around and looking closely at the objects you worship, I even found an altar with this written on it: «To an unknown god.'So I am telling you about the unknown object you worship. 


text:
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by human hands, 


text:
and he isn't served by people <n>{Lit. hands}</n> as if he needed anything. He himself gives everyone life, breath, and everything else. 


text:
From one man <n>{Other mss. read From one blood}</n> he made every nation of humanity to live all over the earth, fixing the seasons of the year and the national boundaries within which they live, 


text:
so that they might look for God, <n>{Other mss. read for the Lord}</n> somehow reach for him, and find him. Of course, he is never far from any one of us. 


text:
For we live, move, and exist because of him, as some of your own poets have said: «For we are his children, too.'<n>{ Phainomena (5) by Aratus, a poet of Sicilian origin (3 rd century BC). Cleanthes the Stoic (3 rd century BC) used almost identical language.}</n> 


text:
So if we are God's children, we shouldn't think that the divine being is like gold, silver, or stone, or is an image carved by humans using their own imagination and skill. 


text:
because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world with justice <n>{Or in righteousness}</n> through a man whom he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." 


text:
When they heard about a resurrection of the dead, some began joking about it, while others said, "We will hear you again about this." 


text:
Some men joined him and became believers. With them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, <n>{I.e. the city council}</n> a woman named Damaris, and some others along with them. 


text:
There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul <n>{Lit. He}</n> went to visit them, 


text:
and because they had the same trade he stayed with them. They worked together because they were tentmakers by trade. 


text:
But when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself entirely to the word <n>{Other mss. read Spirit}</n> as he emphatically assured the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


text:
But when they began to oppose him and insult him, he shook out his clothes in protest and told them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the gentiles." 


text:
Then he left that place and went to the home of a man named Titius <n>{Other mss. read Titus}</n> Justus, who worshipped God and whose house was next door to the synagogue. 


text:
Now Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, along with his whole family. Many Corinthians who heard Paul also believed and were baptized. 


text:
For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you or harm you, because I have many people in this city." 


text:
So Paul <n>{Lit. he}</n> lived there for a year and a half and continued to teach the word of God among the people there. <n>{Lit. among them}</n> 


text:
While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jewish leaders <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> gathered together, attacked Paul, and brought him before the judge's seat. 


text:
Paul was about to speak when Gallio admonished the Jewish leaders, <n>{I.e. Judean leaders; lit. the Jews}</n> "If there were some misdemeanor or crime involved, it would be reasonable to put up with you Jews. 


text:
But since it is a question about words, names, and your own Law, you will have to take care of that yourselves. I refuse to be a judge in these matters." 


text:
Then all of them <n>{Other mss. read of the Greeks}</n> took Sosthenes, the synagogue leader, and began beating him in front of the judge's seat. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. 


text:
<n>{Paul's Return Trip to Antioch}</n> d After staying there for quite a while longer, Paul said goodbye to the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut in Cenchrea, since he was under a vow. 


text:
When they arrived in Ephesus, he left Priscilla and Aquila <n>{Lit. left them}</n> there. Then he went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews. 


text:
As he told them goodbye, he said, "I will come back <n>{Other mss. read I must at all costs keep the approaching festival in Jerusalem, but I will come back}</n> to you again if it is God's will." Then he set sail from Ephesus. 


text:
When he arrived in Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem, <n>{The Gk. lacks to Jerusalem}</n> greeted the church there, and then returned to Antioch. 


text:
After spending some time there, he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 


text:
<n>{Apollos Preaches in Ephesus}</n> d Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria, an eloquent man, and well versed in the Scriptures. 


text:
He had been instructed in the Lord's way, and with spiritual fervor he kept speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only about John's baptism. 


text:
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him home and explained God's way to him more accurately. 


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When Apollos <n>{Lit. he}</n> wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers wrote to the disciples there, urging them to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who, through God's <n>{The Gk. lacks God's}</n> grace, had believed. 


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He successfully refuted the Jews in public and proved by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah. <n>{Or Christ}</n> 


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<n>{Paul in Ephesus}</n> d It was while Apollos was in Corinth that Paul passed through the inland districts and came to Ephesus. He found a few disciples there 


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and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered him, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 


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Then Paul said, "John baptized when they repented, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." 


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When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in foreign languages <n>{Or tongues ; the Gk. lacks foreign}</n> and to prophesy. 


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He went into the synagogue and spoke there boldly for three months, holding discussions and persuading those who heard him <n>{Lit. persuading them}</n> about the kingdom of God. 


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But when some people became stubborn, refused to believe, and slandered the Way in front of the people, Paul <n>{Lit. he}</n> left them, taking his disciples away with him, and held daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. <n>{Other mss. read of a certain Tyrannus from the fifth hour to the tenth}</n> 


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This went on for two years, so that all who lived in Asia, Jews and Greeks alike, heard the word of the Lord. 


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When handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched his skin were taken to the sick, their diseases left them and evil spirits went out of them. 


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Then some Jews who went around trying to drive out demons attempted to use the name of the Lord Jesus on those who had evil spirits, saying, "I command you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches!" 


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But the evil spirit told them, "Jesus I know, and I am getting acquainted with Paul, but who are you?" 


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Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them, got the better of them, and so violently overpowered all of them that they fled out of the house naked and bruised. 


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When this became known to everyone living in Ephesus, Jews and Greeks alike, they all became terrified, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in high honor. 


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Moreover, many people who had practiced occult arts gathered their books and burned them in front of everybody. They estimated their value and found them to have been worth 50,000 silver coins. 


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After these things had happened, Paul decided <n>{Or Paul resolved in the Spirit}</n> to go through Macedonia and Achaia and then to go on to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have gone there, I must also see Rome." 


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Then he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed in Asia a while longer. 


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By making silver shrines of Artemis, a silversmith named Demetrius provided a large income for skilled workers. 


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He called a meeting of these men and others who were engaged in similar trades and said, "Men, you well know that we get a good income from this business. 


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You also see and hear that, not only in Ephesus, but almost all over Asia, this man Paul has won over and taken away a large crowd by telling them that gods made by human <n>{The Gk. lacks human}</n> hands are not gods at all. 


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There is a danger not only that our business will lose its reputation but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be brought into disrepute and that she will be robbed of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her." 


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The city was filled with confusion, and the people <n>{Lit. they}</n> rushed into the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's fellow travelers from Macedonia. 


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Even some officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message urging him not to risk his life in the theater. 


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Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing and some another, since the crowd was confused, and most of them didn't know why they were meeting. 


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Some of the crowd concluded it was because of Alexander, since the Jews had pushed him to the front. So Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. 


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But when they found out that he was a Jew, they all started to shout in unison for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 


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When the city recorder had quieted the crowd, he said, "Men of Ephesus, who in the world <n>{Lit. who among people}</n> doesn't know that this city of Ephesus is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell down from heaven? <n>{Or from Zeus}</n> 


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For you have brought these men here, although they neither rob temples nor blaspheme our <n>{Other mss. read your}</n> goddess. 


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So if Demetrius and his workers have a charge against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They should accuse one another there. 


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because we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, and there is no good reason we can give to justify this commotion." 


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<n>{Paul's Trip to Macedonia and Greece}</n> d When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them. Then he said goodbye to them and left to go to Macedonia. 


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He went through those regions and encouraged the people <n>{Lit. them}</n> with everything he had to say. Then he went to Greece 


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and stayed there for three months. When he was about to sail for Syria, a plot was initiated against him by the Jews, so he decided to go back through Macedonia. 


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He was accompanied by Sopater (the son of Pyrrhus) from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. 


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After the Festival <n>{Lit. days}</n> of Unleavened Bread, we sailed from Philippi, and days later we joined them in Troas and stayed there for seven days. 


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<n>{Paul's Farewell Visit to Troas}</n> d On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. <n>{Lit. them}</n> Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight. 


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A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in a window, began to sink off into a deep sleep as Paul kept speaking longer and longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. 


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But Paul went down, bent over <n>{Lit. fell on}</n> him, took him into his arms, and said, "Stop being alarmed, because he's still alive." 


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Then he went back upstairs, broke bread, and ate. He talked with them for a long time, until dawn, and then left. 


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<n>{Paul's Trip to Miletus}</n> d We proceeded to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we intended to pick up Paul. He had arranged it this way, since he had planned to travel there on foot. 


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We sailed from there and on the following day arrived off Chios. The next day, we crossed over to Samos and stayed at Trogyllium. <n>{Other mss. lack and stayed at Trogyllium}</n> The day after that, we came to Miletus. 


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Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in Asia, as he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible. 


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<n>{Paul Meets with the Ephesian Elders}</n> d From Miletus he sent messengers <n>{The Gk. lacks messengers}</n> to Ephesus to ask the elders of the church to meet with him. 


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When they came to him, he told them, "You know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day I set foot in Asia. 


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I served the Lord with all humility, with tears, and with trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 


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I never shrank from telling you anything that would help you nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house. 


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I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus. <n>{Other mss. read Lord Jesus, the Messiah}</n> 


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"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 


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except that in town after town the Holy Spirit assures me that imprisonment and suffering are waiting for me. 


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But I don't place any value on my life, if only I can finish my race and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. 


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"Now I know that none of you among whom I traveled preaching about the kingdom will ever see my face again. 


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Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to be shepherds of God's <n>{Other mss. read the Lord's}</n> church, which he acquired with his own blood. 


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Indeed, some of your own men will arise and distort the truth in order to lure the disciples into following them. 


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So be alert! Remember that for three years, night and day, I never stopped tearfully warning each of you. 


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"I am now entrusting you to God and to the message of his grace, which is able to build you up and secure for you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. 


