# verses

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And after the carrying away into Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel; Shealtiel, of Zerubbabel;


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So the whole number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen; from David to the exile to Babylon is fourteen; and from the exile to Babylon to Christ is fourteen.


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The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. After his mother, Mary, had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.


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But Joseph her husband, because he was just a man and unwilling to disgrace her, was minded to put her away secretly.


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And while he was having this in mind, behold! an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying.


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"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home, for what is begotten in her is by the Holy Spirit; and she will bear a son, and you are to call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."


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Behold! the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son; and they shall call his name Immanuel, a word which means "God with us."


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Now when Joseph awoke from his sleep he did as the angel of the Lord had directed him, and took his wife home,


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After the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod, lo! certain Magi arrived in Jerusalem, saying.


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"Where is the new-born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to worship him."


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So when he had gathered together all the chief priests and rabbis of the people, he began to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born.


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"And thou Bethlehem in the land of Judah, Thou are not least among the princes of Judah, For out of thee shall come a ruler Who shall shepherd my people, Israel."


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Thereupon Herod sent secretly for the Magi, and found out from them the time when the star appeared.


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Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and as soon as you have found him bring me word, that I, too, may go and worship him."


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The Magi listened to the king, and went on their way, and lo! the star which they had seen in the east led them until it came and stood over the place where the young child was.


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When they had entered the house, they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and opening their treasure-chests they gave him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.


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But because they were forbidden by God in a dream to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.


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When they were gone an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying; "Rise! Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and there remain until I bring you word; for Herod intends to make a search for the child, in order to put him to death."


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There he remained until the death of Herod, in order that the word of the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, which says, Out of Egypt I called my son.


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As soon as Herod saw that he had been mocked by the Magi, he was furious. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and all the neighborhood who were two years old or under, in accordance with the date which he had ascertained from the Magi.


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A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and lamentation- Rachel weeping for her children, Inconsolable, because they were no more!


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saying, "Rise! Take the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the life of the child are dead."


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But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into Galilee and settled in a town called Nazareth,


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This Johnit was of whom it was said through Isaiah, the prophet, The voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, "Prepare a way for the Lord, Make the paths straight for him."


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This Johnwore a garment of camels hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.


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But when Johnsaw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming for baptism, he said. "O brood of vipers! Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?


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And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father-I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham.


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And already the axe is lying at the roots of the trees. Any tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.


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I indeed am baptizing you in water, unto repentance; but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.


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His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse the threshing-floor. He will store his wheat in the granary, but will burn up the chaff in unquenchable fire."


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But he tried to prevent him. "It is I," he said, "who need to be baptized by you, and are you coming to me?"


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Then he consented. And after Jesus was baptized, as soon as he rose out of the water, lo! the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him,


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Jesus answered him, "It is written, Not by bread alone shall man live, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."


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and said to him. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge over thee; Upon their hands they will bear thee up, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."


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Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain, and showed all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them,


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"Begone, Satan!" answered Jesus, "for it is written, "Thou must worship the Lord thy God, and Him only must thou serve."


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Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali; The road by the Lake; the country beyond Jordan; Galilee of the Gentiles!


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The people who were dwelling in darkness Have seen a great light; And on those who were dwelling in the land of the shadows of death Light has dawned.


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And as he was walking by the see of Galilee, he saw two brothers- Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother-casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen.


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As he went farther on he saw two other brothers, Jamesthe son of Zebedee, and Johnhis brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.


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Then Jesus went about through Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.


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And his fame spread throughout all Syria. They brought all the sick to him, those who were suffering from various diseases and troubles- demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics-and he healed them.


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Great crowds followed him from Galilee, from the ten towns, from Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond Jordan.


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When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and when he had seated himself, his disciples came to him,


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"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for the righteousness, for they shall be completely satisfied.


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"Blessed are those who have been persecuted in the cause of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


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"Blessed are you when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my names sake.


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"Rejoice and exult in it, because your reward was great in the heavens; for so did they persecute the prophets before you.


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"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt lose its savor, in what way shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden under foot of men.


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"nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.


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"So let your light shine before men that they may see good you do, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.


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"Do not suppose that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I am come not to destroy, but to fulfil.


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"In solemn truth I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a comma, will pass from the Law until all has taken place.


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"So whoever breaks one of these least commandments, and teaches others to break them, will be least in the kingdom of heaven. But he who keeps them and teaches them, he will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


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"For I assure you that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance into the kingdom of heaven.


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"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "Thou shall not commit murder, and "he who commits murder shall be liable to condemnation by the court;


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but I say to you that he who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to condemnation by the court; and he who says to his brother Raca, shall be liable to condemnation by the Sanhedrin, while he who curses his brother shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire.


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"If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has a grievance against you,


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"leave there your gift before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother, first of all; then come and offer your gift.


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"Come to terms with your opponent quickly, while you are yet with him on the way to the court, to prevent your opponent from handing you over to the judge, and the judge to the jailer, and so you be thrown into prison.


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"I tell you truly that you would certainly not get out from there until you had paid back the last cent.


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But I say to you that whoever looks with lust at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart.


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And if your eye, your right eye, entices you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.


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And if your right hand entices you into sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of your bodily organs, than to have your whole body go down into the pit.


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But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress, and whoever marries her when so divorced, commits adultery.


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"Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You must not forswear yourselves, but must perform your vows to the Lord.


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"nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.


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"But I tell you not to retaliate the injury; but whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also;


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"So you will become sons of your heavenly Father; for he makes his sun to rise upon sinners as well as saints, and sends rain upon the unjust and the just.


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"Even the tax-gatherers do that, do they not? And if you show courtesy to your brother only, what are you doing more than others? Even the Gentiles do that, do they not?


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"Be careful not to do your good deeds in the sight of men, in order to be observed by them. If you do, you have no reward with your heavenly Father.


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"And whatever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they already have their reward in full.


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"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the avenues, in order that men may see them. In solemn truth I tell you that they have their reward in full.


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"But you, when you pray, go into your own room and shut your door; pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


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"While praying do not say the same words over and over again, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that by their much speaking they will gain attention.


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And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One; For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen.


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"but if you do not forgive men your offenses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your offenses.


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"When you fast, do not look downcast like the hypocrites; for they disfigure their faces so that it may be apparent to men that they are fasting. In solemn truth I tell you, they already have received their reward.


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"so that he may not appear to men to be fasting, but to his Father who is in secret; and his Father who sees in secret will reward him.


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"Store up for yourselves no treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;


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"but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.


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"The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore if your eye is sound, your whole body will be well lighted;


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"but if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be darkened. If then the very light within you is darkness, how dense is that darkness!


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"No slave can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will pay heed to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slaves both of God and of gold.


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"For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, inquiring what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body, inquiring what you shall wear. Is not your life more than its food, and your body than its clothing?


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"Behold! the birds in the sky! They neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them; and are not you worth more than they?


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"Why be anxious then about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin.


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"If God then so clothes the grass of the field, which blooms today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?


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"For all these are things that the Gentiles are eagerly seeking; for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of them all.


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"But continue to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


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"Do not then be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own anxieties. Enough for each day are its own troubles."


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"for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and in what measure you measure, others will measure to you.


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"And why do you look at the mote in your brothers eye, and fail to notice the beam which is in your own eye?


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"Or how will you say to your brother, Permit me to remove the mote from your eye, when, behold, the beam is in your own eye?


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"Hypocrite! First cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to cast the mote out of your brothers eye.


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"Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine; lest in turn they trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you.


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"If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him?


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"Therefore everything that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.


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"Enter by the narrow gate; for broad is the gate and wide the road that leads to destruction, and many are they who go in by it;


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"Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheeps clothing, but within they are ravening wolves.


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"Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.


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"Many in that day will say to me, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name done many mighty works?


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"Every one who hears my words and does them I will liken to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.


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"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house, but it fell not, for it was founded upon the rock.


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"And every one who hears these words of mine and does them not, I will liken to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand.


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"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."


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Now when Jesus had finished his discourse, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes taught them.


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Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him "I do choose," he said, "become clean," and immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.


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Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as an evidence to them."


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"Lord, "said the captain in reply, "I am not worthy to have you under my roof, but speak the word only, and my slave will be cured,


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"For I myself also am a man under authority, and I have soldiers under me. To one man I say Go, and he goes; to another,Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it."


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As Jesus listened to this reply he was astonished, and said to those who followed him. "In solemn truth I tell you that I have found faith like this in any Israelite.


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"I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west, and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.


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"but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth."


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Then Jesus said to the captain. "Go! As you have believed, so be it unto you." And his slave was healed in that very hour.


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At evening-time they brought to him many demoniacs. He cast out the demons with a word, and healed all who were ill,


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that the word spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, He took upon himself our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases.


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"Foxes have their holes," answered Jesus, "and wild birds their roosting-places, but the Son of man has not where to lay his head."


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"Why are you afraid?" he said, "you men of little faith!" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there came a great calm.


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But the men were amazed, saying, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"


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When he arrived on the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, he was met by two demoniacs who were coming out of the tombs. They were so violently fierce that no one dared pass along that road.


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"You Son of God," they shouted, "what have you to do with us? Are you come to torment us before the time?"


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and the demons began entreating him. "If you are driving us out," they said, "send us into the herd of swine."


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He answered, "Go!" So they came out of the men, and went into the swine, and behold! the entire herd rushed headlong down from the cliff into the sea, and perished in the water.


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The swineherds fled. They went away into the city and told all about it, and what had befallen the demoniacs.


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At once all the citizens came out to meet Jesus; and when they had seen him, they begged him to move away from their country.


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And here they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Courage, son, your sins are forgiven."


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"Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise and walk?


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"But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins"- he then says to the paralytic, "Rise, take up your bed, and go to your home."


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As Jesus was passing thence, he saw a man called Mathew sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."


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And he rose and followed him. And while he was at table in Matthews house, there came many tax-gatherers and sinners, and they dined with Jesus and his disciples.


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When the Pharisees saw it, they kept saying to his disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and sinners?"


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"But go and learn what this means, "It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice; for I am come not to call just men, but sinners."


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At that time the disciples of Johncame and asked him, "Why are we and the Pharisees always fasting, while your disciples are not?"


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"Can the friends fast at a wedding-feast," said Jesus, "so long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom has been taken from them, and then they will fast.


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"No one ever sews a piece of undressed cloth on an old cloak. If they did, the patch put on to fill it up would tear away from the cloak, and the rent be made worse.


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"Nor do they put new wine into old wine-skins; if they did, the wine- skins would split, the wine would run out, and the skins be ruined. Instead, they put new wine into fresh wine-skins and both are preserved."


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As he was saying these words to them, a ruler came up and knelt before him, saying. "My daughter has just died; but come, put your hand upon her, and she will live."


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But a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him, and touched the tassel of his cloak.


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But Jesus turned and saw her and said, "Be of good courage, daughter, your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that hour.


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Now when Jesus had come into the house of the ruler, and had seen the flute-players and the wailing crowd, he said,


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When, however, the crowd had been driven out, he went in and took her hand, and the little girl woke up.


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And as he went on from thence two blind men followed Jesus, crying, "Have pity on us, Son of David!"


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And when he had gone indoors, they came to him. "Do you believe that I can do this?" asked Jesus. "Yes, Lord," they answered.


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Then he touched their eyes, saying "According to your faith be it unto you," and their eyes were opened.


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and when he had driven out the demon, the dumb spoke. The crowds were amazed, saying, "Never was such a thing seen in Israel!"


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But the Pharisees kept saying, "It is in the power of the Prince of the demons that he is casting out demons."


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And Jesus continued to go throughout all the cities and towns, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and infirmity.


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And when he saw the crowds he had compassion on them because they were distressed and fainting, like sheep without a shepherd.


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And when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them power over evil spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and infirmity.


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These are the names of the apostles (missionaries). First, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; Jamesthe son of Zebedee, and John, his brother;


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Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew, the tax-gatherer; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname is Thaddeus;


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These men, the Twelve, Jesus sent forth, after giving them the following instructions. "Do not go among the Gentiles, or enter any Samaritan town,


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"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.


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"not even a bag for the journey, or a change of clothes, or sandals, or even a stick; for the worker is worth his rations.


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"Into whatever city or town you enter, inquire for some worthy person there, and stay with him until you leave.


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"and if the house is worthy let your blessing sit upon it; but if it be unworthy, let your blessing return to you.


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"And whoever will not receive you or listen to your words, as you go out from that house or that city, shake off the very dust from your feet.


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"I tell you solemnly it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Day of Judgment than for that town.


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"Behold, it is I who am sending you forth like sheep among wolves. Be then as serpents and as guileless as doves.


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"And you will be taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.


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"But whenever they apprehend you, do not be anxious about how you shall speak or what you shall say; for it will be given you in that very hour what to say.


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"And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents and put them to death.


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"But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes.


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"It is enough for the pupil to fare like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more, the members of his household.


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"So do not fear them; for there is nothing concealed which shall not be revealed, nor anything secret which shall not become known.


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"What I am telling you is in the darkness, do you speak in the light; and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.


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"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but fear rather him who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.


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"Are not two sparrows sold for a half-penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your father.


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"Every one, then, who will confess me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven.


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"Do not suppose that I am come to bring peace on the earth; I am come not to bring peace, but a sword.


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"For I came to set "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;


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"He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;


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"Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophets reward; and whoever receives a righteous man, shall receive a righteous mans reward.


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"And whoever gives to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, because he is a disciple, I tell you in solemn truth, he shall not lose his reward.


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After finishing his instructions to his twelve disciples, Jesus left that place, in order to teach and to preach in the neighboring cities.


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But when Johnheard, in the prison, what the Christ was doing, he sent by some of his disciples to ask him,


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"the lame are walking, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, and the gospel is being preached to the poor.


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"What did you go out into the desert to behold?" he asked; "A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment dwell in kings palaces!


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"for this is he of whom it is written. "Behold, I send my messenger before my face, And he will prepare thy road for thee.


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"In solemn truth I tell you that there has not arisen among those born of women a greater than Johnthe Baptist; yet one of the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.


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"From the days of Johnthe Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by storm.


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"To what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-place, who call to the other children,


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"saying. We have piped to you and you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not beaten your breasts.


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and the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners! Nevertheless, Wisdom is justified by her deeds."


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Then he began to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they had not repented.


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"Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! Because if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented, long ago, in sackcloth and ashes.


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"Moreover, I tell you it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the Day of Judgment, than for you.


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"And you too, Capernaum! Will you be exalted even to heaven? You shall go down to the Place of Death! For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which have been done in you, it would have remained until this day.


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At that time Jesus answered and said. "I praise thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and wary, and hast revealed them to the children.


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"Everything has been handed over to me by my Father; neither does any one know the Son, except the Father, nor any one know the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.


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"Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.


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At that time Jesus walked through the wheatfields one Sabbath Day; and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck some ears of wheat and to eat them.


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But the Pharisees, when they perceived it, said to him. "Look! Your disciples are doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!"


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"How he went into the House of God, and there they ate the loaves of the Presence, which neither he nor his men were permitted to eat, but the priests only?


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"Have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath and are guiltless?


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And in order to get a charge against him they asked him, "Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?" (So that they might have something to accuse him.)


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"Is there a man of you," he replied, "who has but a single sheep, who will not lay hold of it and lift it out, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath Day?


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The man stretched it out, and it had become sound like the other. But when the Pharisees came out, they consulted together how they might destroy him.


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Behold my servant whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom my soul delights; I will breathe my spirit upon him, and he shall announce justice to the Gentiles


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The bruised reed will not break; The dimly burning wick will not quench; Till he has led justice on to victory.


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Then they brought to him a blind and deaf demoniac; and he healed him, so that the dumb both spoke and saw.


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When the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by the aid of Beelzebub, the Prince of the demons, that this fellow is driving out demons."


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Because Jesus knew what was in their minds, he said to them. "Any kingdom divided against itself will become desolate; and any city or household divided against himself will not stand.


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"And if I am casting out demons in the power of Beelzebub, in whose power do your sons cast them out? So they themselves shall be your judges.


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"Or how can any one enter the strong mans house and carry off his goods without first binding the strong man? Then he can rob his house.


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"Therefore I tell you that every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.


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"And if any man say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in that which is to come.


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"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for by its fruit the tree is known.


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"You generation of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. "When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers seized to get his fruit.


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"A good man out of his good treasure brings forth good; and from his evil treasure a bad man brings out evil.


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"I tell you that for every careless word that men speak they shall give account on the day of judgment.


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Then some of the Scribes and Pharisees accosted him. "Teacher," they said, "we want to see some sign from you."


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In reply Jesus told them. "An evil and faithless generation seeks a sign, and no sign will be given them except the sign of the prophet Jonah.


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"For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the sea- monsters belly, so the Son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


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"The men of Nineveh will stand up in the Judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented under the preaching of Jonah, and lo! a greater than Jonah is here!


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"The Queen of the South will rise in the judgment with this generation, and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and lo! a greater than Solomon is here!


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"Whenever an unclean spirit leaves a man, it wanders through waterless places, seeking rest but finding none.


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"Then it says, "I will go back to my house which I left;and on arrival finds it empty, swept, and garnished.


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"Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits worse than itself; and they enter in and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be with this wicked generation."


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While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers were standing outside, desiring to speak to him.


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"Behold my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, is my brother and sister and mother."


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and such a great crowd gathered about him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the crowd stood on the beach.


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Some fell on rocky ground where there was not much earth. Now because it had no depth of soil, it sprang up at once;


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"Why do you speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered. "To you it has been granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; but to them it has not been granted.


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"For whoever holds, to him shall more be given, and he shall have abundance; but whoever does not hold, from him shall be taken away even what he holds.


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"This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.


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And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says. "Hearing you will hear and not understand; Seeing you will see and not perceive;


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For the heart of his people is made fat, Their ears are dull of hearing; Their eyes, too, have they closed, Lest some day their eyes should perceive, And their ears should hear, And their heart should understand and turn, And I should heal them.


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"In solemn truth I tell you that many prophets and holy men have seen it not, and to hear what you are hearing, and have not heard it.


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"Whenever any one hears the message of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the Evil One comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.


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"But he has no root in himself; he continues for a time, but when trouble arises, or persecutions, on account of the word, at once he stumbles and falls.


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"And the seed sown among thorns is he who hears the word, but the anxieties of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.


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"But the seed sown in good soil is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit, and makes now an hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty."


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He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;


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"The slaves of the owner went to him and said. "Was it not good seed, sir, that you sowed in your field? From whence then, do you get tares?


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"It is an enemy who has done this, he answered. "The slaves said to him, Do you want us to go and collect them?


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"No, he answered, for fear lest while you are collecting the tares, you at the same time pull up the wheat.


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"Let both grow together until harvest, and at harvest-time I will tell the reapers to first gather the tares and tie them in bundles for burning, but to bring all the wheat into my store-house."


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He set forth to them another parable, saying. "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard-seed which a man took and planted in his field.


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"This is indeed the smallest of seeds, but when it is grown it is greater than any herb, and becomes a tree, so that the winged things of the sky come and roost in its branches."


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He told them another parable. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened."


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in fulfilment of the word spoken by the prophet, I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world."


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After he had sent the people away and gone into the house, his disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable about the weeds in the field."


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"the field is the world; the good seed is the sons of the kingdom; the weeds, the sons of the Evil One.


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"The enemy who sows the weeds is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are the angels.


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"The son of man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all hindrances, and whoever practises iniquity,


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"And then shall the just shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears to hear, listen!


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"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in the ground, which a man finds but buries again, and then in his joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that land.


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"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.


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"When it was full they hauled it upon the beach, and sat down and sorted the good fish into baskets, but threw the worthless fish away.


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"So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous, and fling them into the furnace of fire.


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"Then," said he, "every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old."


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and came into his own country, where he continued teaching the people in their synagogues, until they were amazed. "Where did he get such wisdom?" they said, "and such wondrous powers?


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"Is not this the carpenters son? Is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers Jamesand Joseph and Simon and Judas?


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This kept them from believing in him. Wherefore Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and among his own family."


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"This man is Johnthe Baptist; he is risen from the dead. That is why miraculous powers are working through him."


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For Herod had apprehended John, shackled him, and thrust him into prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philips wife,


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So, prompted by her mother, the girl said, "Give me at once, upon a dish, the head of Johnthe Baptist."


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The king was displeased because of this, but because of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given her.


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When Jesus heard it he went away privately by boat to a lonely spot; but the crowds heard about it, and followed him on foot from the cities.


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As twilight fell, his disciples came to him and said. "This is a lonely spot, and the day is far spent; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."


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Then he told the people to sit down on the grass, and after taking the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples, and the disciples handed them to the crowds.


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And they all ate and were fully satisfied, and they took up of the fragments that remained, twelve basketfuls.


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Then he made his disciples get aboard the boat and precede him to the other side, while he sent away the crowds.


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After he had sent the crowds away, he went up into the mountain alone, to pray. When night came he was there alone.


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but when the disciples saw him walking upon the sea, they were terrified. "It is a phantom," they said, and cried out for fear.


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At once Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, saying to him. "O little faith! What made you doubt?"


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and the men in the boat fell upon their knees before him, saying, "You are, indeed, the Son of God."


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and when the men of that country recognized him, they sent into all the country round about, and brought to him all the sick,


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and kept begging him to let them touch the tassel of his cloak - and all who touched were completely cured.


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"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?"


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"For God said, Honor your father and mother, and, Let him who reviles father or mother be put to death;


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but you say that whoever tells his father or mother, Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is dedicated to God,


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"Listen, and pay attention. It is not what goes into a mans mouth that defiles him, but what comes out of it, that defiles the man."


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Then his disciples came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were scandalized when they heard that saying?" He replied.


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"Let them alone. They are blind men leading the blind; and if one blind man leads another, both of them will fall into a ditch."


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"Do you not know how all that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterward evacuated;


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For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.


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Behold, there came to him a Canaanite woman of those parts. She wailed loudly, saying. "Pity me, Lord, thou Son of David! My daughter is possessed of an evil spirit."


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But he answered her not a word. Then the disciples came up and kept beseeching him. "Send her away," they said, "because she wails after us."


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"True, Lord," she said, "but even the little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table."


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Then Jesus answered her. "O woman, great is your faith. It shall be for you even as you desire." And from that hour her daughter was healed.


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On leaving that place Jesus went along the shore of the Sea of Galilee; and after climbing a hill, took his seat there.


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Great crowds came to him, bringing the crippled, the blind, the maimed, the dumb, and many others. They laid them at his feet and he healed them;


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so that the crowd wondered when they saw the dumb speaking, the cripples walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.


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But Jesus called his disciples to him and said. "My heart yearns over the crowd, for they have been with me now three days, and they have nothing to eat. I am not willing to send them away hungry, for fear they faint on the road."


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"In a lonely place like this," asked the disciple. "where can we get bread enough to satisfy such a crowd?"


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he took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, then he broke them and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the crowd.


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And all ate and were satisfied, and of the fragments that remained they gathered seven large basketfuls.


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Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to him, and in order to test him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.


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and at dawn you say, It will storm today, for the sky is red and lowering. You know how to discern the look of the sky, but the signs of the times you cannot read.


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A wicked and faithless generation is seeking a sign, but no sign shall be given it but the sign of Jonah." So he left them and went away.


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When Jesus knew it he said. "Weaklings in faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves, because you have no bread?


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"Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many large basketfuls you took up?


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"How is it that you do not perceive that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware off the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"


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Then they realized that he had not told them to beware of the leaven, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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When Jesus came into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of man is?"


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They replied, "Some say Johnthe Baptist;others, however, say that He is Elijah;others, Jeremiah, or One of the Prophets."


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"Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah," said Jesus; "for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven!


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"Moreover I say to you that you are Petros (a rock), and on this petra (rock) I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her.


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"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind upon the earth shall be bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose upon earth shall be loosed in the heavens."


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After this Jesus the Christ began to show his disciples how he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised again.


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Then Peter took him aside and began to reprove him, saying. "God forbid, Master! That shall never befall you."


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But he turned and said to Peter. "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me, because you are not intent on what pleases God, but what pleases men."


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Then Jesus said to his disciples. "If any man wishes to come after me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me.


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For he who wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


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What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?


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For the Son of man is about to come in the glory of his Father, and his angels with him, and then will he reward each one in accordance with his actions.


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Solemnly I tell you, some of those who are standing here shall not taste death, till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom.


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Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and Jamesand his brother John, and led them up a high mountain, by themselves apart.


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Here he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.


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Then Peter said to Jesus. "Master, it is good that we are here! If you are willing I will make here three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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While he was yet speaking, behold! a luminous cloud overshadowed them; and a voice out of the cloud, saying. "This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom is my delight. Listen to him."


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While they were going down from the mountain, Jesus laid a command on them. "Speak to no man about the vision," he said, "until after the Son of man has been raised from the dead."


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"Nay, I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they chose. Even so the Son of man also is about to suffer at their hands."


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"Master, take pity on my son, for he is an epileptic and sore distressed. Often he falls into the fire and often into the water.


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In reply Jesus said. "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I endure you? Bring him here to me!"


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Then Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, and it came out of him; and the boy was cured from that very hour.


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Thereupon Jesus disciples came to him and asked him privately, "Why were we not able to cast it out?"


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"Because of your little faith," he answered. "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith the size of a mustard-seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from this place to that! and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.


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As they continued going from place to place in Galilee, Jesus said to them. "The Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men;


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As they came into Capernaum the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Does not your Teacher pay the temple tax?"


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"Indeed he does," answered Peter. But on Peters entering the house, Jesus forestalled him, saying. "How does it seem to you, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect customs or taxes-from their own people, or from aliens?"


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"Nevertheless, that we may not give offense, go to the seaside, throw in your hook; take the first fish that rises, and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel in it. Take it and give it to them for us both."


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At that hour his disciples came to Jesus and asked him, "Who is really greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"


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"In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will not even enter the kingdom of heaven.


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"Whoever therefore will humble himself like this little child, is greatest in the kingdom of heaven;


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"But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung about his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.


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"Woe unto the world because of such stumbling-blocks! They will surely come, but woe unto each man by whom they come!


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"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, than to keep both hands or both feet and be cast into the everlasting burning.


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"If your eye keeps causing you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with only one eye, than to keep both eyes and be cast into the Gehenna of fire.


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"See to it that you never despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father in heaven.


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"How does it seem to you, when a man has a hundred sheep and loses one of them? Will he not leave the ninety and nine on the hills, to go and search for the one that has strayed?


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"And if he succeeds in finding it, I tell you solemnly that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety and nine that never strayed away.


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"If your brother sins against you, go and show him, between yourself and him alone. If he listens, you have won your brother.


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"But if he will not listen to you, take one or two others along, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he will not listen to them, tell the church;


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"I tell you all in solemn truth that whatever you forbid upon earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.


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"And again I tell you that if two of you on earth symphonize your praying concerning anything for which you have asked, it shall be done for you by my Father in heaven.


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Just then Peter came to him, and asked him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"


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"Thus the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.


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"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars.


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"And since he was unable to pay, his master ordered him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, toward the payment of the debt.


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"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!


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"But on his way out, that slave met a fellow slave who owed him fifty dollars. Seizing him by the throat, and nearly choking him, he exclaimed, "Pay me what you owe me!


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"Then his fellow slave fell at his feet, and besought him, saying, "Be patient with me, and I will pay you.


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"When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very angry; and they went and explained to their master all that had happened.


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"Immediately his master summoned him and said. "You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you implored me.


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"Then in hot anger his master handed him over to the torturers, until he should pay him all his debt.


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"So will my heavenly Father do to you also, unless from your heart each one of you forgive his brother."


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It came about after Jesus had finished these teachings, that he removed from Galilee, and went to that part of Judea which lay across the Jordan.


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Presently some of the Pharisees came up to him, and made test of him by asking, "Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for every cause?"


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"Have you not read." he answered, "that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said,


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"For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall be one flesh?


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"Thus they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."


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They answered, "Why then did Moses command the husband to give her a written bill of divorce, and so to put her away?"


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"Moses," said Jesus, "permitted you to divorce your wives on account of the hardness of your hearts, but from the beginning it was not so.


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"And I tell you that any man who divorces his wife for any cause except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery."


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"If that is the position of a man in relation to his wife," answered the disciples, "it is better not to marry."


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"For there are eunuchs who have been such from birth; others who have been made such by men; and others who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of God. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it."


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Then young children were brought to him, that he might lay his hands on them and pray. His disciples interfered, but Jesus said to them.


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"Let the little children come to me, and forbid them not; for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of heaven belongs."


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But look! a certain man came up to him and asked, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do to inherit eternal life?"


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"Why do you ask me about what is good?" asked Jesus. "There is but One who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."


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"Which commandments?" asked the man. Jesus replied. "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt not commit adultery; Thou shalt not steal; Thou shalt not bear false witness;


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"If you want to be perfect," said Jesus, "go, sell your property, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."


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But when the young man heard this teaching, he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had much property.


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So Jesus said to his disciples. "In solemn truth I tell you that a rich man will find it difficult to enter the kingdom of heaven.


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"I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."


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When they heard this the disciples were utterly astounded. "Who then can be saved?" they exclaimed. Jesus looked at them.


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Whereupon Peter said to Jesus. "Look, Master, we have forsaken everything and followed you. Now what shall be our reward?"


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"In solemn truth I tell you," Jesus answered, "that in the New Creation, when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also who have followed me shall sit on twelve thrones, to govern the twelve tribes of Israel.


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"And every one who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake, shall many times as much, and fall heir to eternal life.


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"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard.


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"When he went out about five oclock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?


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"And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.


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"and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings.


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"Those last men, they said, have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.


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"In reply he said to one of them. My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings?


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"Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?


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When Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside by themselves, and as they went he said to them.


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"Look! We are on the way up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death,


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"and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise from the grave."


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Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee, with her sons, kneeling down and begging a favor of him.


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"What is it you wish?" he said. She answered, "Command that these my two sons may sit upon your right hand and your left in your kingdom."


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"None of you indeed shall drink," he answered, "but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."


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but Jesus called them to him and said. "You know how the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.


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"Not so shall it be among you. But whoever among you wishes to become great, shall be your minister,


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"just as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many."


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And two blind men, sitting by the side of the road, heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried out, "Have pity on us, Master, Son of David!"


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But the crowd checked them, to make them keep still. They cried out all the louder, saying, "Master, have pity on us, Son of David!"


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And when they approached Jerusalem, and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them.


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"Go on into the village facing you, and at once you will find an ass tied, and her colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me.


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"And if any one says anything to you, tell him, The Master needs them, and he will send them without delay."


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Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold thy King cometh to thee, Gentle and sitting upon an ass, And upon a colt, the fool of a beast of burden."


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Then Jesus seated himself upon them, and most of the crowd kept spreading their cloaks on the road, and others began cutting branches off the trees, and spreading them in the road.


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And the crowds who preceded and those who followed after him shouted again and again, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be he who is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"


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Then Jesus entered into the Temple courts, and cast out all who were buying and selling there, and overturned the tables of the money- changers, and the seats of those who sold pigeons.


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"It is written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves."


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But when the chief priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful works he did, and the boys who were shouting in the Temple Courts and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"


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they asked him, "Do you hear what they are saying?" "Surely," said Jesus, "and have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"


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and when he saw a solitary fig tree beside the road, he went to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. And he said to it, "Let no man gather fruit from you forever." And at once the fig tree withered away.


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When his disciples saw this, they were astonished. "How instantaneously," they said, "the fig tree withered!"


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In reply Jesus said to them, "In solemn truth I tell you that if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Up, cast yourself into the sea! it shall be done;


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When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"


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Jesus answered. "I also will put a question to you, which, if you tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.


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Johns baptism, whence was it, from heaven or from man?" So they began debating about it among themselves.


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"If we say, From heaven, he will ask us, Why then did you not believe him? But if we say, From men, we are afraid of the crowd, for they all regard Johnas a prophet."


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So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you in what authority I do these deeds.


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"But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "Son, go work today in my vineyard!


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"Then he went to the second, and said the same thing to him. "I will not, he answered; but afterward he changed his mind and went.


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"Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!


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"For Johncame to you in the road of righteousness, and you did not give credence to him; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots gave credence to him. But you, although you saw this, did not even then change your minds and give credence to him.


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"Listen to another parable. "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad.


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"But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves. "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.


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"He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season."


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"Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lords doing, It is wonderful in our eyes?


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"I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it.


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"He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as dust."


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As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them;


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but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.


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"Again he sent out other slaves. Tell the invited guests, he said, that my luncheon is now ready; my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is ready; come to the wedding-feast.


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"Then the kings wrath was roused, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.


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"Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding-feast indeed is ready, but the invited guests were not worthy.


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"So go out into the partings of the highways, and summon everybody you find there to the wedding-feast.


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"So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together all whom they found, good or bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests.


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"Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and he discovered there a man who had not put on a wedding-garment. He said to him,


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"Bind him hand and foot, said the king to his officers, and cast him into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.


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So they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are honest, and that you are teaching the way of God in sincerity; and are not afraid of any one, for you do not court mens favor.


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"Caesars," they answered. Then he said to them, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods."


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That very day there came to him some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection. and they questioned him.


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"Master," they said, "Moses taught that if a man dies without issue, his brother is to marry the widow, and raise up a family for his brother.


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"Now there were of our number seven brothers; and the first married and died. As he had no children, he left his wife to his brother;


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"For in the resurrection men do not marry, nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven.


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"I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."


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As soon as the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together,


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Jesus answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.


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"therefore do and observe whatever they bid you; but do not do as they do, for they preach, but do not practise.


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"For they bind heavy burdens and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselves will not lift a finger to move them.


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"and lengthen the tassels, and are fond of the best places at banquets, and the front seats in the synagogues.


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"But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in mens faces; for you do not enter, yourselves, nor do you permit those who are about to come in, to enter.


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"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you scour sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is gained, you make him twofold more a son of hell than you are, yourselves.


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"Woe unto you, blind guides, who say, If any one swears by the Sanctuary, it is nothing, but if any one swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, the oath is binding.


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"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and anise and cummin, and neglect the weightier matters of the Law - justice and mercy and good faith; these latter you ought to have done, and not to have left the former undone.


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"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are filled with extortion and excess.


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"You blind Pharisees, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside of it may be clean also.


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"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like white- washed sepulchers. They look beautiful without, but within they are filled with dead mens bones and all rottenness.


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"Just so you also outwardly appear to men, just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.


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"Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You rebuild the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say,


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"If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their comrades in the murder of the prophets.


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"So you bear witness against yourselves, that you are the descendants of those who slew the prophets!


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"For this cause, behold! I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and pursue from city to city;


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"that upon your heads may come every drop of innocent blood spilt upon the earth, from the blood of Abel, the just, to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar.


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"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets, and stoning those who have been sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!


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"For I tell you that never shall you see me again until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." "nor did they know until the deluge came and swept them away; so will be the coming of the Son of man.


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Then Jesus left the Temple courts and was walking away, when his disciples came to point out to him the Temple buildings.


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"You see all these buildings?" he answered them; "I tell you solemnly that there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be torn down."


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When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"


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"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see to it that you are not afraid. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet.


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"Such things must happen, nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.


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"Then they will deliver you up to suffer affliction, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my names sake.


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"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole inhabited earth, for a testimony to the Gentiles, and then will come the end.


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"So when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place let the reader take note of this,


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"for then shall be a time of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never shall be again.


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"And if these days had not been shortened, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elects sake these days will be cut short.


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"If at that time any one should say to you, See, here is the Christ! or There he is! believe him not.


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"For false christs and false prophets will arise, and will work great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if it were possible, the very elect.


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"For just as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west; so will be the coming of the Son of man.


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"But immediately after the tribulation of those days, "The sun will be darkened, The moon will not shed her light, The stars will fall from the sky, And the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


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"Then the signs of the Son of man will appear in the sky; and then all the tribes of the earth will lament, when they see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.


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"And he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect together from the four winds, from utmost heaven to utmost earth.


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"Learn from the fig tree, her parable; when her branches are become soft, and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near;


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"I tell you in solemn truth, that the present generation shall not pass away till all these things happen.


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"But no one knows about that day and hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.


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"For just as in the days before the deluge they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day when Noah entered the ark,


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"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have been on his guard, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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"Therefore you also must be ready, for in an hour when you do not expect him, the Son of man is coming.


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"Who, then, is the faithful and prudent slave, to whom his master has entrusted his household, to give them their food in due season?


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"on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour which he does not know, the Master of that servant will arrive


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"and will scourge him severely, and allot him a place among hypocrites, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."


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"Then will the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.


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"Not so, answered the wise, for there may not be enough for you and for us. Go to the shops, rather, and buy some for yourselves.


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"And while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding-feast. And the door was shut.


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"For it is like a man going into another country, who summoned his slaves, and committed his property to their care.


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"To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another, one - to each according to his individual ability - and then set out on his travels.


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"At once the man who had received the five talents went out and traded with them, and made five talents more.


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"But he who had received the one talent went off, and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his masters money.


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"The man who had received the five talents came, bringing five more, and said. "Master, five talents you entrusted to me; see, I have gained five more.


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"Well done, good and faithful slave, replied his master; You have been faithful over many things. Enter into your masters joy.


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"The second, who had received the two talents, came up and said. "Master, it was two talents that you entrusted to me; see, I have gained two more.


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"Well done, good and faithful slave, his master replied, You have been faithful over many things; enter into your masters joy.


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"Then the man who had received the one talent came up and said. "Master, I knew you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown, and gathering where you had not scattered;


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"so I was afraid; I went away and buried your talent in the earth. There, you have what belongs to you!


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"You wicked and lazy slave, said his master. You say you knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not scattered?


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"Then you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my property with interest.


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"(For to every one who has, it shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.)


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"But cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.


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"But when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then will he take his seat on the throne of his glory;


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"and all the nations will be gathered in his presence. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats;


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"Then he, the King will say to those on his right hand. "Come, my Fathers blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.


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"For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;


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"I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to see me.


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"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Master, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink?


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"In solemn truth I tell you, the King will answer them, that inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my brothers, you have done it unto me.


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"Then he will say to those also at his left hand. Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;


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"I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you clothed me not; sick, or in prison, and you visited me not.


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"Then will they also answer, Master, when did we ever see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you?


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"But he will reply, In solemn truth I tell you that inasmuch as you did not do it unto one of these least, you did not do it unto me.


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"You know that the Passover is coming in two days, and the Son of man will be delivered up to be crucified."


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Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the court of the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas,


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a woman came up to him who had an alabaster vase of very costly perfume, and poured it over his head, as he reclined at table.


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"Why is this waste? This perfume could have been sold for a good sum, and the money given to the poor."


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But when Jesus understood it he said to them. "Why are you annoying the woman? This is a beautiful deed she has done for me;


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"In solemn truth I tell you that wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what she has done shall be told about, as her memorial."


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went to the chief priests and said, "What are you ready to give me for betraying him to you?" So they weighed him thirty pieces of silver;


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On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to make preparation for you eat the Passover?"


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"Go into the city," he answered, "to a certain man, and tell him. "The Teacher says. "My time is near. I am going to keep the Passover at your house, with my disciples.""


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and as they were eating, he said to them, "In solemn truth I tell you that one of you is going to betray me!"


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"The Son of man is indeed to go as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed. It were good for that man if he had never been born."


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And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and, when he had blessed it, he broke it and gave to his disciples, saying, "Take, eat, this is my body."


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"Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


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"But I say to you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father."


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Then Jesus said to them. "This very night even you will all stumble and fall away from me; for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.


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Jesus said to him, "In solemn truth I tell you that on this very night, before cockcrow, you will deny me three times!"


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But Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you." And so said all the disciples.


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Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to his disciples, "Sit down here, while I go and pray yonder."


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And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be in anguish and sore distress,


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Then he went forward a short distance, and fell on his face and prayed. "O, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wit."


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Then he came to his disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter. "So you were none of you strong enough to watch with me even one hour!


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"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."


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Then he went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "O, my Father, if this cup cannot pass except I drink it, Thy will be done."


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Then he came to the disciples and said. "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Look! the hour is at hand; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of wicked men.


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Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a great crowd of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.


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"Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him.


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And, behold, one of these who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.


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Then Jesus said to him. "Put back your sword into its place! for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.


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"Do you not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father to furnish me at this very moment with twelve legions of angels?


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Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me.


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Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled.


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Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.


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And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed;


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However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days."


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Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?"


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But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!"


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"I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven."


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Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy!


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Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried.


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Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!"


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Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!"


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A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you."


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Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me" - and he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.


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And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death.


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Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.


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"I have sinned," he said, "in betraying innocent blood!" "What is that to us?" they answered; "you must see to that."


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The chief priests took the money, and said, "It would be wrong to put it into the temple-treasury, because it is the price of blood."


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Then was fulfilled the word spoken by the prophet Jeremiah. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him who had been priced, whom certain of the Children of Israel had priced;


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Now Jesus stood before the Governor, and the Governor questioned him. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he asked.


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"it is as you say," answered Jesus; but while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.


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Now it was the Governors custom, during the Passover, to release to the people any one prisoner whom they selected.


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So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"


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And while he was seated upon the judgment-seat, his wife had sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered many things today, in a dream, because of him."


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So when Pilate said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release unto you?" they said, "Barabbas."


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And Pilate asked, "What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?" What one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"


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But Pilate said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they kept shouting the more fiercely, "Let him be crucified!"


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So when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that on the contrary a riot was threatening, he took water and washed his hands in the presence of the crowd, saying. "I am innocent of the blood of this man; you must answer for it."


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Then the soldiers of the Governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered all the battalion together.


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And they twisted a thorny crown for him, and put it on his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt before him, in mockery, crying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"


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At last, when they had finished their mocking, they took the robe off, and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him.


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And as they went out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, whom they compelled to go with them to carry his cross.


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At that time two robbers, also, were crucified with him; one on his right hand, the other on his left.


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"You who were going to destroy the Temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"


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"He saved other," they said, "himself he cannot save. He, the King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him!


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He put his trust in God. let Him deliver him now, if He cares for him. For he said, I am the Son of God!"


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But at three oclock Jesus cried out in loud voice, "Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?" (That is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?")


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At once, one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filling it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.


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the earth quaked; the rocks split; the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.


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And coming forth out of the tombs, after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.


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When the Roman captain and the soldiers who were with him, guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and all that happened, they were greatly terrified and said, "Certainly this man must have been Gods Son."


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And there were present several women who were looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from a Galilee, ministering to him.


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among them being Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jamesand Joses, and the mother of Zebedees sons.


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When it was eventide, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Josephus, who was himself a disciple of Jesus.


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So Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock; and after rolling a great stone against the opening of the tomb, he went away.


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The day after - that is, the day following the Preparation - the chief priests and Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said.


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Now therefore give order to have the sepulcher securely guarded until the third day, for fear his disciples may come and steal him away, and then tell the people, He is risen from the dead;and so the last error will be worse than the first."


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At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came down to see the sepulcher, when lo!


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There had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, and gone and rolled away the stone, and was sitting upon it.


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But to the women the angel said. "You need have no fear, for I know that you are seeking Jesus, the Crucified One.


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And go quickly and tell his disciples. He is risen from the dead; he goes before you into Galilee; you will see him there. Remember, I have told you."


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On this they ran quickly from the sepulcher, in fear and great joy, to tell the news to his disciples.


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And behold! Jesus himself met them, saying, "All hail!" And they went up to him and clasped his feet and worshiped him.


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Then Jesus said to them. "Fear not! Go tell my brothers to depart into Galilee, and they will see men there."


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Now while they were on their way, some of the guard went into the city and told the high priest all that had happened.


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And when they had met with the elders and conferred together, they heavily bribed the soldiers and told them to say,


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"If this should reach the Governors ears," they said, "we will satisfy him and screen you from punishment."


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So the soldiers took the money, and did as they were told; and this story has been noised abroad among the Jews, and continues to this day.


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And Jesus came forward to them and spoke to them, saying. "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.


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Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;


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teaching them to observe every command which I have given you. and lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."


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even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face to prepare your way.


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The voice of one crying aloud. In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. Make his paths straight.


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In the desert came Johnwho baptized, and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;


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and all the land of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.


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And Johnwas clothed with camels hair, and he had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts, and "honey of the wood."


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He made proclamation. "There is One mightier than I coming after me, and I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten his sandal strap;


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It was at that time that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by Johnin the Jordan;


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and as soon as he rose from the water he saw the sky cleft asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him,


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and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was among the wild beasts, but the angels were ministering to him.


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And as he was passing along by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew, Simons brother, casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen;


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As he went a little farther on he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and Johnhis brother, who also were in their boat mending the nets.


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Straightway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants and went after him.


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So they came to Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath Day came he went into the synagogue and began to teach.


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They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the Scribes.


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And at that very moment, there in their synagogue, a man in the grip of an unclean spirit shrieked out.


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"What business have you with us, you Jesus of Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, the Holy One of God."


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and every one was amazed so that they began questioning among themselves. "What does this mean? A new teaching with authority? He lays commands even upon unclean spirits and they obey him."


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So he came and took her hand and raised her up. The fever left her at once, and she began to wait upon them.


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He cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.


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"Let us go away," he answered, "to the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there, too; because for that purpose I came forth."


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One day a leper cane to him and besought him as he knelt down to him, saying, "If you choose, you are able to cleanse me."


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"See you say nothing to any one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your purification what Moses commanded for a testimony to them."


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But he went out and began to tell every one and to publish it broadcast, so that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; but he had to remain outside in lonely places, and people kept coming to him from every quarter.


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When they could not get him near to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof under which he stood, and after making an opening, they let down the cot on which the paralytic was lying.


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"Why does this man speak like this? He blasphemes. Who is able to forgive sins but One, God himself?"


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Jesus clearly perceived at once be the Spirit that they were thus reasoning in their hearts and said to them.


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"Why do you reason thus in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your cot and walk?


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But to let you see that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -he said to the paralytic-


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The man rose, at once took up his cot, and went out before them all; at which they were all astounded, and gave God glory, saying, "We never saw anything like this."


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As he was passing by he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting in the tax-office; and he said to him, "Follow me." So he rose and followed him.


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Later on Levi was sitting at table in his house, and together with Jesus and his disciples a number of tax-gatherers and sinners were guests, for there were many of them who used to follow him.


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But when some scribes of the Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax-gatherers, they said to his disciples, "Is he eating and drinking with tax-gatherers and sinners?"


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On hearing this Jesus said to them. "It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."


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Now the disciples of Johnand the Pharisees were keeping a fast, and people came to ask him, "How is it that the disciples of Johnand the Pharisees are fasting, but your disciples are not?"


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"Can friends of the bridegroom fast while he is still with them?" asked Jesus. "As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.


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But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them; then, on that day, they will fast.


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No one ever sews a piece of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment, otherwise the patch tears away from it - the new from the old - and a worse tear is made.


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And no one ever pours new wine into old wine-skins, else the wine would burst the skins, and both wine and skins would be lost. New wine is poured into fresh wine-skins.


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One Sabbath he was walking along through the wheat-fields, and his disciples, as they began to make their way across, were pulling the heads of wheat.


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How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which none but priests may eat, and gave some to his men?


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And they kept watching Jesus to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath; so as to have some charge to bring against him.


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Then he asked them. "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?"


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They were silent. Then looking around upon them with anger, and deeply grieved by the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and the hand was at once completely restored.


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As soon as they came out, the Pharisees plotted against him with the Herodians, in order to destroy him.


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Then Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples; and a great crowd of people from Galilee followed.


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From Judea, too, and Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and from the district of Tyre and Sidon, they came to him a vast multitude, because they heard what he was doing.


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So he directed his disciples to keep a little boat in readiness for him, because of the crowd, to prevent their crushing him.


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And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they threw themselves down at his feet, screaming out, "You are the Son of God."


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Twelve of them whom he also called "Apostles," he appointed to be with him, and also that he might send them out to preach,


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and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and Jamesthe son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Zealot,


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When his relatives heard of it, they came to take possession of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."


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The Scribes also who had come down from Jerusalem, said, "He is Beelzebub," and, "He casts out demons by the power of the Prince of the demons."


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So when he had called them to him he spoke to them in parables. "How," said he, "can Satan cast out Satan?


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"Indeed, no one can enter the strong mans house and carry off his property without first binding the strong man; then he can plunder his house.


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In solemn truth I tell you that the sons of men shall be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies they may utter,


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but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is never forgiven. Nay, he is in the grasp of an eternal sin."


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Then his mother and his brothers came up, and standing outside, they sent a messenger to him to call him.


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Now a crowd was sitting round him and they told him, "See! your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, wanting to see you."


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"Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, that one is my brother and sister and mother."


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Afterwards Jesus began to teach by the seaside, and a vast multitude of people gathered about him, so that he went on board a boat on the sea, and sat there, while all the people stayed on shore, at the waters edge.


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some other seed fell on stony soil, where it had not much earth; and it sprang up quickly because it had no depth of soil,


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Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked it, so that it yielded no crop.


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But some seed fell into good soil and yielded a crop that sprang up and increased, yielding thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold.


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He went on to say to them. "The secret truth concerning the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside everything is told in parables,


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so that, "for all their looking they may not see, and for all their hearing, they may not understand, lest perchance they should turn and be pardoned.


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As soon as they hear it, Satan immediately comes and snatches away the Word which has been sown in them.


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And like the sowing upon stony ground are those who, whenever they hear the Word, at once receive it with joy,


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but because they have no root in themselves they last for a time; but when suffering or persecution ensues because of the Word, they at once fall away.


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When they have heard the Word, the anxieties of life and the snares of wealth, and all sorts of other ambitions, come in to choke the Word, so that it proves unfruitful.


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But those, on the other hand, who were sown on that good soil, are those who listen to the Word, and welcome it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold."


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He went on to say. "Is the lamp brought in to be put under the bushel or the bed? Is it not rather to be put on the lamp-stand?


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There is nothing hidden except what is to be disclosed, and nothing concealed except what is to be revealed.


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And he said to them. "Take heed what you hear. With what measure you measure it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you.


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For he who holds, to him will more be given, and he who holds not, from him will be taken even what he holds." "It is with the kingdom of God," he continued, "as if a man should have sown seed in the earth;


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Of its own accord the earth bears its crops; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.


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Then as soon as the crop is ready the man has the sickle put in at once, because harvest-time is come.


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"To what shall we compare the kingdom of God?" he said again. "in what parable shall we set it forth?


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yet when sown shoots up and becomes larger than any plant, sending out such branches that the wild birds build their nests under its shadow."


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With many such illustrations Jesus used to tell his message to people as far as they were able to receive it;


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and to them it was his practice never to speak except in parables. But he used to explain everything in private to his disciples.


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So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them just as he was in the boat; and the other boats were with him.


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But a great gale of wind came up, and the waves were dashing into the boat so that it began to fill.


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Now he himself was sleeping on the cushion in the stern, so they woke him up, saying, "Master, do you not care if we perish?"


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The wind fell, and there ensued a great calm. Then he said to them. "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"


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Then they were awestruck, and said one to another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him!"


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and he had no sooner stepped out of the boat, than a man out of the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean spirit,


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Not even with a chain could any man bind him, for he had been bound with fetters and chains again and again, and had snapped the chains, and broken the fetters; and there was no one strong enough to master him.


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And always, night and day, he remained among the tombs and in the mountains, shrieking and gashing himself with stones.


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and with a shriek he cried out in a loud voice. "Jesus, son of God most high, what business have you with me? I adjure you by God, torment me not!"


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And he gave them leave. And out came the foul spirits and entered the swine; and the drove rushed down from the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand, and were choked in the sea.


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On this the swineherds ran away and spread the news in town and country. So the people went to see what had happened.


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When they got to Jesus they found the demoniac sitting there clothed and in his right mind - the man who had had the "Legion" - and they were awestruck.


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As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging to go with him; but he said,


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"Go home to your own people, and tell them what great things God has done for you, and has had mercy upon you."


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So he went and began to publish abroad in the District of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and every one was astonished and all men marveled.


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Then after Jesus had recrossed in a boat to the other side, a vast multitude came crowding around him; so he stayed on the seashore.


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Then one of the wardens of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up, and as soon as he saw Jesus, fell at his feet, with many entreaties,


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"My little daughter," he said, "is dying. I beseech you, come and lay your hands on her, that she may recover and live."


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and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, but was no better; on the contrary, rather grew worse.


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At once the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was cured of her complaint.


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Jesus, instantly conscious that the power within him had gone forth, turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my clothes?"


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and the woman knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.


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While he was still speaking men came from the house of the warden of the synagogue to tell him, "Your daughter is dead, why trouble the Teacher any further?"


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But Jesus, paying no attention to the remark, said to the warden of the synagogue, "Have no fear, only believe."


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As they came to the house of the warden of the synagogue, he gazed upon a tumult, many weeping and wailing shrilly.


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"The child is not dead, but asleep." And they began to laugh him to scorn. Then he put them all outside, took the father and mother of the child and those he brought with him, and entered the room where the child was lying.


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Then he took the childs hand and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," that is to say, "Little girl, I am speaking to you; arise!"


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And instantly the little girl stood up, and began to walk, for she was twelve years old, They were at once beside themselves with utter amazement.


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He, however, repeatedly cautioned them not to let any one know about it, and directed them to give her something to eat.


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When it came Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; many, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get all this?" they asked; "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, and miracles such as these that happen at his hands?


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Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of Jamesand Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?"


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So they disapproved of him. Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native land and among his relatives and in his home."


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And he was unable to do any miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick folk and healed them.


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Then summoning the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.


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He bade them take nothing but a staff for their journey; no bread, no wallet, no coins in their purse;


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and if any place does not receive you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust under your feet, as a warning to them."


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King Herod heard it, for the name of Jesus had become well known, People were saying, "Johnthe Baptist is risen from the dead, and on that account these powers are working in him."


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"He is Elijah," said others. And still others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets."


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Now this Herod had sent and arrested John, and bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philips wife, whom he had married.


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but she could not, for Herod was afraid of Johnbecause he knew that he was a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened to Johnhe was much exercised, yet he found pleasure in listening to him.


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Then came a convenient day, when Herod on his birthday held a feast for his lords and generals and the leading men of Galilee,


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at which the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced. She charmed Herod and his guests. "Ask me whatever you want," said the king to the young girl, "and I will give it to you."


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So she came out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of Johnthe Baptist," she replied.


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So she at once hurried in to the king and made her request, "I want you," she said, "to give me, without delay, the head of Johnthe Baptist on a charger."


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Then the king was exceedingly sorry; yet on account of his oaths and his guests he was unwilling to disappoint her.


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And he went and beheaded Johnin prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young girl, and she gave it to her mother.


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When the apostles had come back to Jesus, they told him all the things they had done, and all they had taught.


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Then he said to them, "Come apart, yourselves, to a quiet spot, and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they could not get time even to eat.


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However, many saw them going, and recognized them, and ran together by land from all the neighboring towns, and arrived there first.


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So when Jesus landed he saw a vast multitude, and he was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.


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Then when the day was now far spent, his disciples came to him and said. "This place is desert, and the day is now far spent.


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Send the people away so that they may go to the farms and villages about here, and buy themselves something to eat."


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In answer he said to them, "You yourselves are to give them food." "Are we to go and buy fifty dollars worth of bread," they said, "and give them food?"


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"How many loaves have you?" he answered. "Go and see." When they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fishes."


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Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed, broke the loaves in pieces, and kept giving to the disciples to distribute.


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All ate and had enough; and they carried away broken fragments of bread and of fish, enough to fill twelve baskets.


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Then he at once compelled the disciples to embark in the boat and go before him to Bethsaida on the other side, while he sent the people away.


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but when he saw them distressed in rowing (for the wind was against them), about the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking upon the sea,


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and began running over that whole country, and carrying the sick about on their beds, wherever they heard he was.


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And whenever he entered into villages or cities or the fields they would lay the sick in the market-places and beseech him to let them touch even the tassel of his cloak, and all who touched him were made well.


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They had noticed that some of his disciples were eating with "common," that is to say, unwashed hands.


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For the Pharisees and all of the Jews do not eat until they have ceremoniously washed their hands in obedience to the tradition of the elders;


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and when they come from the market-place they do not eat without bathing first. and they have many other customs which they have received and observe, such as the washing of cups and jugs and copper pans.


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So the Pharisees and Scribes asked him. "Why do your disciples not follow the traditions of the elders? Why do they eat with common unwashed hands?"


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"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites," he answered. "As it is written, "This people honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far from me;


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"It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition!


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For although Moses said, Honor your father and mother, and Let him who curses father or mother suffer death,


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you say that if a man tells his father or mother, This money which otherwise you would have received from me, is Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God),


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Thus by your tradition which you have handed down you set at naught the word of God; and you do many other things like that."


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"Listen to me, all of you, and understand; there is nothing outside a man which by entering in can defile him; but it is what comes from him that defiled him."


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"Are even you without understanding?" he said. "Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from without can defile a man by entering him,


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because it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and passes away, ejected from him?" By these words he pronounced all foods clean.


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fornication, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, wantonness, envy, slander, arrogance, reckless folly -


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After he rose and left that place, he went away into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Here he went into a house and wished no one to know it but he could not be hid.


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Forthwith a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet


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(the woman was a Greek, a Syro-phoenician by race), and again and again she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.


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"Let the children be filled first," he said to her. "It is unseemly to take the childrens bread and throw it to the dogs."


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Again he left the region of Tyre, and passed through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, crossing the District of the Ten Towns.


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So Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put his finger in the mans ears, and moistened his tongue with saliva;


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And his ears were opened and the bond of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus charged them not to tell any one, but the more he charged them, the more they published it;


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and people were amazed beyond measure saying. "How successfully he does things! Even the deaf he makes to hear, and the dumb to speak."


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In those days when a large crowd had again assembled and had nothing to eat, Jesus called together his disciples and said to them.


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"My heart aches for the crowd, because they have remained with me three days now, and they have nothing to eat;


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and if I send them away fasting to their homes, they will faint on the way. Moreover, some of them are from a distance."


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"Where will it be possible," answered his disciples, "for one to fill these men with bread in a lonely place like this?"


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So he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground; and when he had taken the seven loaves, he gave thanks, broke them, and gave to his disciples to distribute to the crowd.


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Then he sent them away, got at once into the boat with his disciples. and came into the district of Dalmanutha.


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And the Pharisees came out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, by way of testing him.


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At this Jesus sighed deeply in his spirit, and said. "Why does the present generation seek a sign? In solemn truth I tell you that no sign shall be given this generation."


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So he gave them this warning. "Look out! Be on the watch against the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod."


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Are your minds so slow to comprehend? You have eyes, do you not see? You have ears, do you not hear?


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Do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces did you take up?" "Twelve," they said.


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Then they came to Bethsaida, where some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to touch him.


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Taking the blind man by the hand, he led him outside the village; and, after spitting on his eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, "Can you make out anything?"


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The man looked up and said, "I can make out the people, for as they move about, I see them like trees."


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Then Jesus again put his hands on the mans eyes; and the man, staring straight ahead, recovered his sight and continued to see everything perfectly.


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From there Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he began to question his disciples saying, "Who do people say I am?"


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And they told him. "Some say Johnthe Baptist, others, Elijah, and others that you are one of the prophets."


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And he continued questioning them, "But you yourselves, Who do you say I am?" Peter in reply said to him, "You are Christ."


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and he began to explain to them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests, and the Scribes, and be put to death,and after two days rise again.


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But he turned round, and looked upon his disciples, and rebuked Peter. "Get thee behind me, Satan," he said, "for your thoughts are not Gods thoughts, but mans."


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Then summoning the crowd to him, with his disciples. he said. "If any man wishes to follow me, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and so follow me.


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For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever, for my sake and the gospels, loses his life will save it.


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Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and wicked generation, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."


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"In solemn truth I tell you," he said, "there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God, come with power."


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Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and Jamesand John, and brought them by themselves up a high mountain apart from the rest.


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Here in their presence he was transfigured; and his clothes also became glistering with a radiant whiteness, such as no bleaching on earth could give.


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"Master," said Peter, addressing Jesus, "it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three tents one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."


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Then there came a cloud overshadowing them; and there came a voice out of the cloud. "This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him."


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As they came down the mountain he strictly forbade them to narrate to any one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead.


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This order they faithfully kept, questioning among themselves what "rising again from the dead" meant.


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"Elijah does indeed first come," he said, "and restores all things, But how is it written about the Son of Man, that he will endure great suffering, and be rejected?


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"Elijah indeed has already come," he added, "and they have done to him whatever they pleased, even as it is written of him."


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When they rejoined the disciples they saw a great crowd surrounding them, and some Scribes disputing with them.


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and wherever it seizes him it dashes him down; he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and is wasting away. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not."


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"O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? How long must I be patient with you? Bring him to me."


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So they brought the boy to him, and when he saw Jesus, the spirit at once convulsed him, and he fell to the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.


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"From childhood," he answered; "and often it has thrown him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."


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And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit. "You dumb and deaf spirit," he said, "come out of him, I command you, and never enter him again."


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So with a loud shriek it came out, after throwing the boy into convulsion after convulsion. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead.


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When Jesus had gone into the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could not we cast it out?"


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Jesus and his disciples, after leaving that place, passed through Galilee; but he was unwilling that any one should know it,


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for he was explaining to his disciples that the Son of man was to be betrayed into the hands of men, and that they would put him to death, but that after he had been put to death, he would rise again after three days,


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Then they came to Capernaum; and when he got into the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the road?"


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So he sat down and called the Twelve, and said to them, "If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all, and the servant of all."


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"Whoever in my name receives one such little child, receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me, but Him who sent me."


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"Master," said John, "we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he did not follow us."


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"Do not try to stop him," Jesus answered, "for there is no one who performs a miracle in my name who can soon speak evil of me.


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For whoever gives you even a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, in solemn truth I tell you, that he shall certainly not lose his reward.


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"And if any one shall cause one of these little ones who believe on me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown out into the sea with a great millstone about his neck.


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"If your hand cause you to stumble, cut it off! It is better to be maimed and to enter into life than to have two hands and go away into hell, into the fire that cannot be put out.


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If your foot cause you to stumble, cut it off! It is better to enter into the life a cripple, than to have two feet and be cast into hell.


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If your eye cause you to stumble, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God one-eyed that to keep both your eyes and be cast into hell,


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salt is excellent, but if the salt has lost its savor, what will you use to restore its saltness? Then have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."


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On leaving that place Jesus came into the borders of Judea, on the other side of the Jordan, Once more the people flocked about him, and again, as usual, he began teaching them.


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Presently some Pharisees came up and tested him, by asking if it was lawful for a man to divorce his wife.


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"For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh;


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Now people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.


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Jesus was indignant when he saw it, and said. "Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such.


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I tell you true that unless a man receives the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not even enter it."


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As he started to go forth into the road, a man came running up to him, and knelt down before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"


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You know the commandments. Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat, honor your father and mother."


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Jesus loved him as he looked at him, and said. "One thing you lack. Go, sell all you have and give to the poor; and you shall have wealth in heaven; and come, follow me."


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Then Jesus looked round on his disciples and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter into the kingdom of God!"


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"My sons, how hard it is for those who trust in money to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."


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When he had looked at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."


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"I tell you solemnly," said Jesus, "that there is no man who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospels,


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but shall receive a hundred times as much, now in this present world, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands-and persecutions with them - and in the world to come eternal life.


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They were still on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way; and they were amazed, and some, although they followed, were afraid. Then once more he took the Twelve, and began to tell them what was about to befall him.


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"See," said he, "we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of man will be betrayed to the high priests and the Scribes. They will condemn him to death, and will hand him over to the Gentiles,


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who will mock him, spit upon him, flog him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again."


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Presently there came up to him Jamesand John, the sons of Zebedee, and said, "Teacher, we wish you would do for us whatever we ask you."


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They answered, "Allow us to sit, one at your right hand, and the other at your left hand, in your glory."


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"You know not what you are asking," said Jesus. "Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"


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They answered him, "We can." "You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with shall you be baptized,


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but a seat upon my right hand or my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been reserved."


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When they heard this the ten began to be indignant at Jamesand John, so Jesus called them to him and said.


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"You know that those who are regarded as rulers among the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make them feel their authority.


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Not so shall it be among you. On the contrary whoever would become great among you shall be your servant;


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and justly, for even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life, a ransom for many."


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Then they reached Jericho; and as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting beside the road.


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Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began shouting and saying, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!"


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and many kept rebuking him and telling him to be quiet, but he only shouted much louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"


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Then Jesus stood still, saying, "Call him." So they called the blind man,and said, "Courage, rise, he is calling you."


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"What do you want me to do?" said Jesus, addressing him. And the blind man answered, "O Rabboni, that I might receive my sight!"


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"Go," said Jesus, "your own faith has saved you," and immediately he received his sight, and began to follow Jesus along the road.


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Jesus sent two of his disciples and told them. "Go to that village in front of you, and immediately on entering it you will find a colt tied, upon which no man has ever sat; untie him and bring him here.


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And if any man asks you, Why are you doing that?" answer, The Lord has need of him, and he will immediately send him back."


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Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had thrown cloaks upon it, Jesus seated himself on it.


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Then many spread their cloaks on the road, and others, soft leafy branches, which they had cut from the fields;


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and those who went before him and those who came after kept shouting. "Hosanna! Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord!


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Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple, and after he had looked around at everything, as the hour was now late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.


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and seeing a fig tree in the distance full of leaves, he came to see if he could find anything on it, and found on it nothing but leaves (for it was not the time of figs).


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So, addressing the tree, he said, "Let no man ever more eat fruit from you." And the disciples heard it.


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Presently they reached Jerusalem, and, after entering the Temple courts, Jesus began to drive out those who were buying and selling there, and to upset the tables of the money-changers, and the stalls of those who sold doves,


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"Is it not written," he said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers."


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The chief priests and the Scribes heard this, and they began to seek means of destroying him; for they were afraid of him because all the crowd were greatly struck with his teaching.


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and as they (he and his disciples) were passing along in the morning, they saw the fig tree already withered from the root.


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"In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, Up and hurl yourself into the sea! and shall not doubt in his heart, but on the contrary shall believe that what he says will happen, it will be granted him.


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That is why I am telling you that whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it shall be yours.


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And whenever you stand up to pray, forgive, if you have anything against any one, that so your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."


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Once more they came into Jerusalem; and as he was walking in the Temple courts, there came to him the high priests and Scribes and elders and asked him.


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"And I will put one question to you," replied Jesus. "Answer this, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.


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Then they began arguing with one another. "If we say, From heaven, he will ask, Why then did you not believe him?"


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On the other hand, if we say, From men!"They were afraid, however, of the people, for every one held that Johnhad been really a prophet.


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So their answer to Jesus was, "We do not know." "Neither will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."


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Presently Jesus began to speak to them in parables. "There was once a man," he said, "who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and went abroad.


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At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard;


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"But those tenants said to themselves. Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.


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What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others."


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"Have you not read this Scripture?" (he continued) "The very stone which the builders rejected Has now become the corner-stone;


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And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that he had spoken this parable about them; so they left him and went away.


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But they sent some of the Pharisees to Jesus afterward, and some of the Herodians to entrap him in conversation.


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So when they came, they said. "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll- tax to Caesar or not?


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Shall we pay, or not pay?" But he, knowing well their hypocrisy, said to them. "Why are you testing me? Bring me a dollar for me to look at."


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And Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God, the things that are Gods." They were amazed at him.


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"Teacher, Moses taught us that if a mans brother die, and leave a wife behind him, but no child, that his brother is to marry the widow and to raise up a family for his brother.


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And last of all the woman too died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be? For the seven had her as wife."


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"Is not this the reason for your error," Jesus answered them, "that you know not the Scripture nor the power of God?


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When they rise from the dead men do not marry, and women are not given in marriage, but they are as the angels are in heaven.


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But in regard to the rising again of the dead, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?


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Just then up came one of the Scribes who had heard them arguing, and realized that Jesus had answered them admirably. "What commandment," he asked, "is the first of all?"


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and thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.


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"The second is this, "Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself. Other command greater than these there is none."


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and that beside him there is none other, and to love him with all ones heart and with all ones understanding and with all ones might, and to love ones neighbor as oneself is far beyond all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."


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Jesus saw that he had answered with discrimination, and said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that no one ventured to question him.


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While he was teaching in the Temple courts, Jesus in his turn asked. "How is it that the Scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?


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David himself said in the Holy Spirit, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make thy foes the footstool of thy feet.


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"David himself then calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?" Now the great mass of the people were wont to listen to him with delight;


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and in his teaching he said. "Look out for the Scribes who like to walk about in long robes, and to receive salutations in the street, and to have prominent places in the synagogues,


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they who consume the property of widows and make long, pretentious prayers. The greater shall their condemnation be."


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Then Jesus took his seat opposite the treasury and watched the people putting their offerings into the chest. Many rich people were putting in large sums.


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On this he called his disciples to him, and said. "I tell you solemnly that this poor widow has put in more than all who have put their offerings into the treasury;


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for they have all put in what they could spare out of their surplus, but she, out of her penury, has put in all that she possessed, her whole living."


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As Jesus was walking out of the Temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and buildings these are!"


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"You see these mighty buildings? There shall not be left here one stone upon another which shall not be thrown down," he answered.


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When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, facing the Temple, Peter and Jamesand Johnand Andrew asked him privately,


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"Tell us when these things shall be, and what shall be the sign that all these predictions are about to be fulfilled."


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"Be ye watchful lest any one mislead you. Many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and will mislead many.


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But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be dismayed, such things must come, but the end is not yet.


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For nation shall rise in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines; these are the beginning of birth-pangs.


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"You yourselves must be on your guard. They will hand you over to the courts, and you will be flogged on the synagogues; and you will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, to witness to them for me.


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When, however, they are leading you all to trial, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but whatever is given you in that hour, that say, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.


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"And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against their parents, and have them put to death.


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"But when you see the Abomination of Desolation standing where he ought not (let the reader ponder this), then let those in Judea flee to the mountains;


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For those will be days of suffering the like of which has never been from the beginning of Gods creation until now, and never shall be.


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And had not the Lord cut short those days, not a single person would escape; but for the elects sake whom he has chosen, he has cut them short.


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for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show signs and wonders, to lead astray the very chosen, if they can.


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"But when the tribulation is past, in those days the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light,


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Then he will send forth the angels and gather his chosen from the four winds, from uttermost earth to uttermost sky.


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"From the fig tree learn now her parable; as soon as ever her branches are full of sap and bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near.


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Take heed! Awake! for you never know the time. As a man gone abroad and leaving his house gives authority to his slaves, to each his task;


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and orders the porter to keep watch; keep watch then, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming - in the evening, at midnight, at cockcrow, or in the morning -


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Now two days later was the feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread. Both the chief priests and the Scribes were continually seeking how they might arrest him by a stratagem and kill him;


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And while he was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the Leper, while he was dining, a woman came with an alabaster vase of very costly, pure spikenard perfume, and, breaking the vase, she poured the perfume on his head.


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Some of those who were present said among themselves indignantly. "Why has the perfume been wasted like this?


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That perfume could have been sold for more than one hundred and fifty dollars, and given to the poor."


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She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor among you, and can show them kindness whenever you wish, but me you will not always have.


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I tell you in solemn truth that wherever the gospel is preached throughout the whole world, there what she has done shall be told in remembrance of her."


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and they were glad when they heard it, and promised to pay him money. So he kept looking for an opportunity to betray him.


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And the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, the day for killing the paschal lamb, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparation for you to eat the Passover?"


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Then he sent two of his disciples, and told them. "Go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a jar of water.


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Follow him; and whatever house he enters, say to the master of the house, The Teacher asks, "Where is your guest-chamber, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"


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While they were at the table, eating, Jesus said solemnly. "It is one of you who will betray me - one who is eating with me."


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For the Son of man is going his way, as the Scripture says, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for that man if he had never been born."


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And as they were eating he took bread, and after the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "Take it, this is my body."


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Solemnly I tell you I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day I drink it new in the kingdom of God."


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And Jesus said to them. "All of you are about to stumble, for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.


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Jesus said to him, "I tell you in solemn truth that you yourself, today on this very night, before the cock crow twice, shall three times disown me."


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But Peter kept protesting passionately, "Though I must die with you, I will not disown you!" And they all kept saying the same.


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So they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit down here while I pray."


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So he went a little farther, and throwing himself upon the ground, he prayed repeatedly that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.


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"Abba, Father," he said, "all things are possible with thee. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what thou wilt."


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Then he came and found them asleep, and he said to Peter. "Are you sleeping, Simon? Could you not keep watch one hour?


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Keep watch, all of you, and pray that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.


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and when he returned he found them once more asleep, for their eyes were heavy with sleep, and they knew not what to say to him.


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Then he came the third time, and said. "Sleep on now, and take your rest! It is over. My hour is come. Look! the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.


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At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders.


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Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely."


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But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.


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But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber?


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Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."


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Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him.


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Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire.


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Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none;


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"We heard him say, I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands."


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Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?"


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But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?"


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"I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."


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Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.


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Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself.


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But he denied it. He said. "I dont know, I dont understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew.


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A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by- standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."


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At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.


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As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate.


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When the chief priests continued making many accusations against him, Pilate repeatedly questioned him.


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"See, how many accusations they are making." But Jesus no longer made any answer, at which Pilate wondered.


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Now at the time of the feast it was customary to release to them a prisoner, whatever one they asked for.


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A man named Barabbas was there in prison, with some rioters who had committed murder during an uprising.


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So Pilate, who wished to make himself strong with the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and gave Jesus over for crucifixion, after he had scourged him.


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The soldiers then led him away into the courtyard (Praetorium), and called together the whole battalion.


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They kept striking him on the head with a rod, and spitting upon him; and on bended knee they did him homage.


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And after their sport with him, they stripped off the purple robe, and put on his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him.


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Simon a Cyrenian, a passer-by, who was coming from the country (the father of Alexander and Rufus), they commandeered to carry the cross of Jesus.


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There they attempted to give him wine mingled with myrrh; but he refused it. Then they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots upon them to see what each should take.


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And the passers-by kept jeering at him, wagging their heads and saying. "Ah! you who were to destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!


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In the same way the high priests also, as well as the Scribes, kept on mocking him to themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but himself he cannot save.


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The Christ! The King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe." They also who had been crucified with Jesus kept reviling him.


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At three oclock Jesus cried in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"


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Then a man ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, and put it on a stick, and offered it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down!"


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Then the army captain, who was standing facing Jesus when he thus died, said, "in truth this man was a Son of God."


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There were some women also watching from a distance. Among them were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jamesthe younger and of Joses, and Salome,


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women who used to follow him when he was in Galilee, and minister to him; and many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with him.


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there came Joseph of Arimathea, a Councilor, honorable in rank, who was himself also looking for the kingdom of God. He boldly went in to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.


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But Pilate wondered whether he were already dead. So he summoned the army captain, and inquired if he had been any time dead;


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So Joseph bought him a sheet, and took Jesus down, wound him in the sheet, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock, and then rolled a stone against the opening of the tomb;


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When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices in order to go and anoint him.


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And very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb as the sun was rising;


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and they kept saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"


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But then as they looked up they saw that the stone, which was a very large one, was already rolled away;


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They were terrified, but he said to them. "Do not be terrified! You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified? He is risen; he is not here. See, the place where they laid him!


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But go, tell his disciples and Peter, "He is going before you into Galilee, where you will see him, as he told you."


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So they went out, and ran from the tomb, for they were trembling and amazed; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid -


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Now after his resurrection, early on the first day of the week he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons.


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After this he appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking on their way into the country.


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Afterward he appeared to the Eleven themselves, as they were eating, and reproached them for their lack of faith, and stubborn hearts, because they disbelieved those who had seen him risen.


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Moreover these signs shall follow those who believe. They shall drive out demons in my name; they shall speak with new tongues in foreign languages;


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they shall pick up serpents, and if they drink any poison it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."


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So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.


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But they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the message by the miracles which followed.


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Seeing that many have taken it in hand to draw up an account of those matters which have been fully established among us,


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it seemed good to me also accurately, from the very beginning, to write them to you in order, most excellent Theophilus,


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In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,


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who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of the Lord, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, blameless.


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Now while Zachariah was acting as priest before God in the due course of his class, it fell to his lot, according to the custom of priesthood,


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Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.


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But the Angel said to him. "Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.


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"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,


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"He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."


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"How shall I be sure of this?" said Zachariah to the Angel. "For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."


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"I am Gabriel," answered the angel, "who stand in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring and to bring you this good news.


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"And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words - Words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."


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Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary.


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And when he came out he could not speak to them, and then they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained dumb.


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Mary was greatly agitated at his word, and was revolving in her mind what this salutation could mean.


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"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. "And the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David,


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"The Holy Spirit shall come upon you," said the angel, "and the power of the most High shall overshadow you, and therefore the holy offspring which is born, shall be called the son of God.


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"And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren.


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Then Mary said. "Behold I am Lords slave. Let it be to me as you have said." Then the angel departed from her.


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And when Elizabeth heard her salutation, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,


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"For behold when the sound of your salutation reached my ears, the babe leaped with joy within my womb.


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"For he has regarded the humiliation of his slave, And from this hour all ages will count me blessed.


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and her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her,


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and came on the eighth day to circumcise the child. They were about to call him "Zachariah," after his father,


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Every one was surprised, and at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.


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And there came a great fear upon all in the neighborhood; and throughout the hill country of Judea all these sayings were much talked about.


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All the story laid it up in their hearts, saying "What, then, will this child be?" For the Lords hands was with him.


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"And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to prepare the way


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"To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, And to guide our feet into the paths of peace."


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And the child grew, and became strong in the Spirit, and remained in the desert till the day of his showing to Israel.


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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city if Nazareth, into Judea, to Davids town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.


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And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.


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And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.


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When suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they feared with a great fear. The angel said to them.


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"Have no fear, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all the people.


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"And this is a sign to you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling-clothes lying in a manger."


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Now when the angels had left them, and gone away to heaven, the shepherds said to one to another, "Let us go now even to Bethlehem, and see this saying which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."


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When they had seen, they made known about the words which had been spoken to them concerning the child.


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And the shepherds returned, glorifying God and praising him for all those things that they had seen and heard, even as it was told to them.


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When eight days had passed, and the time had come to circumcise him, he was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before his conception in the womb.


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And when the days for purification according to the law of Moses had passed, they took him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord,


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And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord A pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.


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Now there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.


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Now it has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lords Christ.


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And he came into the Temple, led by the Spirit. and when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,


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And while his father and mother were marveling at the words that were spoken concerning him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother.


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"Behold this child is set for the falling and rising up of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.


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Yea, and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."


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There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in age, having lived with her husband seven years, after her girlhood,


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and then being a widow even for fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but worshiped with the fasting and prayer, night and day.


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She came up at that very hour, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.


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As soon as all that the law required had been done, they returned to Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.


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After spending the full number of days they started home, but the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother did not know this,


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but supposed that he was in the company, and went a days journey. Then they hunted for him among his kinsfolk and acquaintance;


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On the third day they found him sitting in the Temple, among the Rabbis, both listening to them and asking questions.


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When they saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him "Child, why have you treated us so? Behold your father and I have been looking for you in anguish."


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He answered, "Why is it that you have been looking for me, did you not realize that I had to be in my Fathers house?"


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Then he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and he was always obedient to them. But his mother kept treasuring up all these incidents in her hearts.


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Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene;


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during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the Desert.


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And Johnwent into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.


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As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah. The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way for God, make straight paths for him.


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Every ravine shall be filled up, Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, The crooked shall be made straight, And the rough roads smooth;


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So Johnused to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?


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Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.


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And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."


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And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them.


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The soldiers also repeatedly questioned him, saying, "And we, what shall we do?" "Do not intimidate any one," he replied, "nor lay false charges, and be content with your pay."


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whether perhaps he were the Christ, Johnanswered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire.


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He has his fan in his hand to cleanse his threshing-floor thoroughly, and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff will he burn with unquenchable fire."


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but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brothers wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,


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heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form like a dove, descended upon him. and a voice came out of heaven, saying. "Thou art my Son, dearly beloved; in thee is my delight."


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And Jesus himself when he began to teach was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,


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Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, came back from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, all the time tempted by the devil.


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And the devil led him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time, and the devil said to him.


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"To you will I give all this authority and this glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.


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"It is written," answered Jesus, "Thou shalt worship the Lord, thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."


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Then he brought him to Jerusalem, and caused him to stand upon the Temple roof, and said to him. "If you really are the Son of God throw yourself down here;


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Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout all the surrounding country,


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Then he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. and, as was his custom, he entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read.


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And there was handed him the roll of the prophet Isaiah; and unrolling it he found the place where it was written,


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The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the prisoners, And recovery of sight to the blind; To set at liberty those that are bruised,


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The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him, and he began to say to them, "Today is this scripture fulfilled in your hearing."


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And they all spoke well of him, and marveled at the words of charm that fell from his lips. "Is not this the son of Joseph?" they asked.


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Jesus answered. "Doubtless you will quote the proverb to me, "Physician, heal thyself! Do also here in your own country all that we hear that you have done in Capernaum."


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In very truth I tell you there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land;


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"And there were many lepers in Israel in the days of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian."


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they rose, hurried him outside the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, intending to cast him down headlong.


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Then he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and continued to teach the people on the Sabbath Days.


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And there was in the synagogue a man possessed by the spirit of a foul demon. He cried out, in a loud voice, saying.


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"Ha! Jesus of Nazareth, what business have you with us? Are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, you holy one of God!"


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And Jesus rebuked him, saying. "Be quiet! Come out of him." And when the demon had thrown the man down before them, he came out of him without doing him any harm.


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All were amazed, and began to ask one another, saying. "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out."


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Now when he rose and left the synagogue, he entered into the house of Simon, where Simons mother-in-law lay sick of a great fever. And they kept entreating him for her.


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And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and at once she arose and ministered unto them.


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At sunset all they who had any sick with any sort of disease brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.


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Demons also came out of many, screaming and saying, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them, and did not permit them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.


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And when it was daybreak he left the town, and went away to a solitary place; and the crowd kept seeking him. Coming at length upon him, they attempted to detain him so that he should not leave them.


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But he said to them. "I must preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the other towns also; for that is what I was sent to do."


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On one occasion when he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, the crowd pressed upon him to listen to the word of God.


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But he saw two fishing-boats on the shore of the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.


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He went on board one of the boats which belonged to Simon, and asked him to push out a little way from land. Then he sat down and continued to teach the crowd from the boat.


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When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water, and let down your nets for a haul."


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"Master," answered Simon, "although we toiled all night, we took nothing; but at your bidding I will let down the nets."


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So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.


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When Simon Peter saw this he fell down at the knees of Jesus, exclaiming, "Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!"


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and so were Simons partners, Jamesand John, sons of Zebedee.) But Jesus answered Simon. "Fear not; from this time on, you will be catching men."


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Another time when he was in one of their cities, there was a man there full of leprosy. And he, upon seeing Jesus, fell on his face and implored him. "Lord," he said, "if only you choose you can make me clean."


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And instantly the leprosy left him. Jesus ordered him to tell no one, "But be off," he said, "show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."


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But all the more the report about him continued to spread; and great crowds began to come together to hear him, and to be healed of their infirmities.


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One day he was teaching, and near to him were seated Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.


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And behold there came men carrying a paralytic on a bed; and they tried to bring him and lay him before Jesus, but they could not because of the crowd.


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So they went up on the roof, and let him down through the tiling, with his bed, into the crowd, before Jesus.


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And the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil. "Who is this?" they asked, "speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"


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"What is this caviling in your hearts? Which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven," or to say, "Rise and walk?"


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But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins (he said to the paralytic), "I bid you rise, take up your bed, and go to your house."


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And instantly he arose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and went away to his house, glorifying God.


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Astonishment fell upon them all, and they began to glorify God, and they were filled with awe, and they said, "We have seen strange things today."


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After this he went forth and noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."


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Levi also made him a great reception at his house. There was a large party of tax-gatherers and others who were dining with them.


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And the Pharisees and their scribes began complaining to his disciples, saying, "Why are you eating and drinking with tax- gatherers and sinners?"


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Again they said unto him. "Why do the disciples of Johnfast frequently, and make supplications, as also do the disciples of the Pharisees, but your disciples are eating and drinking?"


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"But there is coming a day when the Bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then at that time they will fast."


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He also told them a parable. "No one," he said, "tears a piece from a new garment, and patches it upon an old one; otherwise he will tear the new garment, and the patch from the new will not mend the old.


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"Nor does any one pour new wine into old wine-skins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and will itself be spilled, and the skins be destroyed


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It happened that on a Sabbath he was going through the wheat-fields. His disciples were picking the ears and eating the wheat, rubbing it out with their hands.


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"How he entered into Gods house and took and ate the Presented Loaves, and gave some to his followers, loaves which none must eat but the priests?


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On another Sabbath he went into a synagogue and was teaching; and there was there a man whose right hand was withered.


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Now the Scribes and Pharisees kept watching to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to bring on accusations to him.


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He was all along aware of their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise, and stand there in the midst."


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So he rose and stood. Then Jesus said to them. "I ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath Day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to destroy it?"


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He did so; and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury, and they began to talk over together what they could do to Jesus.


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It happened about that time that he went out into the mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God.


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And when day dawned he called his disciples, and from among them he selected twelve, whom also he called Apostles missionaries.


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With these he came down till he reached a level place, where there was a great crowd of his disciples and a great many people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. These came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.


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Then raising his eyes upon his disciples he began to say to them. "Blessed are you poor, For the kingdom of God is yours.


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"Blessed are you who are hungry now, For you shall be filled. "Blessed are you who are wailing now, For you shall laugh.


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"Blessed are you when men shall hate you, And excommunicate you and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil because of the Son of man.


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"Rejoice in that day and exult, For your reward is great in heaven; For even so did their fathers to the prophets.


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"Woe unto you who are full now! For you shall suffer hunger. "Woe to you who are laughing now! For you shall wail and weep.


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"Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you! For even so did their fathers to the false prophets.


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To him who gives you a blow on the jaw Turn the other jaw also; And from him who is robbing you of your cloak Withhold not your coat also.


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"If you love those who love you what credit is it to you? Why even sinners love those who love them.


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"And if you are kind to those who are kind to you, what credit is it to you? Even sinners do the same.


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"And if you lend to those from whom you are hoping to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so as to get as much back.


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"But you must love even your enemies and be kind to them, And lend, despairing of no man. Then your reward will be great, And you will be the sons of the Most High; For he is kind even to the ungrateful and to the evil.


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"Pardon, and you shall be pardoned; Give, and gifts shall be given to you; Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they shall pour into your bosom. For with what measure you measure, they will measure back to you."


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"There is no disciple who is above his master; But every one when he is completely trained will be like his master.


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"And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brothers eye, but never consider the beam that is in your own eye?


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"Or how can you say to your brother. "Brother, allow me to pull that splinter out of your eye," when you do not see the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite! Take out first the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter from your brothers eye.


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"For there is not good tree which bears worthless fruit, nor again any worthless tree which bears good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit.


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"The good man out of the good treasure-house of his heart brings forth good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure-house of his heart brings forth evil; for the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.


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"He is like a man who is building a house who digged and went deep and laid a foundation upon rock. And, when a flood came, the torrent dashed against that house, but could not move, because it had been founded upon rock.


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"But he who listens but does not do, is like a man who built a house upon the soil, without foundations, against which the torrent burst, and at once it fell in, and the ruin of that house was great."


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Here the slave of a certain Roman captain, a man dear to his master, was ill, and at the point of death.


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So when the captain heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to ask him to come and save his slave.


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And they, when they reached Jesus, asked him earnestly to do this. "He deserves that you should do this," they said,


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So Jesus started to go with them, but while he was not far from the house, the captain sent friends to him with a message. "Lord do not trouble yourself, for I am not fit that you should come under my roof,


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"For I also am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me. And I say to one come, and he comes, and to my slave do this or that, and he does it."


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But when Jesus heard this he was astonished and he turned and said to the crowd that was following him, "I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that."


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Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, accompanied by his disciples, and a great crowd of people.


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Now when he drew near the gate of the city, behold, they were there carrying out one who was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.


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A great crowd accompanied her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."


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And he came near and touched the bier; the bearer stopped and he said, "Young man, I bid you to rise."


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And awe took hold on them all, and they began to glorify God saying. "A great prophet has risen among us;" and, "God has visited his people."


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and, calling a certain two disciples to him, he sent them to Jesus, to say, "Are you the coming one, or if we are to expect another?"


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So the men came to Jesus and said, "Johnthe Baptist has sent us to ask you if you are the coming one, or if we are to expect another."


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At that moment Jesus was healing many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many that were blind he was freely giving their sight.


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So he answered them. "Go your way, tell Johnwhat you have seen and heard. How the blind are seeing, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are hearing the proclamations of glad tidings.


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When Johns messengers were gone he began to speak to the crowds about John, saying, "What went out you out to the desert to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?


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"But what you went out to behold? A man clothed in soft robes? Behold, men who are gorgeously dressed and live in luxury are in kings palaces.


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"Yes, I tell you and more than a prophet. This is he who it is written. "Behold I send a messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.


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"I tell you that among all that are born of women not one is greater than John; yet he that is little in the kingdom of God is greater than he."


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On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John;


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"To What are they like, they are like children sitting in the market- place and calling to one another. "We have piped to you, they say, and you have not danced; we have wailed, and you did not cry.


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"The son of man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!


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Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume,


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and standing behind, at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with her hair, while she tenderly kissed his feet, and poured the perfume over them.


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When he noticed this the Pharisee, who had invited him, said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet he would have perceived who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and would know that she is a sinner."


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"There were once to men," said Jesus, "in debt to one money- lender. One owed him fifty pounds; the other five.


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"When they had nothing pay he forgave them with such charm. "Tell me, then, which of these will love him most?"


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"You have rightly judged." answered Jesus, and turning to the woman, he said to Simon. "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house you gave me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.


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"This is why I tell you that her sins, many as they are, are forgiven, for her love is great; but he who is forgiven little, loves but little.


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It happened shortly afterwards that he began to go from town to town and village to village, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God.


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The twelve were with him, and certain women whom he had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases. Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons have been driven,


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and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herods steward, and Susanna, and many other women, who used to minister to him out of their substance.


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As a great crowd was gathering, and men of town after town kept restoring to him, he spoke a parable to them.


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"A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed some fell by the wayside, and was trodden under foot, and the wild birds ate it up.


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"Some other seed dropped on the rock, as soon as it grew it withered away, because it had no moisture.


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"But some fell on good soil, and grew up, and brought forth fruit, a hundredfold." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear with, let him listen."


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He answered. "To you it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God; But all others are taught in parables so that seeing they shall not see, and hearing they shall not hear.


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"Those by the wayside are people who hear, but then comes the devil and carries off the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and not be saved.


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"Those on the rock are people who, upon hearing, receive the word with joy; but they have no root. For a time indeed they all believe, but in time of temptation they fall away.


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"And that which fell upon thorns is those who have heard, but as they go on their way of word is choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of life; so they bring no fruit of perfection.


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"And that in the good soil is those who have listened to the message and, in an honest and good heart, hold fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.


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"When he lights a lamp no one covers it with a vase or hides it under a bed; he puts it on a lamp-stand so whoever may behold the light.


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"For is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed; there is nothing secret which shall not be made known and come to the light.


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"Take heed, then, how you listen. for he who has, to him shall it be given, but from him who has not, shall be taken away even what he has."


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Now it happened that one of these days he got into a boat, And him his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake."


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So they set sail. While they were sailing he fell asleep. And there fell on the lake a squall of wind, so that the boat began to fill, and they to be in deadly peril.


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Then they came to him and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are lost!" Then he awoke, and rebuked the winds and the raging of the sea. They ceased, and there was a calm.


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"Where is your faith?" he asked them, In their terror they were filled with amazement, and said to one another, "Who is this who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?"


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When he landed here he was met by a certain townsman who was possessed by demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes and nor lived in any house, but in tombs.


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When he saw Jesus he cried out, and fell down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed. "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God Most High? I implore you to torment me not!"


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For Jesus was already commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him and held him, and they again and again kept him under guard, and put him in chains and fetters. But he would break his bonds asunder, as he was driven by the demon in to the desert.


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So Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, "Legion" (for many demons had entered into him).


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Now there was a great herd of swine feeding on the hillside, and the demons begged him to give them leave to enter them. He gave them leave.


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The demons came out of the man, and entered into the swine; the herd rushed violently down over the cliff into the lake.


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Then the people came out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the demons had gone sitting clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus. And they were terrified.


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And the whole populace of Gadarenes and the surrounding territory besought Jesus to go away from them; for they were terror-stricken. So he entered a boat and returned.


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But the man out of whom the demons had gone kept begging him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away saying,


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"Return to your home, and tell them all that God has done for you." So he went away and throughout the whole city he published how much Jesus had done for him.


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for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jarius, and he was ruler in the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus feet and begged him to come into his house;


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for he had only one daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as he went the crowds continued to press in on him.


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And a woman who for twelve years had had a hemorrhage, and had spent on doctors all that she had, but none had cured her,


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"Who is that touched me?" said Jesus and when everybody denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing upon you."


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Then the woman, who saw that she had not escaped notice, came trembling, and falling down before him, stated before the people for what reason she had touched him, and how she had been instantly healed.


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As he was speaking some one came from the house of the synagogue, saying. "Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the Master."


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So he came to the house, and would not permit anyone to go in with him except Peter and Johnand James, and the father and Mother of the little girl.


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The people were weeping and bewailing her, but he said. "Stop your wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep."


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He bade them to get her some food. Her parents were amazed; but he forbade them to tell any one what had been done.


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And he said to them. "Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money, and do not have two tunics.


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"If any one will not receive you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave this town, as a testimony against them."


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So they went forth, and walked from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.


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Now Herod, the Tetrarch, heard of all that was happening; and he was perplexed because of its being said by someone that Johnwas risen from the dead;


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and by some that Elijah had appeared; and by others that one of the ancient prophets was risen again.


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So Herod said, "I beheaded John, but who is this of whom I am hearing such reports," And he kept seeking to see him.


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On their return the apostles told him what they had done. and he took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida.


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But when the crowd learned this they followed him. He received them kindly and spoke to them concerning the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed restored to good health.


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But now the day began to decline, and the twelve came to him and said. "Send away the crowd so that they may go into the villages and surrounding the country to lodge and buy provisions; for here we are on a solitary place."


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"Do you yourselves give them food," he answered. "We have nothing," they replied "Except five loaves, and a couple fish, unless you mean for us to go and buy provisions for all the crowd."


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(For there were about five thousand men.) "Make them sit down in table-companies, of about fifty each," he said to his disciples.


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Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up in heaven, he blessed them, broke them in pieces, and began to giving to his disciples to apportion among the crowd.


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So they ate and were filled, all of them. And there was picked up that which remained over to them, of broken pieces, twelve basketfuls.


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Now it happened that while he was praying by himself, the disciples were with him, and he asked them a question. "Who do the crowd think I am?"


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"Johnthe Baptist," they answered, "But others say Elijah, and others that one of the ancient prophets is risen again."


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and he said, "The Son of man must suffer much, and be restricted by the elders and high priests and scribes and be put to death, and on the third day be raised again."


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And he said to all. "If any man wills to follow me, Let him renounce self and take up his cross daily and follow me.


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"For whoever wills to save his life shall lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake shall save it.


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"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my teachings, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his own and in his Fathers glory, and in that of the holy angels.


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"But I tell you truly there are some of those standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."


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About eight days after this it happened that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up on the mountain to pray.


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And as he was praying the appearances of his countenance became different, and his clothing became white and dazzling.


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These appeared in glory and talked about his departure which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.


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Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep; but when they were fully awake they saw his glory, and the two men were standing beside him.


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And when they were preparing to depart from him Peter said to Jesus. "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" - not knowing what he was saying.


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And while he was saying this, there came a cloud and began to overshadow them; and they were awestruck as they entered into the cloud.


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When the voice ceased Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no one at that time about what they had seen.


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It happened the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, that a large crowd came to meet him;


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and a man called out of the crowd saying. "Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son; for he is my only boy,


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"and behold a spirit seizes hold of him, and rudely he shouts out, It convulses him till he foams; indeed it will hardly leave off bruising him sorely.


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"O faithless and perverse generation," said Jesus, "how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son to me."


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But while he was yet coming the demon dashed him down, and cruelly convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.


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And they were all awestruck at the mighty power of God. But while everyone was marveling at what he was doing, he said to his disciples.


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"Let these words sink into your ears; for the son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men."


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But they did not understand this saying; it was hidden from them so that they perceived it not, and they were sore afraid to ask him about his saying.


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And Jesus who knew the dispute that was in their hearts, took a young child, and placed him by his side;


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then he said to them. "Whoever shall receive this little child in my name receives me; and whoever shall receive me receives him that sent me. For it is the lowliest among you all who is great."


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"Master," said John, "we saw a man who was casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us."


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When now when the time drew near for him to be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,


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and sent messengers before him. These went and entered into a Samaritan village to make ready for him.


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And when his disciples, Jamesand John, saw this they said, "Lord, are you willing for us to bid fire come down from heaven and destroy them?" As Elijah did.


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"You know not what kind of spirit you share, for the Son of man came not to destroy mens lives, but to save them." And they went to another village.


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"The foxes have their holes," Jesus answered, "and the wild birds have their nest, but the Son of man has not where to lay his head."


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"Leave the dead to bury their own dead," said Jesus to him, "go you and announce, far and wide the kingdom of God."


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And another man also said to him. "I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to bid farewell to those who are in my house."


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But Jesus answered him, "No man who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God."


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After this the appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two before his face, into every city and place into which he himself intended to go.


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And he thus addressed them. "The harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are few. do you therefore pray the lord of the harvest to send forth harvesters into his harvest.


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"And if there be any son of peace there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not it shall return to you.


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"Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give. for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house.


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"The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.


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"Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.


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"He who listens to you listens to me. and he who rejects you, rejects me; he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me."


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"Behold, I give you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and to trample on all the power of the enemy. In no case shall anything do you harm.


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"Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven."


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In the same hour he thrilled with joy in the Holy Ghost. "I praise thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth," he said "for hiding these things from the wise and prudent, and for revealing them to babes. Yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in thy sight!


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"All things have been delivered to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father; and who the Father is except the Son, and he the Son wishes to reveal him."


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"For I tell you that many prophets and kings have longed to see what you see, and have seen it; and to hear what you hear, and have heard it not.


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Then a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him. "Master," he said "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"


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"You must love the Lord your God," he answered, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."


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"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell among bandits who both stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead.


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"Now a certain priest chanced to be going down that way, but on seeing him he passed on the other side.


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"In like manner also a Levite who came to the spot, came and looked at him, and passed on the other side.


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"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him was moved with compassion.


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"He went to him bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine. He set him on his own beast, and took him to an inn, and took care of him.


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"The next day he took two silver pieces and gave them to the landlord and said, "Take care of him, and whatever more you spend I will repay it to you on my way back.


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"Which then of these three seems to you to have behaved like a neighbor to the man who fell among bandits?"


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It happened as they went on their way that he entered into a certain village were a woman named Martha received him into her house.


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She had a sister named Mary, who after seating herself at the Lords feet was listening to his teaching.


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But Martha meanwhile was growing distracted about much serving. She came up to him and said. "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me alone to do the serving? Come tell her to take hold of her end of the work along with me."


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"only one thing is really necessary. Mary, moreover, has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her."


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It happened he was praying in a certain place, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, teach us how to pray, just as Johntaught his disciples."


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"Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone who has offended us; "And bring us not into temptation."


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He also said to them. "Suppose you have a friend and you go to him, My friend, lend me three loaves of bread,


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"and he from indoors shall answer. Do not pester me. The door is now closed, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give to you.


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"I tell you that, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunate persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.


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"So I say to you. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.


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"What father is there among you who, if his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him instead a serpent?


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"If you give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father who is in heaven give the Holy spirit to those that ask him!"


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Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people wondered.


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He knew their intentions and said to them. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and house falls upon house.


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"Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges.


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"But if it is by the finger of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you.


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"but when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away from the strong armor in which he was trusting and divides up the spoil.


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"Whenever a foul spirit is gone out of a man, it roams through waterless places, in search of rest; but when it can find none, it says, I will go back to the house which I have left.


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"Then it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first."


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It happened while he was saying this, that a certain woman out of the crowd shouted to him, saying, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breast that you have sucked."


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When the crowd were beginning to throng about him he proceeded to say. "This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it except the sign of Jonah;


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"The queen of the South shall rise up in Judgement with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them; because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and lo, one greater than Solomon is here!


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"The men of the Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with his generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo! one greater than Jonah is here!


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"When one lights a lamp he does not put it in a cellar nor under the bushel, but on a lamp-stand that those who enter may see the light.


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"The lamp of the body is your eye; when your eye is single then your whole body is full of light; but when it is evil your whole body is full of darkness.


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"If, however, your whole body is full of light, without having any part dark, it will be wholly radiant with light, as when the lamp illumines you with its bright rays."


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When he had finished speaking a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in with him and reclined.


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but the Lord said to him. "You Pharisee do cleanse the outside of your cup or plate, but your secret heart is full of extortion and wickedness.


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"But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone.


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"Woe unto you Pharisee! for you delight in the best seats in the synagogue, and in the salutation in the market-places.


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Hereupon one of the lawyers exclaimed, "But teacher, in saying such things you are also reproaching us also."


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"Woe unto you lawyers also!" said Jesus, "for you load men with irksome burdens, and you yourselves will not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.


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"So you are witnesses, and you consent to the actions of your ancestors. for they killed them, and you build their tombs.


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"For this reason also said the Wisdom of God. I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and some they will persecute;


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"so that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required from this generation,


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"from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the alter and the sanctuary; yes; I tell you, it shall be required of this generation!


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"Woe to you lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge! You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are trying to enter."


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After he had gone away, the Scribes and the Pharisee began to set themselves vehemently against him, and to cross-question him upon many points,


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Meanwhile when myriads of the multitudes were thronging around him so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy.


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"So that what you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light; and what you have whispered in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed from the housetops.


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"But I say to you who are my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.


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"I will warn you whom you ought to fear. Fear him who, after he was after he has killed, has power to throw you into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.


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"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings? Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God!


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"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not! You are of more value than many sparrow!


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"And I tell you that whoever confesses me before men, the Son of man will confess him before the angels of God;


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"If any one shall speak a word against the Son of man it shall be forgiven him; but he who is blasphemes against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven.


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"And when they are bringing you before the synagogues and the rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what you shall answer; or what you shall say;


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Then one of the crowd said to him, "Master, tell my brother to give me my share of our inheritance."


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And to the people he said, "Take heed and guard yourselves from all covetousness, for a mans life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses."


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"So he debated with himself saying, What shall I do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.


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"And he said to himself. This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones in which I will store all my wheat and my goods.


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"And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years! Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.


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"But God said to him. Foolish man! This very night your soul is wanted! And these things you have prepared, whose shall they be?


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Then he said to his disciples. "For this is the reason I say to you. Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat; nor yet your body what shall you wear.


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"Consider the ravens; they neither sow nor reap; they have no storehouse nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?


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"Consider the lilies how they grow! They toil not, neither do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


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"Now if God so clothe the grass in the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?


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"For all these things the nations of the world are seeking; but your Father knows that you have need of these things.


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"Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses which do not grow old, a treasure inexhaustible in the heavens, where no thief draws near, nor does moth destroy.


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"and be yourselves like men who are looking for the Lord, on his return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they may at once open the door for him.


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"Happy are those slaves whom their master shall find watching when he comes. I tell you truly that will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and come and serve them.


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"And whether it be in the second watch, or in the third, that he comes, and so finds them, happy are those slaves.


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"However, you know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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The Lord answered. "Who then is that faithful steward, the wise man whom his Lord will put in charge of the rations in due time?


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"But if that slave should say to himself, My master delays his coming, and should begin to beat the men and the maids, and to eat and drink and to get drunk,


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"that slaves master will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him, and at an hour when he knows not, and will surely scourge him, and appoint him his portion with the unfaithful.


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"The slave who knew his Lords will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes,


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"but he who did not know, but did things worthy of a beating, will receive few lashes. To whom much has been given, from him much will be required, and to whom much is entrusted, of him they will ask the more.


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"Would it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it is accomplished!


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"father against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against her mother; mother-in-law against her daughter- in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law."


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Then he said to the crowd also. "When you see a cloud rising in the west you at once say, There is going to be a shower, and it comes to pass.


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"Hypocrites! you know how to read the face of the earth and of the sky; but how is it that you do not know how to read the signs of the present time?


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"For as you go before the magistrate with your opponent do your utmost to get quit of him, lest he drag you before the judge, and the judge delivers you over to the officer, and the officer cast you into prison.


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Now there were some present at that very season who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifies.


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"Do you suppose," he answered them, "that those Galileans were worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans because they have suffered thus?


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"Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than the rest of those who lived in Jerusalem?


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Then he gave them this parable. "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to look for fruit on it, but found none.


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So he said to the gardener. "See, for years I have come looking for fruit on this tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why should it actually cumber the ground?


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"But the gardener answered him. Lord, let it alone this year also, till I have dug around it, and fertilized it.


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a woman was present who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. she was bent double, and could not lift herself up at all.


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But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant at Jesus for healing her on the Sabbath, and said to the crowd. "There are six days of the week on which men ought to work. Therefore come during those, and get cured, but not on the Sabbath Day."


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But the Lord answered him. "Hypocrites!" he said, "does not each one of you loose his ox or his ass from the stall on the Sabbath Day, and lead it to water,


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"and this woman, who is the daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound these eighteen years, ought she not have been loosened from bondage, though the day be the Sabbath?"


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As he said this, all adversaries were put to shame; and all the crowd rejoiced for the glorious things that he continually did.


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"It is like a grain of mustardseed, which a man took and cast into his own garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches."


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teaching as he journeyed toward Jerusalem. And a man came behind him and said, "Lord are there but few that are saved?"


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"Struggle to enter in by the narrow door," he answered, "for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able,


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"when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut the door. You will begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, crying, "Lord, open to us. "I do not know were you came from, he will reply.


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"Then you will begin saying, But we have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets.


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"depart from me, all of you, you evil-doers. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves cast out.


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"And people shall come from the Orient and from the Occident, from the north and from the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.


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That very day there came some Pharisees to him, saying, "Get out of here and go away, for Herod wishes to kill you."


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"Go, tell that fox," he answered, "Lo, today and tomorrow I am continuing to cast out demons and perform cures, and on the third day I finish my course.


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"Yet I must continue my journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it would never do for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem!


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"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!


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"Behold! Your house is left to you, desolate! I tell you that you shall never see me again until you say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord,"


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It happened on the Sabbath Day when he went into the house of a certain ruler among Pharisees to take a meal, that they were watching him.


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So Jesus questioned the lawyers and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath Day or not?"


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And to them he said, "Which of you when an ox or ass has fallen into a well, will at once pull him out on the Sabbath Day?"


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He told a parable to the guests when he noticed how they began choosing the best seats. He said to them.


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"When you are invited by any one to a marriage-feast, do not sit down in the best seat, lest a guest more distinguished than yourself has been invited, and your host come to you and say,


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"But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when your host arrives he may say to you, My friend, come up higher. Then you will be honored before the other guest.


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Also to his host who had invited him, he continued, saying. "When you are making a dinner-party or a supper, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest it chance that they invite you in return, and a recompense be made by you.


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"Then you will be blessed, because they have no means to repay you, but you shall be paid in the Resurrection of the Just."


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One of his fellow guest who was listening to him, said to him, "Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom of God."


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"At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all things are now ready.


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"And they all, without exception, proceeded to excuse themselves. The first told him. I have bought a field, and must needs go and see it. Pray have me excused.


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"The second said. I have bought five yolk of oxen and am on my way to try them. I pray that you will have me excused.


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"So the slave came and presented all these answers to his master. Then the master of the house was indignant, and said to his slave. Go out, quickly, into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame.


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"Said the master to his slave. Go out into the roads and the hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.


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"If any one comes to me and does not hate father and his mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, and his own very life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine.


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"Which of you who is desirous of building a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, to see if he has the means to complete it?


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"Lest it happen that after he has laid the foundations and is unable to complete it, all who see it shall begin to jeer at him saying,


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"Or what king as he goes forth to join battle with another king in war does not sit down first and deliberate whether he can meet with ten thousand men the one who is advancing against him with twenty thousand?


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"If he cannot, while the other king is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy to ask conditions of peace.


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"It is fit neither for the land nor the dung-hill; men cast it out. He who has ears to hear let him listen to this!"


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And the Pharisees and Scribes began to complain, saying, "He is welcoming sinners and eating with them!"


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"Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?


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"When he gets home he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.


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"I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.


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"Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it?


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"And when she has found it, she calls together her woman friends and neighbors and say, Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.


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"Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."


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"The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of your property which is coming to me. So he divided his means among them.


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"Not many days after that the younger son gathered everything together and took his journey into a distant country; and there he wasted his money on living unsavingly.


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"After he had spent everything there came a terrible famine in the land, and he began to be in want.


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"So he went and hired to one of the citizens of that land, who sent him out into the fields to feed swine.


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"And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.


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"When he came to himself he said. "How many of my fathers hired men have bread enough and to spare, while I am perishing of hunger!


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"I will rise and go to my father, and say to him. "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight,


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"So he arose and went to his father; but while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.


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"The son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.


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"Fetch the best robe, quick, said the father to his slaves, and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.


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"So they began to make merry. But his elder son was in the field, and as he drew near to the house he heard music and dancing,


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"Your brother is come, he replied, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has him safe and sound.


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"But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father.


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"All these years I have been slaving for you and never disobeyed a command of yours. Yet you never gave me even a kid so that I might make merry with my friends.


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"But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with harlots, you have killed him the fatted calf.


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"But it was fitting that we should make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive; he was lost and is found."


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To his disciples he said. "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was accused to him of wasting his property.


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"He called to him to him and said. "What is this that I hear about you? Render an account of your stewardship; for you can no longer be steward.


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"Now the steward said to himself. What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my stewardship? I am not strong enough to dig, to beg I am ashamed.


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"I know what I will do, so that when I am put out of my stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.


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"So he called to him each of his masters debtors and said to the first, How much money do you owe my master?


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"A hundred measures of oil, he answered. "He said to him, Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty."


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"To a second he said, How much do you owe? "The man answered, A hundred measures of wheat. "Here is you bill, he said, change it to eighty measures.


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"And the master praised the unjust steward because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this world are in relation to their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.


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"And to you I say, Use mammon, dishonest as it is, to make yourselves friends, so that when it shall fail they will welcome you to the eternal tabernacles.


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"The man who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in a very little, is unjust also as much.


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"If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will trust to you the true riches?


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"No one can be a household servants to two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slave of God and of Mammon."


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He said to them. "You are those that justify themselves in the eyes of men; but God knows you hearts; for that which is lofty in the eyes of men is abomination in the eyes of God.


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"The Law and the Prophet lasted until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and any one presses in.


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"Every man who divorces his wife and marries some one else, commits adultery; and he who marries one who is put away by her husband commits adultery.


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"Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and made merry every day in splendor.


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"He was full of sores, and longingly desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich mans table. Yes! even the dogs came and licked his sores.


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"The rich man also died, and was buried. And as he was tormented in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.


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"And he cried out and said, Father Abraham have mercy on me; and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.


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"Remember my son. said Abraham, that you had in your lifetime all your good things, and in the same way Lazarus his evil things; but now here he is comforted, and you are in anguish.


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"But besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who want to cross from here to you cannot, nor can those who would cross from you to us.


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"If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, said Father Abraham, neither will they be persuaded if one should rise from the dead."


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Jesus said to his disciples. "It is not possible but that occasions of stumbling should occur, but woe to him through whom they come!


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"It were well for him if a millstone were tied about his neck, and he were hurled into the sea, rather than he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.


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"And if he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times a day turns to you saying I repent, you shall forgive him."


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"If your faith," answered Jesus, "were like a grain of mustard-seed, you would say to this tree, Tear yourself up and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.


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"But who of you who has a slave plowing or keeping sheep, will say to him, when he is come in from the field, Come at once, sit down to dinner,


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"and will not rather tell him, Get ready something for me to eat, and gird yourself to wait on me until I have eaten and drunken. Then you shall eat and drink.


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"Even so, you also, after you have done all the things that are commanded you, should say, We are but slaves, we have only done what it was our duty to do."


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Perceiving this he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priest." And as they went they were made clean.


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The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered. "The kingdom of God does not come so that you can catch sight of it,


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Then he said turning to his disciples. "The days will come when you shall long to see one of the days of the Son of man, you shall not see it.


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"For as the lightning when it lightens out of the one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day.


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"Men were eating and drinking; they were marrying and being married, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.


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"The same was true in the time of Lot; they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building;


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"but on the day that Lot left Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.


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"On that day, if a man is on the housetop and his goods inside, let him not go down to take them away; nor should a man in the field turn back.


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"I tell you that in one night there shall be two men in one bed; one shall be taken and the other left.


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"Where, Master?" they asked him. "Where the dead body is," he answered, "there will the vultures be gathered together."


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"There was a certain town," he said, "a judge who had neither reverence for God, nor respect for man.


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"In that same town there was a widow who came again and again before him, saying, "Do for me the justice of my adversary.


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"For a while he would not, but afterwards he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence for God nor regard for man,


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"yet because this woman annoys me I will give her justice, lest by her continual coming she wear me out.


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"And will not God see justice done to his elect who are crying unto him day and night, even if he seems to delay helping them?


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"I tell you that he will quickly see justice done to his elect! Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith upon the earth?"


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Moreover he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, and looked down upon the rest.


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"The Pharisee stood apart and thus began to pray by himself. "O God, I thank thee that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax gatherer;


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"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "O God be merciful to me, the sinner!


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"I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself shall be humbled; but he who humbles himself shall be exalted."


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And they kept bringing their babies for him to touch them; but when his disciples saw it they began to rebuke them.


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But Jesus called for the babies. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.


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"I tell you in solemn truth that whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, he will never get into it."


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"You know the commandments. "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."


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And receiving this reply, Jesus said to him. "One thing you are still lacking. Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."


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Jesus looked at him and said. "How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!


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Why, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."


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And he said to them, "In Solemn truth I tell you that there is no one who, for the sake of the kingdom of God, has left houses, or wife, or brother, or parents, or children,


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Then he took the twelve aside and told them. "See, we are on our way to Jerusalem, and all prophets regarding the son of Man will be fulfilled.


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But they understood none of these sayings. His words were a mystery to them, and they did not know what he meant.


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Those who went ahead began to reprove him and to tell him to be still; but he kept clamorously shouting all the more, "Son of David, take pity on me!"


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Instantly he regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people who saw it gave praise to God.


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So he ran on before him and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was about to pass that way.


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As soon as Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Come down quickly, Zaccheus, for today I must stay at your house."


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When they all saw it, they began to complain, saying "He has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner."


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But Zaccheus stood up and said to the Lord, "I give half my property to the poor, Lord, and if I have defrauded any man of anything I am restoring it to him fourfold."


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As they were listening to his words he added this parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.


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"And he summoned ten slaves of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, "Trade with these until I come.


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"But this fellow citizens hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, We do not wish this man to become our king.


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"And upon his return after he had secured the royal power, he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the money to be called in, so that he might know what they had gained by trading.


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"And he said to him, Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.


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"He said to him, "By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow.


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"Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?


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"Then to those who stood by, he said, Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.


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"I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.


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"Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence."


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he sent two of his disciples saying. "Go into the village in the front, and on entering it you will find an asss colt tied, on which no one has ever ridden.


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"Untie it and bring it here. And if any one asks you, Why are you untying the colt? Simply say, The Master needs it."


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So they led it to Jesus, and, after throwing their outer garments on the colt, they placed Jesus on it.


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And when now he was coming near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to praise God with a loud voice for the almighty works they had seen.


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They cried, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the Highest"


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exclaiming. "Oh that at this time you knew, yes, even you, on what your peace depends! But now it is hidden from your eyes.


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"The time will come for you when your enemies will throw ramparts around you, and encompass you, and shut you in on every side, and raze you to the ground,


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"you and your children within you. And they will not leave in you one stone upon the another. Because you knew not the time of your visitation."


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saying, "It is written, "The house of God shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers."


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Day after day he continued to teach in the Temple. The high priests and scribes tried to have him put to death, so did the rulers of the people.


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On one of the days while he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the gospel, there came up the priest and the Scribes with the elders.


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They spoke to him saying. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things? Who is it that gave you this authority?"


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So they reasoned among themselves. "If we say, From heaven, he will ask us, Why did you not believe in him?


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"And if we say, From man, all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that Johnwas a prophet."


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Then he began to tell the people this parable. "There was a man who planted a vineyard, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went to another country for a long time.


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"At harvest-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers, to ask them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dresser beat him and sent him away empty-handed.


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"Then he sent another slave; and him also they flogged and handled shamefully and sent him away empty-handed.


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"Then the master of the vineyard said. "What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; it may be that they will reverence him.


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"But when the vine-dressers saw him, they reasoned together, saying. This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.


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"So they turned him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the master of the vineyard do to them?


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He looked at them and said. "Then what does this scripture mean. "The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner?


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"Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but whoever it falls upon will be scattered as dust."


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At this the Scribes and the high priests were seeking to arrest him; only they were afraid of the people. For they perceived that he had referred to them in this parable.


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So they watched him, and sent spies who pretended to be honest men, in order to seize on his speech, and to deliver him up to authority and jurisdiction of the governor.


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So they put a question to him saying. "Rabbi, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not regard any mans person, but teach the way of God honestly.


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So they could not lay hold of his sayings before the people; and marveling at his answer, they held their peace.


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"Teacher, Moses wrote a law for us that if a mans brother should die, but leave no children, his brother should take up his wife and raise up his children for his brother.


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"but those who are counted worthy to reach that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.


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"For indeed they cannot die any more; they are equal to the angels, and through being sons of the resurrection are sons of God.


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"But that the dead are raised, even Moses clearly implied in the passage about the Bush, when he calls the Lord. "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.


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"Beware of the Scribes who like to walk about in long robes, and dote on salutations in the marketplaces, and on securing the front seats in the synagogues and the best places at banquets;


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"but they devour widows houses and for a pretense make long prayers. These shall receive severer condemnation."


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"for these men have all contributed to the offering out of their surplus, but she, out of her want, contributed all she had to live on."


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And to some who were about the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones votive offerings, he said,


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"As for what you are looking at, the time is coming when not one stone will be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down."


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"Teacher, when will this be?" they asked him, "and what shall be the sign that these things are about to happen?"


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"Take heed," he answered, "that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and The time is close at hand. Do not go and follow them.


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"And when you shall hear of wars and tumults, do not be frightened; for these things must happen first, but the end does not come immediately."


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"and there shall be great earthquakes, and, in many places, famines and pestilences; and there shall be terror and great portents from heaven.


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"But before all these things happen, they will apprehend you and persecute you and deliver you to the synagogues and to prisons, and bring you before kings and governors for the sake of my name.


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"for I will give you utterance and a wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to answer or withstand.


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"Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let those who are in the country enter not in.


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"Woe to women with child and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For sore anguish will come upon the land, and wrath upon all his people.


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"They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive among the Gentiles, and Jerusalem shall be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the appointed times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.


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"And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roar of the sea and the billows;


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"men lifeless through fear, and foreboding of that which is about to come upon the habitable earth. For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken,


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"But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift your heads! for your redemption is drawing near."


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"Look at the fig tree and all the trees! When they put out their leaves you can see for yourselves that summer is coming.


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"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be surcharged with self-indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares, and that day catches you suddenly like a trap.


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"So be on your guard at all times, praying that you may be worthy to escape these things that shall come to pass, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of man."


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And each day he was habitually in the Temple teaching, and at night he used to go out and lodge on the mount called the Olives Orchards.


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He consented to this, and looked for an opportunity to betray him, when the people were not present.


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He answered. "No sooner will you have entered the city than you will meet a man carrying a water-jug. Follow him into the house were he is going.


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"And to the good man of the house say, The teacher asks you, "Where is the room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples?"


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"Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God is come."


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And he took a loaf, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying. "This is my body, which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.


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He gave them a cup in like manner, after supper saying. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for your sake.


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"The Son of man indeed goes on his way, as it has been determined; but woe to that man by who he is betrayed."


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And they began to question among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do such a thing.


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and he said to them. "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have who have authority over them are called Benefactors.


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"But you shall not be so. But he who is greater among you let him become like the younger; and he who is leader like him who serves.


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"For which is greater, he who sits at table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.


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"so that you shall eat and drink in my kingdom, and you shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


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"Simon, Simon," said the Lord, "behold, Satan has asked to have you all that he might sift you like wheat.


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"But I made supplication for you that your own faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned again, must strengthen your brothers."


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"I tell you, Peter," he answered. "the cock will not crow this day until you will three times deny that you know me."


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Moreover, he said to them, "When I sent you out without purse or wallet or sandals, did you lack anything?" They answered him, "We lacked nothing.


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Then he said to them. "But now let him who has a purse take it, and he who has a wallet, let him the do the same. And he who has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.


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"For I say to you that this word of Scripture must find its fulfilment in me. "And he was numbered among the transgressors, For that which concerns me has its accomplishment."


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Then he went out, and began to go to the Mount of Olives, as was his wont; and his disciples followed him.


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(And being in agony he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as if it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.)


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While he was still speaking there came a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus in order to kiss him,


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Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?"


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Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber?


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"When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness."


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So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off.


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And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them.


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But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!"


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A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not."


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But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean."


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"Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew.


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Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times."


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When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying.


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and began to accuse him. "We have found this fellow perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and proclaiming that he is the Messiah and King."


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Then Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him saying, "Certainly I am."


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But they repeatedly insisted, "He is stirring up the people throughout all Judea with his teaching which started from Galilee."


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and when he learned that he belonged to Herods jurisdiction he sent him to Herod, who himself happened to be in Jerusalem during those days.


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Now when Herod saw Jesus he was exceedingly glad. He had long been wanting to see him, because he had heard so much about him, and was hoping to see some miracles performed by him.


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Meanwhile the high priests and Scribes were standing around, and continually making accusations to him against him.


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Then Herod and his soldiers set him at naught, and mocked him, and throwing about him a gorgeous robe, sent him back to Pilate.


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Herod and Pilate became friends again from that very day; for before they had been at enmity between themselves.


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and said to them. "You brought before me this man as one who incited the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence, and I find no fault in this man regarding the charges that you brought against him.


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(This was a man who had been thrown in prison on account of a riot which had occurred in the city, and for murder.)


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For the third time he appealed to them. "But what crime has he committed? I have found in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore flog him, and let him go."


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But they kept shouting the more insistently, demanding that he should be crucified, and their shouts won the day.


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He released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, the man whom they asked for; but Jesus he handed over to their will.


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And when they led him away they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenean, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus.


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He was also followed by a great crowd of people, and of women too, who were beating their breast and lamenting him.


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"but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have never bore children, and the breasts that never suckled.


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When they came to the place called "The Skull," there they crucified him and the criminals also, one upon his right hand, and one upon his left.


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Jesus kept saying, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments among them, casting lots for them,


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and the people stood looking on. Even the rulers repeatedly taunted him, saying, "He saved others, let him save himself, if this fellow is indeed the Christ of God, His Chosen One!"


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And one of the criminals who had been hung there kept reviling him, saying. "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."


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But the other, answering, reproved him, saying. "Have you no fear of God even? When you are suffering the same punishment as he?


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"We indeed justly, for we are receiving due retribution for what we have done. But he has done no wrong."


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Then with a loud cry, Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And after uttering these words, he yielded up his spirit.


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When the army captain saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "This man was really innocent!"


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And all the crowds who had assembled to see this spectacle, after witnessing what had been done, were returning beating upon their breast.


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But all his acquaintances and the women who had been his followers continued to stand at a distance, looking on.


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he who came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and who was on the watch for the kingdom of God. He had not concurred in the designs and deed of the council.


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Then taking it down, he wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb hewn in the rock, where no man has ever been laid.


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Then the women who had accompanied him out of Galilee followed after, and noted the tomb, and how his body was placed.


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On the Sabbath Day they rested in obedience to the commandment, but in the deep dawn of the first day of the week they took the spices which they had prepared, and came to the tomb.


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While they were still perplexed over this, it happened that the two men stood near them in dazzling raiment.


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They were terrified, and bowed down their faces to the ground, but the men said to them. "Why are you seeking him who lives among the dead?


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that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and to rise on the third day?"


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It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the rest of the women who were telling all this to the apostles.


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Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, but when he stooped and looked in he saw the linen wrappings by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.


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On that same day two of his disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem.


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And he said to them, "What words are these that you are exchanging one with another, as you walk along?"


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They stood still, looking sad. And one of them named Cleopas, answered him, "Do you sojourn alone in Jerusalem, that you do not know what things have been happening there these days?"


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"What kind of things?" he answered. And they said. "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;


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"But we were hoping that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this is the third day since these things happened.


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"and found that his body was not there; then they came and told us that besides they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.


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"Thereupon some of our own party to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said, but him they did not see."


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But they urged him to stay with them, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."


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So he went in to stay with them. But as he sat down with them, and took bread, and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them,


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"Were not our hearts burning within us," they said to each other, "while we were talking with him on the way, and he was opening to us the scriptures?"


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So they rose and returned to Jerusalem that very hour, and found the Eleven and the others all met together,


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Then they began to tell what happened on the road, and he was known to them when he broke the bread.


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"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I! Feel me and see; for a ghost has not flesh and blood as I have."


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But while they still did not believe it for joy, and were filled with wonder, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"


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Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, how all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms concerning me."


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and he said. "Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead, the third day;


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"and that repentance unto remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.


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"And I will send forth the promise of my Father upon you. But tarry in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."


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And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.


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And it happened that while he was blessing them, that he parted from them and was carried into heaven.


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He came as a witness, that he might bear testimony concerning the Light - so that all men might believe through him.


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But to all who receive him, to them he has given the right to become children of God, even to those who trust in his name;


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And the Word became flesh and tented with us. And we gazed on his glory - glory as of the Fathers only Son - full of grace and truth.


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John bore witness concerning him, and cried aloud, saying, "This is he of whom I said, He who is coming after me has been put before me, for he was before me."


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No man has ever seen God; God, only begotten, who is in the bosom of the Father - he has interpreted him.


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Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent some priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"


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"What then?" they questioned; "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he replied.


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Then said they to him. "Who are you? That we may give some answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?"


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He said, "I am a voice of one who cries aloud in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah."


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so they questioned him, saying, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"


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"I indeed am baptizing in water," John said in reply, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not recognize,


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The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said. "Behold, that is Gods Lamb, who takes and bears away the sin of the world.


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I myself did not recognize him; I only came baptizing in water, in order that he might be openly shown to Israel."


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John also bore this testimony, saying. "I saw the Spirit like a dove descend from heaven and rest upon him.


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And I did not recognize him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and resting upon him, is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.


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Then Jesus turned and saw them following him, and said, "What do you want?" They replied, "Rabbi" (which may be translated Teacher), "where are you staying?"


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He said to them, "Come, and you shall see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was then about four oclock in the afternoon.


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One of the two men who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.


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In the morning he found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (a word which means Christ, the Anointed One).


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He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked intently at him and said. "You are Simon, son of John; you shall be called Cephas" (or Peter, which means Rock).


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Then Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found him about whom Moses wrote in the Law, as did the prophets - Jesus of Nazareth, Josephs son."


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And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."


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Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and said, "Behold a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit."


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"How do you know me?" asked Nathanael. "Before Philip called you," replied Jesus, "when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."


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You shall see greater things than that! Believe me," he added, "you all shall see heaven opened wide, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man."


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Now there were six stone water - jars standing there, according to the Jewish rites of purification, each holding about twenty gallons.


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So they filled them brimful. Then he said, "Draw some out now, and carry it to the master of the feast."


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So they carried it. And when the master of the feast had tasted of the water which had been made wine, not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn it knew, he called the bridegroom and said to him.


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"Everybody serves first the good wine, and when people have drunk freely, the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now."


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This beginning of signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee, and showed forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him there.


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Afterward he went down to Capernaum, he and his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and remained there a few days.


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There he found in the temple those who were selling cattle and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting there.


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So he plaited a scourge of rushes, and drove all out of the temple - both the sheep and oxen. He began to pour out the coins of the money- changers, and to overturn their tables,


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and said to those who were selling doves. "Take these things away! Make not my Fathers house a house of trade!


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The Jews retorted, "This Temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it in three days?"


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after he had been raised from the dead, they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.


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Now when he was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, many believed in his name, when they beheld the signs which he did;


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This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him. "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent from God; for no man can do these signs which you are continually doing, unless God is with him."


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"In very truth I tell you," answered Jesus, "that unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God."


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"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus replied; "Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb, and be born?"


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"I tell you solemnly," Jesus answered, "that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.


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The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its voice, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with every one who has been born of the Spirit."


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"Most solemnly I tell you we are speaking of what we know, and it is about that of which we were eyewitnesses that we give testimony. Yet all of you reject our testimony.


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If I have told you earthly things and yet none of you believe me, how will you believe if I tell you concerning heavenly things?


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There is no one gone up to heaven, except the One who came down from heaven - the Son of man himself.


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"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever trusts in him should not perish, but have eternal life.


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For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.


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He who trusts in him is not condemned, but he who does not trust has already been condemned, because he has not put his trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God.


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And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.


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For every one who practises wrong hates light, and does not come to the light, lest his actions be exposed;


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but he who does what is true, comes to the light, in order that his actions may be shown to have been wrought in God."


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After this Jesus and his disciples went into the countryside of Judea, and there he was staying with them and baptizing.


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John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there were many streams there, and people kept coming to receive baptism.


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Then some of Johns disciples got into a controversy with a Jew in regard to purification; so they came to John and said to him.


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"Rabbi, see! The man who was with you on the other side of Jordan, and to whom you yourself have borne testimony, is now baptizing, and everybody is coming to him."


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He who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegrooms voice. So then this joy of mine has now complete fulfilment.


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"He that comes from above is above all; but one who is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaks. He who comes from heaven is above all.


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Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but he who disobeys the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him."


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Accordingly when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard it said, "Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John,"


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so he came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the piece of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.


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"How is it," answered the Samaritan woman, "that you who are a Jew ask a drink from me, a woman, and a Samaritan?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)


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"If you had known the free gift of God," Jesus answered, "and who it is that says to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water."


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"Sir," said the woman, "you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; whence have you that living water?


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Surely you are not greater than our Father Jacob, who gave us the well, and used to drink from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle, too?"


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but whoever once drinks of the water that I will give him, shall never thirst any more, but the water that I will give him shall become a living spring of water within him, welling up into eternal life."


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"Sir!" exclaimed the woman, "give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty, nor come all this way to draw water."


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"I have no husband," answered the woman. "You are right in saying I have no husband,"Jesus said to her,


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"for you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband; in this you have spoken truly."


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"Our forefathers worshiped in this mountain, yet you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one must worship."


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"Woman, believe me," said Jesus, "that the hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.


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You are worshiping something you do not know. we know what we worship, for salvation comes from the Jews.


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But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father is seeking such as his worshipers.


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"I know," said the woman, "that Messiah is coming, who is called the Christ; when he has come he will tell us everything."


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Just then his disciples came up, and were astonished that he was talking with a woman; yet not one of them asked him, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"


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"Rabbi," they said, "eat something." But he answered, "I have food to eat of which you know nothing."


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Do you not say, It wants yet four months, and then comes the harvest?Look, I tell you! Lift up your eyes and behold the fields, that they are already white for harvest.


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The reaper is already receiving wages and gathering a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may rejoice together.


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I sent you to reap a crop on which you have not toiled. Others have toiled, and you have reaped the benefit of their toil."


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Many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him because of the word of the woman when she declared, "He told me everything that I ever did."


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So when the Samaritans arrived, they began asking him to remain with them; and he stayed there two days.


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"We no longer believe because of what you said. for we ourselves have heard him, and we know that this is certainly the Saviour of the world."


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When he reached Galilee, however, the Galileans welcomed him, for they had seen all that he did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they, too, had been at the feast.


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So he came back again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. Now there was one of the kings officers whose son was lying ill at Capernaum.


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When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him to come down and heal his son who was lying at the point of death.


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Jesus answered. "Go your way. Your son lives." And the man believed the word which Jesus spoke to him, and started to go home.


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So he asked them at what hour he had begun mend. They answered, "Yesterday, about one oclock, the fever left him."


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Then the father realized that it had left him at the very hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son lives," and he himself believed, and his whole household.


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It has five colonnades. In these there used to lie a great crowd of sick people - blind, lame, paralyzed.


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When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to get well?"


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"Sir," answered the sick man, "I have no man to put me into the pool whenever the water is troubled; and while I am trying to come, some one else steps down before me."


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Instantly the man became well, and he took up his bed and started to walk. Now it was Sabbath on that day;


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so the Jews kept saying to the man who had been cured. "It is the Sabbath Day; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."


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But he who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had moved away, as there was a crowd in that place.


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Afterward Jesus found him in the Temple, and said to him. "Look! You have become well. Do not go on sinning, lest a worse thing befall you."


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For this reason the Jews continued to seek the more eagerly to put him to death, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was actually speaking of God as his own Father, thus making himself of Gods equal.


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So Jesus answered them in these words. "In solemn truth I tell that the Son cannot do anything of himself, except what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does also.


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"For the Father loves the Son, and shows him every thing that he himself is doing. And greater deeds than these will he show him, that you may wonder.


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"For just as the Father raises the dead and makes them alive, even so the Son makes whom he will alive.


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"in order that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor Son, does not honor the Father who sent him.


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"I tell you solemnly that he who listens to my messages and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life. He will not come under condemnation, but has passed out of death into life.


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"Solemnly I tell you that the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall live.


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"Do not wonder at this, because an hour is coming in which all who are in their graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth again;


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"those who have done good into a resurrection of life, and those who have practised evil to a resurrection of condemnation.


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"I can of my own self do nothing. As I listen, I judge, and my own judgment is just, because I am not seeking my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.


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"Another bears testimony to me, and I know that the testimony which he bears concerning me is valid.


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"But I have testimony greater than that of John; for the work which the Father has given me to bring to completion - the work which I am doing - bears testimony concerning me, that the Father has sent me.


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"And the Father who sent me has himself borne testimony concerning me. None of you has heard his at any time or seen him,


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"You are searching the Scriptures because you suppose that in tem you have eternal life; and though these are they that bear witness concerning me,


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"I am come in the name of my Father and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, him you will receive.


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"How can you believe when you receive glory from, one another, and have no desire for the glory which comes from the only God?


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"Do not imagine that I shall accuse you to the Father. Moses is your accuser, on whom you build your hopes.


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A great crowd were following him, because they witnessed the signs which he was continually performing among those who were ill.


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Then Jesus walked up the hills and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Jewish feast, the Passover, was at hand.


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"Thirty-five dollars worth of bread," answered Philip, "is not enough for them, so that each can take a morsel."


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"Make the men sit down," said Jesus. The ground was covered with thick grass; so the men sat down, in numbers about five thousand. "of righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you will no longer see me;


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Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks he distributed them among those who were seated; in like manner also of the fish, as much as they wished,


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and when they were satisfied, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the fragments that are left, so that nothing may be wasted."


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So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves - the broken pieces that were left after they had eaten.


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So when the people saw the sign which he had performed, they said, "This is in the truth the Prophet who is to come into the world."


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When Jesus perceived that they intended to seize him in order to make him a king, he retired again to the hill all by himself.


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There they got in a boat, and started across the sea for Capernaum. The darkness had already fallen,


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After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking upon the sea, and drawing near to the boat, and they were terrified;


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Then they were willing to take him on board, and immediately the boat reached the shore they were making for.


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The crowd that remained on the other side of the sea had seen that there was only one small boat there, and that Jesus had not gone aboard with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away by themselves.


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So, on the following day, when boats came from Tiberias near the place were they had eaten bread, after the Lord had given thanks, they got into the boats themselves,


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when they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.


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Jesus answered. "In solemn truth I tell you that you are looking for me, not because you saw miracles signs, but because you ate of the bread and were filled.


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"Labor not for food which perishes, but for the food that endures eternal life - that which the Son of man will give you; for on the Father - God - has set his seal."


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The they said to him. "What sign, then, are you performing, so that we may see it and believe in you? What work are you doing?


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"Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness, as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat."


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"In solemn truth I tell you," said Jesus in reply, "Moses did not give you the bread out of heaven, but my Father does give you the true bread out of heaven;


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"I myself am the bread of life," answered Jesus; "he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he that believes on me shall never thirst again.


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"And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should not lose one of all those whom he has given me, but should raise them up at the last day.


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"For this is my Fathers will, that every one who beholds the Son and believes on him, shall have eternal life. and I will raise him up at the last day."


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Then the Jews began to find fault with Jesus, because he said, "I am the bread which comes down out of heaven," and they kept asking.


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"Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? How is it that he now says, I have come down from heaven?"


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answered Jesus; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him; then I will raise him up on the last day.


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"It is written in the Prophets, "And they shall all of them be taught of God. Every one who has listened to the father and learns from him, comes to me.


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"I myself am the living bread that has come down from heaven. Any one who eats this bread will live forever; and moreover, the bread which I will give is my flesh, given for the life of the world."


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Then the Jews began to dispute among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"


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"I tell you solemnly," said Jesus, "that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.


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"He who feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.


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"Just as the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father, so also that man who feeds on me shall live by me.


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"This is the bread which came down from heaven; not such as your fathers ate and died, for he who feeds upon this bread shall live forever."


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So many of his disciples, when they heard it, said. "This teaching is unbelievable! Who can listen to him?"


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Jesus, conscious within himself that his disciples were finding fault with him about his teaching, said to them.


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"Does this displease you? What then if you were to behold the Son of man ascending to where he was before?


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"The spirit is what gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words which I have been speaking to you, are spirit and are life.


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"Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was who should betray him.


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In reply Jesus said to them. "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? And yet even of you one is an enemy."


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Now Jesus was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for Judas was to betray him, although he was one of the Twelve.


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After these things Jesus continued to travel about in Galilee, for he did not wish to go about in Judea, because the Jews kept trying to kill him.


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his brothers said to him. "Leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may behold the works which you are doing.


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"For no one ever does anything in secret if he himself seeks to be known publicly. If you are performing these signs, show yourself openly to the world."


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"The world cannot hate you, but me it does hate, because I am bearing testimony against it, that its ways are wicked.


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Do you go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because my time is not yet fully come."


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The Jews meanwhile kept looking for him at feast, and saying, "Where is he?" "I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own Name these whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are one.


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and there was much disputing about him among the crowd. Some would say, "He is a good man." Others. "No! he is misleading the people." "While I was with them I kept them by the power of thy name which thou hast given me. I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.


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No one, however, was speaking openly about him, for fear of the Jews. "But now I am coming to thee, and I am speaking these things while I am in the world, so that they may have my joy in all its fulness in themselves.


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But when it was already the middle of the feast, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. "I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.


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The Jews were amazed. They said, "How does this fellow know the sacred writings when he has never learned them?" "I am not asking that thou wilt take them out of the world, but that thou wilt protect them from the Evil One.


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In reply Jesus said to them; "My teaching is not mine, but is his who sent me. "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.


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"If any one wills to do Gods will he shall know concerning my teaching, whether it is from God, or I speak my own authority. "Dedicate them in thy truth; thy word is truth.


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"The man who speaks on his own authority is always seeking his own glory. But one who is eager for the glory of Him who sent him, he is true, and therefore is nothing false about him.


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"Did not Moses give you the Law? Yet none of you is keeping the Law. Why are you seeking to kill me?"


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"Consider, therefore, Moses has given you circumcision - not that Moses originated it, but the fathers - and you are accustomed to circumcise a child even on the Sabbath.


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"If a child receives circumcision on the Sabbath, in order that the Law of Moses may not be broken, how can you be angry with me because I made a man sound and well on the Sabbath?


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"And look! he is speaking boldly and they are saying nothing to him. Can it possibly be that the rulers have really discovered that he is the Christ?


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"But we know this man and where he is from; but when the Christ comes no one will know where he comes from."


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So Jesus cried aloud as he was teaching in the Temple, and said. "You both know me and you know where I am from; and I am not come on my own authority, but he who sent me is trustworthy, and him you do not know.


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Then they kept seeking to arrest him, but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.


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But many of the crowd believed on him and began to say, "The Christ, when he comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?"


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The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering these things about him, and the high priest and Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.


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Then Jesus said to them. "Still for a little longer I am with you, and then I am going my way to him who sent me.


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Then the Jews said to one another. "Where does this fellow intend to go, so that we shall not find him? He is not intending to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and to teach the Greeks, is he?


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"What does he mean saying, You shall seek me and you shall not find me, and Where I am you cannot come?"


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"If any man thirst let him come to me and drink. From the heart of him who believes in me will flow, as the Scripture said, rivers of living water."


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Now he said this concerning the Spirit whom those who believed in him should receive. For the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.


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Some of the crowd who had been listening to these discourses began to say, "Without a doubt this man is a Prophet."


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Other said, "He is the Christ." But others were saying. "Surely the Christ is not to come out of Galilee, is he?


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"Does not the Scripture say that the Christ is coming of the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, Davids town?"


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So a division arose in the crowd concerning him. Some of them wished to apprehend him, but no one laid hands on him.


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"Our law does not condemn the accused, does it, before hearing his defense, and finding out what he is doing?"


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In answer they said to him. "You are not from Galilee, are you? Search for yourself, and see that from Galilee arises no prophet."


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At dawn, however, he came back to the Temple, where the people came to him in crowds. He had taken his seat and was teaching them,


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when the Scribes and Pharisees had brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They made her stand in the middle of the court, and said to him.


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But Jesus stooped down, and began to write on the ground with his finger. When they continued to question him, he raised himself and said to them, "Let the innocent man among you be the first to throw the stone at her."


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When they heard that, they went out one by one, beginning with the eldest. And Jesus was left behind alone - and the woman in the middle of the court.


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Once more Jesus addressed them. "I am the light of the world," he said; "He who follows me shall not walk in the darkness, but he shall have the Light of life."


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Then said the Pharisees to him. "You are bearing testimony to yourself; your testimony is not true."


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In reply Jesus said to them. "Even if I do bear testimony to concerning myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I have come from, or where I am going.


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"Though even if I do judge, my judgment is trustworthy, because I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.


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"I am one who gives testimony concerning myself, and the Father who sent me gives testimony concerning me."


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"Where is your Father?" they asked him. "You have neither known me nor my Father," answered Jesus. "If you had known me, you would have known my father also."


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He said these words in the Treasury, while he was teaching in the Temple; yet no one arrested him, because his hour was not yet come.


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Then again he said them. "I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come."


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Then the Jews said. "He will not kill himself, will he? Is that why he says, Where I am going you cannot come?"


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And he said to them. "You are from below. I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.


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"That is why I said that you would die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."


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"I have many things to say and to judge concerning you. But he who sent me is true, and I speak to the world only those things which I have heard from him."


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so Jesus added. "When you lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am He; and that I do nothing on my own authority, but that I speak just as the Father has taught me,


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"and he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I do always the things that please him."


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So Jesus spoke to the Jews that believed him, saying. "If you abide in my teaching, you are my true disciples;


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"We are descendants of Abraham," they replied, "and have never been in slavery to any man. What do you mean by saying, You shall become free?"


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"I know you are Abrahams descendants; but you are seeking to kill me, Because my teaching has no place in you.


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"I am declaring what I have seen with the Father, and you are acting as you have learned from your father."


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"Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you are indeed Abrahams children," said Jesus "do the deeds of Abraham.


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"But now you are seeking to kill me - a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do that.


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"You are doing the deeds of your father." "We were not born of adultery," they said; "we have one Father, God."


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Jesus said to them. "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded forth and am now come from God. I did not come on my own authority, but God himself sent me.


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"You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a man-slayer from the very beginning; and he has no standing place in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he utters a lie, he speaks from his nature, for he is a liar and the father of lying.


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"He who is from God listens to Gods words. For this reason you do not listen, because you are not from God."


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In reply the Jews said to him, "Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan, and you also have a demon?"


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"Now we know that you have a demon," exclaimed the Jews. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; and yet you say, If any man obeys my teaching he shall never taste death.


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"You are not greater than our father Abraham, are you? And he died, and the prophets died. Who are you making yourself out to be?"


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"If I glorify myself." said Jesus, "my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifies me, and you say, He is our God.


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"You are not acquainted with him; I know him. Were I to say, I do not know him, I should be like you, a liar. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching.


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"Neither he nor his parents sinned." replied Jesus; "it happened that the works of God might be made manifest in him.


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When he had thus spoken he spat on the ground, and made clay with the spittle, and smeared the clay on the mans eyes.


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Then he said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (a word which means "sent"). So the man went and washed his eyes, and came back seeing.


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Upon this the neighbors and those who used to know him by sight as a beggar, began asking, "Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?"


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He answered. "The man who is called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to Siloam and wash;so I went and washed and received my sight."


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so the Pharisees again began to ask him questions about how he had regained his sight; and he said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed them, and now I see."


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Then some of the Pharisees began to say, "This man in not from God, because he does not keep the Sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?"


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So there was a difference of opinion among them. Accordingly they said to the blind man, "What have you to say about him, now that he has opened your eyes?" "He is a prophet," he answered.


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The Jews, however, did not believe about him that he was blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man whose sight had been restored,


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and questioned them. "Is this your son," they said, "who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"


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"but how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who has opened his eyes. Ask him, himself. He is of age. He will speak for himself."


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This his parents said because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if any one should confess that he was the Christ, he should be expelled from the synagogue.


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"Give glory to God! we know that this man is a sinner." Upon this the blind man answered. "I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that once I was blind, and know I can see."


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He answered. "I have told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you wish to hear it again? Can it be that you, too, wish to become his disciples?"


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"This is truly astonishing," said the man in reply, "that you do not know where he is from, and yet he has opened my eyes.


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"We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if any one is God- fearing and does his will, to such he listens.


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"Since the beginning of the world such a thing as opening the eyes of one who was born blind was never heard of.


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Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of man?"


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"If you were blind," Jesus answered them, "you would have no sin. But now you are declaring, We see;so your sin remains.


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"In solemn truth I tell you that whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber;


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"The porter opens the door for him; the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.


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"When he has brought all his own sheep, he walks before them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.


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"But a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."


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Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was talking about; so he said to them again.


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"I am the Door. Whoever enters by me shall be saved, and he shall go in and come out and find pasture.


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"The thief never comes except to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it in abundance.


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"The hired servant, since he is not a shepherd and does not own his sheep, leaves the sheep and flees when he sees a wolf coming - and the wolf worries them and scatters them.


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"I have other sheep also, which do not belong to this fold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.


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"No man is taking it away from me. I am laying it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."


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Others were saying. "These are not the words of one demon-possessed. Can a demoniac open the eyes of the blind?"


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Then all the Jews encircled him and kept asking him. "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."


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Jesus answered them. "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works which I am doing in my Fathers name, these bear witness concerning me.


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"I am giving them eternal life, and they shall never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of my hand.


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"My Father who has given them to me is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Fathers hand.


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"We are not going to stone you for a good deed," answered the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God."


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do you mean to tell me, whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming, because I said, I am the Son of God?


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"But if I am doing them, then though you believe not me, believe the deeds, in order that you may come to know and keep on clearly understanding that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."


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and went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.


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Many who came to him said, "John did not perform any signs, but everything he said about this man was true."


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- it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.


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When Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that through it the Son of God may be glorified."


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he still remained where he was for two days; then after that he said to his disciples, "Let us go back again to Judea."


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"Rabbi," answered his disciples, "it was but just now that the Jews were trying to stone you, and are you going there again?"


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Jesus replied. "Are there not twelve hours in the daytime? If any one walks in the daytime he does not stumble, because he beholds the light of this world;


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Now Jesus had been speaking concerning his death, but they thought that he was talking about natural sleep.


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"Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad I was not there, in order that you may believe. Come, let us go to him."


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Upon this Thomas, who was called "The Twin," said to his fellow disciples, "Let us go too, that we may die with him."


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so a number of the Jews had gone to Martha and Mary to sympathize with them concerning their brother.


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So when Martha learned that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him, but Mary remained sitting in the house.


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"I am the resurrection and the life, "said Jesus. "He who believes in me, even if he has died, shall live.


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"Yes, Master," she answered, "I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."


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With these words she went away to call her sister Mary, saying privately, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you."


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Then the Jews who were in the house trying to console her, when they saw that Mary rose quickly and went out, followed her, because they thought she was going to the tomb to weep there.


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When Mary came to the place where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying, "Master had you been here, my brother would not have died."


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Then when Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews likewise who accompanied her, sobbing, he shuddered with indignation in his spirit, and was deeply agitated.


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"Could not this man, who has opened the eyes of the blind man, have prevented this man also from dying?"


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Jesus therefore, again shuddering in himself with indignation, came to the tomb, which was a cave with a stone lying upon it.


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"Roll away the stone," said Jesus. "Master," said Martha, the sister of the dead man "he is offensive by this time, for he has been four days in the tomb."


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"Father, I thank thee that thou hast listened to me. And I knew that thou art ever listening to me, but for the sake of the crowd who are standing about, I said it, in order that they may believe that thou hast sent me."


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Out came the dead man, wrapped hand and foot with grave-clothes, and his face bound up in a napkin. Jesus said to them, "Untie him, and let him go."


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"What are we going to do?" they said, "now that this man is performing many signs?" If we leave him alone, this way, every one will believe on him, and the Romans will come and rob us of both our sacred place and of our people."


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"You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, rather than the whole nation be destroyed."


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now he did not say this of his own accord; but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die in behalf of the nation,


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and not in behalf of the nation alone, but in order that he might gather into one the widely scattered children of God.


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Jesus therefore no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but went away from there into the region near the desert to a town called Ephraim,


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and there remained with his disciples. Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem for purification before the Passover.


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So they kept looking for Jesus and saying to one another, as they stood in the Temple, "What do you think - that he will not come to the feast at all?"


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Now the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if any one knew where he was. he should give information, so that they might arrest him.


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So then Jesus came six days before the Passover, to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom Jesus had raised from the dead.


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So they gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served it; but Lazarus was one of those who reclined with him at table.


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Then Mary took a pound of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.


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This he said not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and, carrying the purse,


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used to purloin what was put in it. Then said Jesus. "Let her alone. Against the day of my burial has she kept this;


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When the great mass of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came not alone because of Jesus, but to see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.


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because it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them, and beginning to believe on Jesus.


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and taking branches from the palm trees went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord. Even Israels King!"


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His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus had been glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written concerning him, and what they had done to him.


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Meanwhile the crowd which was with him when he summoned Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead, kept witnessing.


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For this reason, too, the crowd came to meet him, because they had heard about this sign which he had done.


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Then the Pharisees said among themselves. "You see! You can do nothing! Look! The world is gone after him!"


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these came to Philip of Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we want to see Jesus."


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In solemn truth I tell you that except a kernel of wheat fall into the ground and die, it remains a single kernel; but if it die it bears a great crop.


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He who loves his life loses it; and he who regards not his life in this world shall keep it for eternal life.


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If any one is ready to serve me, let him follow me; and where I am there shall my servant be also. If any man is ready to serve me, him will my Father honor.


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Now is my soul disquieted. What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?Nay, for this very cause I am come to this hour.


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Father, glorify thy name!" Whereupon there came a voice from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."


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Then the crowd who stood around and heard it, said, "It thundered!" But others said, "An angel has spoken to him."


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Then the people answered. "We have heard out of the Law that the Christ abides forever. What do you mean by The Son of man must be lifted up?Who is this Son of man?"


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"The Light is among you a little longer," answered Jesus. "Walk while you have the Light, lest darkness overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.


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With these words Jesus went away and hid himself from them. But although he had wrought such signs in their presence, still they did not believe in him.


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So the words spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, were fulfilled. Lord, who hath believed our message, And to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed?


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He hath blinded their eyes and make their hearts hard, Lest they should see with their eyes, perceive with their minds, And should turn, and I should heal them.


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Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed on him, but did not confess in on account of the Pharisees, for fear lest they be put out of the Synagogue.


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"He who believes in me believes not in me, but in Him who sent me; and he who sees me sees him who sent me.


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And if any one hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I am not come to judge the world, but to save the world.


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He who rejects me, and does not receive my words, has indeed a judge. The message which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the Last Day,


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because I have never spoken on my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me gave me commandment what to say and what words to speak.


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And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So whatever I speak, I speak as the Father has told me."


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Now just before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour was come when he should leave this world to go to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, showed forth his love to the end.;38 "Your life you will lay down for me? In solemn truth I tell you, the cock shall not crow before you have three times disowned me."


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So while supper was proceeding, and the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,


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and was now going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel and girded himself.


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Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he had girded himself.


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Peter answered, "No, never shall you wash my feet." "If I do not wash you," said Jesus, "you have no part in me."


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Jesus said. "He who has bathed needs only to have his feet washed, and he is altogether clean; and you are clean, but not all of you."


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(For he knew who should betray him, for that reason he said that they were not every one of them clean.)


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So after he had washed their feet, and had put on his upper garments again, and taken his place, he said to them.


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"Do you understand what I have been doing to you? You call me Teacher and Master,and you say well, for such I am.


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If then I have washed your feet, I the Master and the Teacher, you also ought to wash one anothers feet,


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In solemn truth I tell you that a slave is not greater than his master, neither is a messenger greater than the one who sends him.


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I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, which says. "He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.


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"From this time forward, I tell you before it comes to pass, that when it is come to pass you may believe who I am.


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In solemn truth I tell you, he who receives any one that I send is receiving me; and he who receives me is receiving Him who sent me."


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When he had spoken thus, Jesus was deeply moved. He testified and said, "In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me."


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So when he had dipped the bread, he took it and gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. And after he had received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. "What you do, do quickly," said Jesus.


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for some were thinking, as Judas kept the purse, that Jesus meant to tell him, "Buy the things that we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.


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So when he was gone, Jesus said. "Now has the Son of man been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.


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If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and straightway will he glorify him.


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"My little children, I am only to be with you a little longer. You will seek me; just as I said to the Jews, Where I go you cannot come, so now I say to you.


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Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" "Where I am going," answered Jesus, "you cannot follow me now; but you shall follow me later."


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"Why cannot I follow you now, Master?" said Peter. "I will lay down my life for you." Jesus answered him.


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In my Fathers house there are many rooms If it were not so, would I have told you that I went to prepare a place for you?


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Jesus answered him. "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man ever comes to the Father but by me.


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If you had known me, you would have known my Father too; from now on you know him and have seen him."


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"Have I been so long among you, and yet you, Philip, have you not recognized me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Cause us to see the Father?


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"Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself; but the Father, who ever dwells in me, is doing his own work.


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"Believe me, all of you, that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very words sake.


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"I tell you solemnly that he who trusts in me shall himself do the works that I am doing; and still greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.


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"and he will give you another Comforter to be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive him because it does not see him nor know him, but you know him, for he is ever with you and within you.


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"Yet a little while and the world shall see me no more, but you shall see me; because I live, you, too, shall live.


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"It is he who has my commands and obeys them that loves me; and he who loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him."


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"How is it, Lord," said Judas (not Iscariot) "that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?"


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Jesus replied."If any loves me he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.


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"He that loves me not does not obey words, and yet the words to which you are listening are not mine, but the Fathers who sent me.


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"But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.


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"Peace I leave with you. My own peace I give to you. It is not the worlds Peace I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


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"You heard me tell you, I am going away, and yet I am coming to you. If you loved me you would have been glad because I said I am going to the Father, for my Father is greater than I.


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"He has nothing in me, but in his coming the world may know that I love the Father, and that I do just as the Father commanded. Rise, let us be going!"


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"He cuts back any of my branches that bear no fruit, and prunes every fruit-bearing branch, that it may bear more.


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"Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can you, unless you abide in me.


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"I am the Vine you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him, bears abundant fruit; because apart from me you can do nothing.


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"If any one does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers. Such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and burned.


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"If you obey my commands you will abide in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commands and abide in his love.


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"I no longer call you slaves, because a slave 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 learned from my Father.


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"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.


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"If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you.


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"Remember what I told you, A slave is not better than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they have obeyed my word, they will obey yours also.


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


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"If I had not done among them such works as none ever did, they would have had no sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.


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"When the Comforter is come whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes forth from the Father, he will bear witness of me;


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"They will excommunicate you from their synagogues; indeed the time is coming when any one who kills you will suppose that he is doing Gods service.


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"But I have told you these things, that when the time comes you may remember that I told you about them, myself. I did not, however, speak of these things at first, because I was with you.


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"Yet - I am telling you the truth - my going is for your good. For unless I go away the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart I will send him unto you.


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"But when he is come, that Spirit of Truth, he will guide you into the whole truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but all that he hears he will speak, and will make known to you that which is to come.


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"Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that he will take of what is mine and make it known to you.


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"In a little while you shall behold me no more; and again in a little while you shall see me, because I am going to the Father."


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At this some of his disciples said among themselves. "What does he mean by telling us, In a little while you shall behold me no more; and again in a little while you shall see me, and because I am going to the Father?"


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So they kept asking. "What does that little while mean of which he speaks? We do not know what he is talking about."


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Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and said. "Are you questioning one another about my saying, A little while and you shall behold me no more, and again a little while you shall see me?


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"I tell you solemnly that you will be weeping and wailing while the world is rejoicing; you will be grief-stricken, but your grief shall be turned into gladness.


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"A woman in labor has grief because her hour is come; but when she has given birth to the babe she no longer remembers her anguish, because of joy that a child has been born into the world.


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"So you also have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy shall no man snatch away from you.


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"And in that day you will ask me no questions. Most solemnly I tell you that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.


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"I have told you these things in figures; but the time is coming when I shall no longer speak in figures, but will tell you about the Father in plain words.


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"In that day you shall pray in my name; and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;


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"for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and believed that I came forth from the God.


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"I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world. again, I am leaving the world, and am going to the Father."


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"Ah," said the disciples, "now you are speaking plain language, and not using figures. Now we are sure that you know all things, and have no need for any one to question you; by this we believe that you came forth from God."


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"behold the hour approaches and is already come when you will be scattered, each man to his home, and will leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.


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"I have said all this to you that in me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be courageous; I have overcome the world."


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When he had thus spoken, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said. "Father, the hour is come. Glorify the Son, that thy Son may glorify thee;


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"since thou hast given him authority over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.


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"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with own self, with the glory I had with thee before the world began.


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"I have made known thy name to the men whom thou gavest me out of the world. Thine they were, and thou gavest them to me, and they have kept thy word.


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"for I have given them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and they have believed that thou didst send me.


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"I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine,


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"that they may all be one, even as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee; that they also may be in us; in order that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.


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"I in them and thou in me; that they may be made perfectly one, so that the world may recognize that thou didst send me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.


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"Father, it is my will that wherever I am these also, thy gift to me, may be with me, that they may see the glory, my glory which thou hast given me, because thou didst love me before the foundations of the world.


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"O righteous Father, though the world knew thee not, I have known thee, and these have known that though didst send me.


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"And I have declared - and will declare - thy name unto them, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and that I may be in them."


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After he had spoken these words Jesus went forth with his disciples to a place across the Ravine of the Cedars, where there was a garden into which he and his disciples went.


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So after getting troops and some Temple police from the chief priests and Pharisees, Judas came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


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Then Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went forth to meet them, and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?"


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"For Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. He said to them, "I am he." (Now Judas also, the betrayer, was standing with them.)


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"I have already told you that I am he," said Jesus. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these go their way."


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"(In order that the word which he had spoken might be fulfilled, "Of those whom thou hast given me I have not lost one.")


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Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, and striking at the high priests slave, cut off his right ear.


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(The slaves name was Malchus.) Then Jesus said to Peter. "Put up your sword in its sheath. the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?"


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and led him to Annas first. (For Annas was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year -


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the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their advantage that one man should die for the people.)


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Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple who was known to the high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the court of the high priests palace.


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But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.


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The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this mans disciples?" "No I am not," he answered.


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Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself.


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Jesus answered him. "I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, places where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and in secret I have spoken nothing.


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"Why do you question me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them; these witnesses here know what I said."


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When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?"


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Jesus replied "If I have said anything wrong, give evidence concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, why do you strike me?"


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Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not."


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One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden."


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From the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Praetorium, and it was dawn. They themselves would not enter the Praetorium, in order that they might not be ceremonially defiled, but might be able to eat the Passover.


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The Jews answered him, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death" (that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled in which he predicted the kind of death he was to die).


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So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he said.


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"I am not a Jew, am I?" replied Pilate; "It is your own nation and the high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?"


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Jesus answered him. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants have fought hard that I should not be handed the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of such origins."


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"You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice."


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Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" As he said this, he went outside again to the Jews and said to them.


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"I find no crime in this man. Now it is a custom of yours that I release one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover feast. Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?"


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and the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, placed it on his head, and threw a purple cloak about him, and kept marching up to him,


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Pilate again came forth and said to the people, "See, I am going to bring his out to you, that you may clearly know that I find no crime in him,"


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Then as Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, "BEHOLD, THE MAN!"


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So when the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted. "Crucify him! Crucify him!" "Take him yourselves and crucify him," said Pilate, "for I find no crime in him."


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The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself out to be Gods Son,"


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Jesus made no answer. So Pilate said to him. "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, or power to crucify you?"


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"You would have no power over me," answered Jesus, "unless it had been given you from above. For this reason he who has betrayed me to you has the greater sin."


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After that Pilate began to seek to release him, but the Jews shouted out. "If you release this man you are no friend of the Emperor. Any man who makes himself out to be king is a rebel against the Emperor."


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On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out and made him sit on the judges seat in a place called the Mosaic Pavement (the Hebrew name is Gabbatha).


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And it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about six oclock in the morning. Then he said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"


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Then they shouted. "Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!" "Crucify your King?" said Pilate. The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"


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So they took Jesus, who went forth bearing his own cross, to a place called The Place of a Skull - in the Hebrew tongue, Golgotha.


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And Pilate moreover wrote an inscription and placed it above the cross. What he wrote was, "JESUS, THE NAZARENE, KING OF THE JEWS"


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This inscription was read by many of the Jews, because the place where they crucified Jesus was near the city, and the inscription was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.


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So the high priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write King of the Jews, but He said, I am King of the Jews."


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After the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, to each soldier a part, and the tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom;


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so the soldiers said one to another. "Let us not tear it. Let us draw lots, to see whose it shall be" - that the Scripture might be fulfilled. They divided my garments among them, For my raiment did they cast lots. This was what the soldiers did.


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Now there stood near the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.


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When Jesus saw his mother, and standing near her the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman behold your son."


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Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her to his home.


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After that, when Jesus knew that everything was now accomplished, he said in fulfilment of the words of Scripture, "I am thirsty."


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There was a jar full of vinegar standing there; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon a stalk of hyssop, and put it to his lips.


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Then after he had taken the vinegar, Jesus said, "IT IS FINISHED!" And bowing his head, he yielded up his spirit.


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It was Preparation Day, so in order to prevent the bodies hanging on the cross during the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a great day) the Jews begged Pilate to have the legs broken, and the bodies taken away.


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So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who had been crucified with him.


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One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out.


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And he who saw it has borne testimony, and his testimony is trustworthy, and he knows that he is telling the truth in order that you may believe.


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After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but in secret because of fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for permission to take the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and took the body.


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Nicodemus also (the one who visited Jesus by night, at first) came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing nearly a hundred pounds.


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So they took the body of Jesus and wound it in linen with the spices, according to the Jewish mode of burial.


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There was a garden near the place where Jesus had been crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.


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On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, while it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and discovered that the stone had been removed from the tomb.


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So she came running to Simon Peter and that other disciple whom Jesus loved, saying, "They have taken the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!"


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Then Peter also came following him, and he went inside the tomb; and he gazed at the linen wrapping as they lay,


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and the napkin which had been about his head not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up in its own place.


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Then the other disciple also who arrived first at the tomb went inside, and he perceived and believed.


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Meanwhile, outside, Mary stood sobbing near the tomb. Still sobbing she stooped and looked into the tomb,


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and gazed at two angels in glistening white sitting, one at the head the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.


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They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken away my Master, and I do not know where they have laid him."


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When she had said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but did not know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus said to her. "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have borne him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away, myself."


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"Do not cling to me," said Jesus, "for I am not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."


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Away went Mary Magdalene to the disciples with the tidings, "I have seen the Master!" and that he said these things to her.


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On the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, although the doors of the room where the disciples gathered had been locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and there he stood among them, saying. "Peace to you!"


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As he said this he showed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciple glad, when they saw the Lord.


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Then Jesus said to them again. "Peace to you. As my Father has sent me forth, I also now am sending you."


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"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you remit any ones sins, they are remitted; if you retain them they are retained."


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Accordingly the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord." But he told them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe it."


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A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood there among and said. "Peace to you!"


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Then to Thomas he said. "Place your finger here, and see my hands; and place your hand here, and thrust it into my side, and become not unbelieving, but believing."


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"Because you have seen me, Thomas, you have believed," Jesus told him. "Blessed are those who, without seeing, yet believed."


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There were then many other signs which Jesus performed in the presence of his disciples, which have not been written in this book;


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but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.


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After this Jesus showed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He showed himself as follows.


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There were together Simon Peter and Thomas, called "The Twin," and Nathanael, from Cana of Galilee, and the two sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.


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Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They answered him, "And we are going with you." So they went out and got into the boat, and throughout the night they caught nothing.


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But when day was dawning Jesus stood on the beach. The disciples, however, did not recognize that it was Jesus.


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And he said to them, "Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find." So they cast it, and now they could not haul it in for the multitude of fishes.


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Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" On hearing that it was the Lord, Simon Peter girt his fishers coat about him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the water.


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The rest of the disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore - only about a hundred yards - dragging in the net full of fish.


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So Simon Peter went and dragged the net to shore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; but for all this number the net was not torn.


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"Come and have breakfast," said Jesus to them. Not one of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" Knowing that it was the Lord.


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This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from among the dead.


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When they were through breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me." he answered. Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."


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He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me." "Be a shepherd to my sheep," said Jesus.


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The third time Jesus asked him, "Am I really dear to you?" Peter was grieved because the third time he asked, "Am I really dear to you?" and he answered, "Master, you know all things, you know that you are dear to me."


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"Feed my sheep," said Jesus. "In solemn truth I tell you that when you were young, you used to put on your own girdle, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands for some one to gird you, and carry you where you do not wish to go."


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This he said to show by what kind of death Peter was to glorify God. After speaking thus, he said to him, "Follow me."


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Peter turned around and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following - he who at the supper leaned back upon his breast and said, "Lord, who is to betray you?"


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Accordingly the report spread among the brothers that this disciple should not die; but Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said, "If I choose that he remain until I come, what is that to you?"


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It is this disciple who bears testimony to these facts and who recorded them; and we know that his testimony is true.


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But there are also many other things which Jesus did; if every one of them were to be recorded in detail I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written.


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My first account, O Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus began doing and teaching from the beginning down to the day when,


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after giving instructions through the Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up to heaven.


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After his sufferings he had also shown himself alive to them in many convincing manifestations, revealing himself to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God.


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And once when he was eating with them he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. "Of this," he said, "you have heard from me.


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"For John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence."


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So, when they came together, they began to ask him, "Master, are you at this time about to restore the kingdom of Israel?"


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He answered. "It is not for you to know times and occasions which the Father has fixed in his own authority;


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"yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the very ends of the earth."


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When he had said this, and while they were looking at him, he was lifted up, and a cloud received him up out of their sight.


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While they were gazing into the sky as he was going up, suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them,


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and they said. "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into the sky will come back in just the same way as you have seen him going into the sky."


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, about a Sabbath Days journey distant.


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On entering the city they went to the upper room where they were accustomed to meet. They were Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.


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These all with one mind gave their constant attention to prayer, together with some women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


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It was during these days that Peter stood up among the brothers - the whole number of persons present was about one hundred and twenty - and said.


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"Men and brothers, it was necessary for the Scripture to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit uttered beforehand by the lips of David in regard to Judas who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.


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"Now this man bought a plot of ground with the price of his treachery, and falling there headlong he burst asunder and all his bowels gushed out.


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"This fact became known to the people of Jerusalem so that the place was called in their language, Acheldamach, The Field of Blood.


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"For it is written in the Book of Psalms, Let his dwelling-place be desolate; Let no man dwell there, also, Let another take his work.


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"It is necessary then that, of the men who have been associated with us during the whole time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,


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from his baptism by John down to the day on which he was taken up from us, one should join us a witness to his resurrection."


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and they prayed, saying. "Thou, O Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show clearly which of these two men thou hast chosen to fill the place


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Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.


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there came suddenly from the sky a sound like the onrush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.


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There appeared to them tongues, like flame, distributing themselves, one resting upon the head of each one,


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and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance.


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So when this noise was heard, the crowd gathered in bewilderment because each man heard them speaking in his own language.


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Then Peter, with the Eleven, stood up and addresses them in a loud voice. "Men of Judea and dwellers in Jerusalem, have no doubt about this matter, but listen to what I say.


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"In the last days, God says, it shall come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind; "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams;


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upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days, will I pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.


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In the sky above I will show marvels, And signs in the earth beneath; Blood and fire, and vapor of smoke.


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Into darkness shall the sun be turned, And into blood the moon, Ere the day of the Lord come, that great and terrible day.


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"Men of Israel, listen to these words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man accredited to you by God, through mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, as you yourselves know;


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him, delivered up by the settled purpose and fore-knowledge of God, you crucified and killed at the hands of lawless men;


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but God has raised him to life, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible for death to hold him.


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For David says of him. "I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is at my right hand lest I be shaken.


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"Men and brothers, I can speak plainly to you concerning the patriarch David, because he not only died and was buried, but his tomb is among us even to this very day.


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"Because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath that of the fruit of his loins he would set one on his throne,


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"he, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of Christ that neither was he left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.


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Since he is by the mighty hand of God exalted, and has received from his Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this which you now see and hear.


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For David did not ascend into heaven; but he himself said, "The Lord said to my Lord Sit thou on my right hand


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"Therefore let the whole House of Israel know assuredly that Gods has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you have crucified."


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When they heard these words they were stung to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles. "Men and brothers, what shall we do?"


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"Repent," answered Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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"For the promise belongs to you and to your children and to all who are afar off, whomever the Lord may call."


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With many other words he continued to bear testimony, and kept entreating them, saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation."


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Then those who welcomed his message were baptized, and in that day about three thousand souls were added to them;


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and they stedfastly continued in the teaching of the apostles, and in the fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.


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They would sell their lands and other property, and distribute the proceeds among all, just as any one from time had need.


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Day after day they continued stedfastly with one accord in the Temple; and breaking bread together in their own homes, they continued to eat their food with gladness and an undivided heart,


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praising God, and looked on with favor by all the people. Meanwhile the Lord kept adding to them daily those that were being saved.


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when a man lame from his birth was carried along, who was wont to be laid each day near the gate of the Temple called the Beautiful Gate, to ask alms of those who were going into the Temple.


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"I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have, this I am going to give to you; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, walk!"


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and leaping forth he stood on his feet, and began to walk, and went with them into the Temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.


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and recognized that this was the man who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him.


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While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people crowded awe- struck around them, in what was known as Solomons Portico.


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When he saw this, Peter said to the people. "Men of Israel, why are you wondering at this? Why do you stare at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made this man to walk?


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"The God of Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you betrayed and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to let him go;


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"The Pioneer of Life you put to death. But God has raised him from the dead, and we are witnesses of that fact.


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"And his name, on the ground of faith in his name, has made strong this man, whom you now see and know; yes, the faith that is through him has made this man sound and strong again, in the presence of you all.


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"But God has thus fulfilled what he foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer.


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"Repent then! and reform, from the blotting out of your sins, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;


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"whom the heavens must receive until the time of restoration of all things. "God spoke of this ages ago, through the mouth of his holy prophets.


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"Moses, for example, said. "The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he raised up me; you must listen to whatever he may tell you;


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"and it shall be that every soul who will not listen to that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.


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"Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and his successors, all that have spoken, have also told of those days.


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"You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, "And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.


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"It was for you first that God raised up his Servant, and sent him to bless you in turning every one of you away from your wicked ways."


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While they were addressing the people the priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,


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incensed at their teaching the people, and proclaiming, in the case of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead.


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But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.


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and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priests family were present.


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Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?"


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"Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured,


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"be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well.


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"There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved."


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Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed; and they began to recognize them, that they were companions of Jesus.


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"What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it.


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"But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name."


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But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God;


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So when they had further threatened them they let the apostles go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them because of the people, for everybody was glorifying God over what had happened.


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As soon as the apostles were released, they went to their friends, and told what the high priests and elders had said.


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And when they heard it they all lifted up their voices in prayer to God, saying. "O Sovereign Lord, who madest heaven and earth and sea, and all that in them is,


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"who saidest through the Holy Spirit, by the lips of thy servant David, our forefather. "Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples form futile plans?


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"The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ.


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"In this very city they did gather together against thy holy Servant, Jesus whom thou hast anointed - Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel -


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"And now Lord, listen to their threats, and grant to thy slaves to proclaim thy message with all boldness,


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"whilst thou stretchest forth thy hand to heal; grant too, that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant, Jesus."


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When they had prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the message of the Lord with boldness.


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Now the multitude of the believers was of one heart and one soul, nor did any one of them say that any of his possessions was his own; but they had all things common.


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And the apostles continued with great power to give their witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.


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Nor was there any one of them in want, for all who owned houses or lands would sell them and bring the price of the things that were sold, and lay it at the apostles feet;


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In this way Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas ("Son of Encouragement" is what it means), who was a native Cyprus,


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kept back some of the purchase price, with the connivance of his wife. He brought only a part and laid it at the apostles feet.


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"Ananias," said Peter, "why has Satan so filled your heart that you are lying to the Holy Spirit, and keeping back part of the price of the land?


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"While it remained unsold, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was not the price at your own disposal? How could you conceive this act in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God."


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"Why was it," said Peter, "that you both agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Lo, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they shall carry you out."


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Instantly she fell down at his feet and expired, and when the young men came in they found her dead, and carried her out and buried her husband.


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Many signs and wonders continued to be wrought among the people by the hands of the apostles, and by common consent they all would meet in Solomons Porch,


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Yet the people continued to hold them in high honor, and more and more believers in the Lord were joining them, both men and women.


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In consequence people would even bring out their sick into the streets, and place them upon beds and pallets as Peter was passing, that at least his shadow might fall upon some of them.


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The people of the towns near Jerusalem also continued to come in crowds, bringing their sick and those who were harried by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.


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This aroused bitter indignation among the high priest and his followers who were of the sect of the Sadducees,


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He said to them, "Go take your stand in the Temple, and continue to tell the people all the words of this Life."


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When they heard this they went at early dawn to the Temple, and began to teach. Meantime when the high priest and his followers arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin and all the Council of the Elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison to fetch the apostles.


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"The prison we found locked fast, with the guards stationed at the doors, but when they were opened we found no one inside."


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When the officer in charge of the Temple and the high priest heard these words, they were perplexed concerning them, wondering what would come of it.


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And some one came and told them that the very men whom they had put in prison were standing in the Temple, and teaching to the people.


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On this the officer went off with his men and fetched them, not, however, by force, for they were afraid that the people would stone them.


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"We strictly forbade you, did we not, to teach about this Name, and here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this mans blood upon us."


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"We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers has raised up Jesus, whom you slew by hanging him on a tree.


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"Him God has exalted at his right hand as Prince and Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.


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"And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."


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but Gamaliel, a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and held in honor by all the people, rose from his seat, and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a little while.


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"Years ago Theudas arose, claiming to be somebody, and was joined by about four hundred men. He was killed, and all of his followers dispersed and annihilated.


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"After him Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some of the people after him. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered.


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"And now, I say to you, hold aloof from these men. Let them alone; for if this scheme or work be of human origin it will come to nothing;


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They gave in to him; and called the apostles in, and after flogging them, released them, with instructions not to speak about the name of Jesus.


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So they left Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the Name;


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but not for a single day did they desist from teaching and preaching in the Temple, and in private houses, the Gospel of Jesus, the Messiah.


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Now in these days while the number of the disciples was multiplying, the Grecian Jews began to murmur against the Hebrews, because their widows were habitually overlooked in the distribution of alms.


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Then the Twelve called the general body of the disciples together, and said to them. "It is not fitting for us to leave off preaching the Word of God, and minister at tables.


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"So, brothers, find from among your own number seven men of good reputation who are full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them over this business.


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This plan commended itself to the whole body, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.


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And the word of the Lord continued to spread; and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was increasing exceedingly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.


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But certain men from the so-called "Synagogue of the Freedmen" and certain Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, Cilicians, and men from Roman Asia, started to dispute with Stephen,


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Then they instigated some to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemy against Moses and against God;" and in this way they excited the people.


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They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law.


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"For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which were handed down to us by Moses."


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Then all who were sitting in the council at once fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his face like the face of an angel.


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Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,


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"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his fathers death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit.


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"But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity - he at that time being childless.


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"What God said was this. "His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.


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"And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place.


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"Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.


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"But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household.


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"Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food.


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"On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Josephs parentage.


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"Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him;


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"There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.


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"but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt;


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"He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live.


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"In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his fathers house.


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"And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel;


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"and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian.


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"(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.)


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"Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "Sirs, he said, you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?


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"But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us?


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"Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.


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"But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush.


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"When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said,


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"I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze.


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"Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt.


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"This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush.


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"This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years.


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"It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me.


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"This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us.


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"To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt.


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"Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him.


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"And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands.


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"So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel?


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No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up - the images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon.


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"In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen.


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"That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David.


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"The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have?


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"Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you.


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"Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become -


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But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.


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dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.


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With these words he fell asleep. And Saul fully approved of his murder. On this very day there broke out a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostle were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.


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But Saul was laying waste the church. He was wont to enter into every house, and to drag off men and women, and to commit them to prison.


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The crowd with one accord were giving heed to what he said, when they heard and saw the signs that he did.


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For with a loud cry unclean spirits would come out of many possessed by them, and many that were palsied and lame were healed.


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Now for some time a man named Simon had been practising sorcery in that city, and had amazed the people of Samaria. He gave himself out to be some great person.


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Many from all classes would give heed to him, declaring, "This man is the Power of God, known as the Great Power."


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But when they believed Philip, who was preaching glad tidings about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.


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And Simon himself also believed, and after his baptism he remained with Philip, and was full of amazement as he beheld the signs and striking miracles which were performed.


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The apostle at Jerusalem, when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, sent to them Peter and John.


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For he had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.


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But when Simon perceived that, by the laying on of the apostles hands, the Spirit was given, he offered them money saying,


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But Peter said to him. "Your money perish with you, because you have supposed that with money you can obtain Gods free gift!"


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Repent then of this your wickedness, and beseech the Lord to forgive you this purpose of your heart.


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"For I perceive that you still stand in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of unrighteousness."


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And Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me, both of you, that nothing which you have said may happen to me."


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So the apostles, after bearing solemn witness, and declaring the message of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, evangelizing many Samaritan villages as they went.


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And an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go on your way south, along the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert way."


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So he arose and went. And behold an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, who was a high official (a chief treasurer) of Candace, the queen of Ethiopia, who had come to Jerusalem to worship


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So Philip ran up, and heard him reading Isaiah the Prophet, and said to him. "Do you understand what you are reading?"


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The eunuch answered, "Why, how can I unless someone shall show me the way?" And he begged Philip to get up and sit with him.


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Now the portion of Scripture which he was reading was as follows. He was led a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, So he opened not his mouth.


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In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will declare his posterity? For his life is cut off from the earth.


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"Pray," asked the eunuch of Philip, "of whom is the prophet speaking? Of himself, or of some one else?"


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Then Philip opened his lips, and beginning from that same scripture, he preached the gospel of Jesus to him.


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And as they were going on their way they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said. "See, here is water! What hinders my being baptized?"


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And Philip said, "If you believe with your whole heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."


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And he ordered the chariot to stop; and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.


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And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.


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Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town, he kept preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.


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Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest


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and begged of him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any that were of the Way, either men or women, he could bind them and bring them to Jerusalem.


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And as he journeyed, when he was approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed round him.


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He fell to the ground, and heard a voice which said to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"


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"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he said. "Stand up and go into the city, and there you shall be told what you must do."


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Meanwhile the men who were his fellow travelers stood speechless, hearing indeed the voice, but beholding no one.


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And Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he continued to perceive nothing; so they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus.


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Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, "Ananias!" And he answered, "Lo, I am here, Lord."


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And the Lord said to him. "Arise, go into the street named Straight, and make inquiries in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus, one Saul.


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He is now praying, and has seen a man named Ananias enter and lay his hands on him to restore his sight."


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"But, Lord," said Ananias, "I have heard from many about that man, and how much evil he did to the saints at Jerusalem!


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"In this city, too, he has authority from the chief priests to arrest all those who call upon thy name."


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"Go," answered the Lord, "this man is chosen instrument of mine to bear my name before the nations and their kings, and before the Children of Israel also;


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And so Ananias went and entered into the house, and laying his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared to you on your journey, has sent me that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit."


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Instantly something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.


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Afterward he took food and was strengthened. And he remained for some time with the disciples at Damascus.


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His hearers were all astonished, and began to say. "Is not this the very man who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called upon the Name? Did he not come hither for the express purpose of carrying them all in chains to the high priests?"


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But Saul gained more and more influence, and kept putting the Jews who lived in Damascus to confusion by his proof that Jesus was the Christ.


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but information of their plot was given Saul, and although they kept watch day and night on the gates, in order to make away with him,


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So he came to Jerusalem, and attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple.


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But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and told them how Saul had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him; and also how he had preached the Name of the Lord Jesus boldly at Damascus.


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Henceforth Saul was one of them, going in and out of the city, and speaking fearlessly in the Name of the Lord.


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He also used to hold conversations and debates with the Grecian Jews, but they kept trying to kill him.


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Now throughout the whole of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria the Church continued to enjoy peace and to be spiritually built up. It was increasing in members also, as it kept walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.


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At once he rose to his feet. All the people of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.


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Among the disciples at Joppa was a woman named Tabitha - which may be translated Dorcas or "Gazelle" - a woman whose life was full of good works and almsgiving, which she was doing continually.


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She, as it happened, was taken ill just at that time, and died. After washing her body, they laid it in an upper room.


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And as Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, when they heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the entreaty, "Delay not to come to us."


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So Peter arose and went with them. On his arrival they took him up- stairs, and all the widows stood near him, weeping, and showing him the cloaks and garments which Dorcas used to make, while she was still with them.


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But Peter put them all out, and kneeled down, and prayed; and then turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, rise!" She opened her eyes, and on seeing Peter she sat up.


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Then he gave her his hand and raised her up, and after calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.


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He was a devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his household. He gave many alms to the people, and constantly prayed to God.


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About three oclock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house and say to him, "Cornelius."


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He stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it, Lord?" "Your prayers and your alms have risen for a memorial before God," answered the angel;


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And after the angel who was speaking to him was gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who was in constant attendance upon him,


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The next day, while they were still on their way and were approaching the town, about noon, Peter went up to the housetop to pray.


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He had become very hungry and longed for food; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.


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He beheld the sky opened, and a vessel descending like an enormous sail let down to earth by four corners.


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And again a second time came to him a voice, saying, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."


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Now while Peter was greatly perplexed to know what the vision which he had been sent by Cornelius, and had made inquiries for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,


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"Three men are now looking for you. Rise, go down and go with them, nothing doubting; for it is I who have sent them."


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So Peter went down to the men and said. "I am the man you are looking for. What is the reason of your coming?"


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"Cornelius," they answered, "a captain, a devout man, and God- fearing, of whom the whole, Jewish nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message."


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So he invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he rose, and went off with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied them;


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and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had brought together all his relatives and intimate friends.


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To them he said. "You know, yourselves, that it is illegal for a Jew to associate with or to visit one of another nation; but God has taught me that I should not call any man common or unclean. For this reason, when sent for, I came without demur.


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Cornelius answered. "Three days ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at three oclock in the afternoon, when suddenly a man in a shining robe stood by me,


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and said. "Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.


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"So send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is lodging with Simon the tanner, in a house by the seaside.


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"So I sent for you without delay, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to speak."


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Then Peter began to speak. "Of a truth I begin to see quite plainly that God is no respecter of persons;


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"You cannot but know the message which he sent to the descendants of Israel, when he preached the gospel of peace by Jesus Christ who is Lord of all;


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"you know the message spread throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;


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"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about everywhere doing good, and curing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him.


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"And we were witnesses of all that he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him, hanging him on a tree.


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"not to all the people, but to witnesses - men previously chosen by God - that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead;


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"when he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this was he whom God ordained to be the judge of the living and of the dead.


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"To him all the prophets bear witness, testifying that through his name every one that believes on him will receive remission of sins."


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And all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also.


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Then Peter said, "Can any one refuse water for the baptism of these men who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?"


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And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.


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Now the apostles and the brothers that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God;


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"I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and while in a trance I saw a vision; a certain vessel descending, what seemed to be an enormous sail let down to me,


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and while I gazed at it, I examined it carefully, and saw the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and creeping things and the wild birds.


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"But for the second time a voice spoke from the sky, What God has cleansed, you must not call common.


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"And lo! at that very moment, three men who had been sent for me from Caesarea stood before the house in which I was.


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"And the Spirit bade me accompany them without misgiving. There also accompanied me these six brothers, and we went into the mans house.


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"Then he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying. "Send to Joppa and fetch Simon who is also called Peter.


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"And," said Peter, "as soon as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as he fell upon us at the beginning.


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"Then I remembered the words of the Lord, how he used to say, "John indeed baptized in water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.


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"So if God gave them the same gift as he gave to us, when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"


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On hearing this they held their peace and glorified God, saying, "Forsooth then, to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."


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Then those who had been scattered by the trouble that arose over Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch; but they preached the word to none except Jews.


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Some of them, however, were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on reaching Antioch, began to tell the Greeks also the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.


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When news of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.


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When he arrived, and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord, with full purpose of heart;


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for he was a good man, and full of faith and the Holy Spirit. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.


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and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch, where for a whole year they were guests of the church, and taught many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of "Christians."


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One of them, who was Agabus, rose up, and being instructed by the Spirit, predicted that a great famine was about to come upon the whole inhabited earth. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)


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So the disciples decided to send relief, every man according to his means, to the brothers in Judea.


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Now, at about that time, Herod the king put forth his hands to ill- treat certain members of the church;


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And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (This was during the days of unleavened bread.)


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He had him arrested and thrown in prison, and put under guard of sixteen soldiers. He intended, after the Passover, to bring him forth to the people.


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Now when Herod was about to bring him forth, on that very night, while Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison,


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suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. Striking Peter on the side, he woke him saying, "Rise up quickly." At once the chains dropped from his hands.


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"Gird yourself," said the angel, "and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said unto him, "Throw your cloak about you, and follow me."


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So Peter went out, following him, but did not realize that what the angel was doing was real, but supposed that he was seeing a vision.


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And when they had passed the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led to the city. This opened to them of its own accord; and they went out passed on through one street; and suddenly the angel left him.


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Peter, coming to himself, said, "Now I know for a certainty that the Lord has sent his angel and released me from the hand of Herod, and from all that the Jewish people were anticipating."


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So, after he had thought things over, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, surnamed Mark, where a large number of people were assembled, praying.


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And when she recognized Peters voice, for very joy she did not open the door, but ran in and told them that Peter was standing in front of the gate.


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"You are mad," they said. But she confidently insisted that it was so. "It is his angel," they said.


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Meanwhile Peter continued to knock, until at last they opened the door, and were amazed to see that it was really he.


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He motioned to them to keep quiet, and told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. "Tell all this to James," he said, "and to the brothers," and away he went to another place.


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When morning came there was no small stir among the soldiers as to what could possibly have become of Peter.


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Then Herod had search made for him, and could not find him. After sharply questioning the guards, he ordered them off to execution. He then went down from Judea to Caesarea, where he stayed for some time.


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Now Herod was violently displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him, with one accord, and after conciliating Blastus, the royal chamberlain, they begged for peace because their country depended upon the kings country for its food supply.


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So on the appointed day, Herod put on his royal robes, and after taking his seat upon the throne, began to harangue them.


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Instantly an angel of the Lord smote him, because he had not given God the glory, and being eaten up by worms, he died.


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and after discharging their mission, Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, bringing with them John, surnamed Mark.


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Now there were in the church in Antioch prophets and teachers; Barnabas and Symeon, surnamed "the Black," Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, the foster-brother of Herod the Tetrarch, and Saul.


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And as they were worshiping the Lord, and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."


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So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.


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They had John Mark as an assistant; and after going through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain Jewish sorcerer and false prophet, named Bar-Jesus,


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who belonged to the suite of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. He summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.


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But Elymas, "the sorcerer," for that is the translation of his name, opposed them, and tried to divert the proconsul from the faith.


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"O full of all craft and cunning, you son of the devil! You enemy of all goodness! Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?


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"The Lords hand is now upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." Instantly there fell on him a mist and a darkness, and groping about, he sought some one to lead him by the hand.


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Then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed. He was astounded at the teaching of the Lord.


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From Paphos Paul and his party set sail for Perga in Pamphylia; but John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem.


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Then they themselves, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day and sat down.


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And, after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the wardens of the synagogue sent word to them. "Brothers," they said, "if you have any word of encouragement to the people, say it."


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"The God of this people of Israel chose our forefathers and made this people great, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt. And with an uplifted arm he led them out of it.


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"and when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance for about four hundred and fifty years.


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After deposing him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also bore witness, when he said, "I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, and who will obey all my will.


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"And John, when he was finishing his race, repeatedly asked the people. "Who do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold there comes One after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.


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"Brothers, sons of Abrahams race, and all among you who reverence God, to us has the word of this salvation been sent.


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"For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.


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"And when they had fulfilled everything which had been written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.


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"For many days he was seen by those that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and are now his witnesses to the people.


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"how that God fulfilled it for us their children in raising up Jesus; as it is also written in the second Psalm, "Thou art my son, today have I become thy Father.


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"And as to his having raised him from among the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has said this, "I will give thee the holy and sure blessings of David.


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"For David, after he had served his own generation according to the will of God, fell on sleep, and was gathered to his forefathers, and did see corruption;


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"Be it known unto you therefore, brothers, that remission of sins is proclaimed to you through this man;


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"and that by him every one that believes is justified from all things from which you could never be justified by the law of Moses.


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"Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish, For in your days I will do a deed, A deed which you will never believe, Though one should declare it unto you."


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As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, the people earnestly begged that these words might be repeated to them on the following Sabbath.


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When the congregation broke up, many of the Jews, and of the devout proselytes, followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked to them, and urged them to continue in the grace of God.


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When they saw the crowds, the Jews were filled with jealousy, and began to contradict Pauls statements, and to abuse him.


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So Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. "It was necessary," they said, "first to proclaim the word of God to you. But since you push it away from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.


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"For such is Gods command to us, saying, "I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation to the uttermost part of the earth."


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When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who had been ordained to eternal life, believed.


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But the Jews urged on the devout women of high rank, and the leading citizens, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of the district,


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In Iconium it happened that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great number both of Jews and of Gentiles believed.


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But the disobedient Jews stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and embittered them against them against the brothers.


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Long time, therefore, they tarried there, speaking fearlessly in the Lord, who attested the word of his grace by permitting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.


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And when both the Gentiles and the Jews with their ruler made a hostile move to maltreat and to stone them,


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the apostles got wind of it, and made their escape to the Lycaonian towns of Derbe and Lystra and the neighboring country.


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Now at Lystra there used to sit a certain man, lame in his feet, a cripple from birth, who had never walked.


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He was listening while Paul was preaching, and Paul, looking intently at him, and perceiving that he had faith to be made whole,


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And he sprang up and began to walk about. Then the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, shouted in the Lycaonian tongue, saying, "The gods are come down to us in human form."


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and the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and along with the crowds was about to offer sacrifices.


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But when the apostles, Paul and Barnabas, heard of it, they rent their garments and rushed out among the crowd, shouting and crying.


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"Men, why are you doing all this? We also are men, with natures like your own! We are bringing you good tidings, that you are to turn from these empty things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is.


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and yet he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."


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And now a party of Jews came down form Antioch and Iconium, and after persuading the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.


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But as the disciples collected around him, he rose and went back into the city. The next day he went off with Barnabas into Derbe;


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and after preaching the gospel to that town, and winning many converts, they went back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch,


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Everywhere they strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to hold to the faith. "It is through many tribulations," they said, "that we must enter into the kingdom of God."


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They chose elders for them in every church, after prayer and fasting, and commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.


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Thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been commended to the grace of God, for the work which they had now completed.


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On their arrival they assembled the church and reported all things that God had done through them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.


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But some men came down from Judea and attempted to teach the brethren, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to Moses custom, you cannot be saved."


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Now when dispute and controversy sprang up between them and Paul and Barnabas, the brethren appointed Paul and Barnabas, and certain others, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.


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So the church saw them off on their journey, and they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria. Here they set forth the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.


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Upon their arrival in Jerusalem they were received by the church and the apostles and elders, and they told them all things that God had done with them.


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But certain men who had belonged to the sect of the Pharisees, but were now believers, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise Gentile, and to order them to keep the Law of Moses."


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and after there had been a long discussion, Peter rose and said. "Brothers, you know how a good while ago God made choice among you, that from my lips the Gentiles were to hear the message of the gospel and believe.


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"And God, who knows the hearts of all, gave this testimony in their behalf, by bestowing upon them the Holy Spirit just as he did upon us;


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"Now then, why are you tempting God by laying on the necks of these disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?


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"On the contrary we believe that it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we and they shall be saved."


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Then the whole assembly remained silent, and listened to Barnabas and Saul as they told the signs and wonders which God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.


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"Brothers, listen to me. Symeon has told how God first looked graciously upon the Gentiles, to take out from among them a people to be called by his name.


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"After these things I will return, And I will rebuild Davids fallen tent; And I will build again its ruins, And I will set it up;


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"but that we should write to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from fornication, from meat killed by strangling, and from blood.


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"For Moses from the earliest times has had his preachers in every town where he is read aloud, Sabbath after Sabbath, in the synagogues."


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Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to select some of their number, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The men chosen were Judas called Bar- Sabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.


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They took with them the following letter. "The apostles and older brothers send greeting to the Gentile Brotherhood throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia;


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"as we have heard that some of your number who went out from us have troubled you with words and upset your souls, without having received any such instruction from us;


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"we have unanimously decided to select certain men, and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul;


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"For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;


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"that you abstain from food that has been sacrificed to idols, and from tasting blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. Keep yourselves clear from these things and it will be well with you. Farewell."


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So they, when they had been despatched, went down to Antioch, and after gathering the whole multitude together, they handed them the letter,


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And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many a good counsel.


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After spending some time there the brothers let them go with a greeting of peace to those who had sent them.


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Paul and Barnabas also stayed in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, in company with others.


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And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let is go back and visit the brothers in every city in which we have proclaimed the word of the Lord. Let us see how they fare."


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But Paul thought it unwise to take with them one who had deserted them to the Pamphylia, and had not gone on with them to the work.


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So there arose a sharp irritation, so that they parted company; Barnabas taking Mark with him, sailed away to Cyprus;


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And he came also to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a certain disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewess, and of a Greek father.


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Now Paul, wishing that this man should accompany him on his journey, took him and circumcised him because of the local Jews, who all knew that his father was a Greek.


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And as they went on their way through the cities they handed them the resolutions which the apostles and the elders in Jerusalem had ordained for them to keep.


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Then they went through Phrygia and Galatia, the Holy Spirit having forbidden them to proclaim the message in Asia.


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When they got as far as Mysia, they attempted to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not permit it;


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Here a vision appeared to Paul in the night. There stood a man of Macedonia, entreating him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us!"


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So when he had seen the vision, we sought at once to go forth into Macedonia, because we concluded that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.


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So we set sail from Troas and ran a straight course to Samothrace. The next day we arrived in Neapolis,


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and thence came to Philippi, a city of Macedonia, the fore most in its district, a Roman colony. There we stayed for some time.


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On the Sabbath Day we went outside the city gate, to a riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and talked to the women who had gathered there.


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Among them was a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, who belonged to the town of Thyatira. She, since she was a worshiper of God, listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to attend to what Paul said.


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When she was baptized, and her household, she urged us, saying, "If in your judgment I am a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house." And she compelled us to come.


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Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave girl met us, who had a spirit of divination, and who brought her masters great gain by fortune-telling.


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She used to follow after Paul and us, crying out again and again, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaimed to you the way of salvation."


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She persisted in this for many days, until Paul, worn out, turned round and said to the spirit, "I charge you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her." In that very hour it came out of her.


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But when her owners saw that their hopes of gain were gone, they seized Paul and Silas, and dragged them before the magistrates, into the market-place.


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Then they brought them before the praetors, saying. "These fellows are Jews, who are making a great disturbance in our city.


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The crowd, too, rose up together against them, and the praetors, after having them stripped, and after ordering them to be flogged,


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had many lashes inflicted upon them, and put them in prison, with a charge to the jailer to keep them safe.


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On receiving so strict an order he cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.


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But at midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,


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suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison-house were shaken; and instantly all the doors were opened, and every ones chains fell off.


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The jailer, roused from sleep, and seeing the doors wide open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped.


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And he took them, the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, he and all his.


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And after bringing them up into his house, he set food before them, overjoyed with all his household in having believed in God.


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The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying. "The praetors have sent to release you; so come out, and go in peace."


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But Paul said. "They have flogged us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Roman citizens; and have thrown us into prison. Are they now going to get rid of us secretly? No, indeed! Let them come here, themselves and take us out."


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The lictors reported these words to the praetors, who were frightened when they heard that they were Romans.


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So they came and conciliated them, and after taking them out of prison, begged them to leave the town.


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So Paul and Silas came out of the prison, and went to Lydias house; and after they had seen the brethren and encouraged them, they left Philippi.


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Now when they had gone through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica. Here there was a Jewish synagogue,


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and Paul, according to his usual custom, went in to them and, for three Sabbath Days, he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures,


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explaining and quoting passages to prove that the Messiah had to suffer and to rise again from the dead and that "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you is the Messiah."


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Some were persuaded and attached themselves to Paul and Silas, including a number of devout Greeks, and a large number of the leading women.


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But the Jews, moved with jealousy, called to their aid certain ill- favored and idle fellows, formed a mob, and began to set the town in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.


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And when they had failed to find Paul and Silas, they began to drag Jason and some of the brethren before the politarchs, shouting. "These fellows who have upset the habitable earth are come hither also.


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"Jason has received them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus."


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Now the brothers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they got there they betook themselves to the Jewish synagogue.


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The Jews of Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they very readily received the message with all readiness of mind, and day after day searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so.


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As soon as the Jews in Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul in Berea also, they came there, and stirred up and troubled the crowds.


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Those who were caring for Paul brought him as far as Athens, and there left him, with instructions to Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed.


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While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he noticed that the city was full of idols.


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He argued in the synagogues with the Jews and the devout proselytes, and also daily in the market-place with those that met him there.


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A few of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also encountered him again and again. Some were saying, "What has this beggarly fellow to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a setter forth of strange gods," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.


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Then they laid hold of him and brought him up to Mars Hill, saying. "May we be told what this new teaching of yours is?


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"For you are bringing certain strange things to our ears. We want to know, therefore, what these things mean."


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(Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but to tell or to hear some new thing.)


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So Paul stood up in the center of Mars Hill, and said. "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all respects you are remarkably religious.


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"For as I was passing along and observing your objects of worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What you are worshiping in ignorance, this I am proclaiming to you.


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"The God who made the universe and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands,


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"neither is he served by mens hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all life and breath and all things.


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"He has made of one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the bounds of their habitation,


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"so that they might seek God, if perhaps they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from every on of us;


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"for in him we live and move and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, "For we also are his offspring.


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"Since then we are Gods offspring, we ought not to imagine that the Godhead is like to gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.


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"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but he now commands all men that they should all, everywhere, repent;


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inasmuch as he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world justly, by the Man whom he has ordained, and he has given proof of all this by raising him from the dead."


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But on hearing of the resurrection of the dead, some began to mock; but others said, "We will hear you again on that subject."


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A few, however, attached themselves to him and believed, among whom was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and some others.


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Here he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife, Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.


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Paul came to them, and because he was of the same trade with them, he lodged with them, and worked with them - for by trade they were tentmakers.


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And when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was engrossed in his message, earnestly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.


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But as they opposed him and abused him, he shook out his garments in protest, and said. "Your blood be upon your own hands. I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."


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So he left the place, and went into the house of a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.


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And Crispus, the warden of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his household; and many of the Corinthians from time to time listened, believed, and were baptized.


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And the Lord said to Paul in a vision, by night. "Have no fear; go on speaking, and do not keep silent;


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"for I am with you, and no one shall set upon you to injure you; for I have very many people in this city."


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But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose against Paul, and brought him before the tribunal.


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Paul was about to open his mouth, when Gallio said to the Jews. "If it had been some misdemeanor or wicked villainy, it would have been within reason for me to listen to you Jews;


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but as these are merely questions about words and names and your own law, you yourselves must see to it. I am not willing to be a judge of these matters."


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Then they all laid hold of Sosthenes, the warden of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal; but Gallio took no notice.


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And Paul after remaining in Corinth some time longer, took leave of the brothers, and sailed away to Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. As Paul was under a vow, he had his head shaved at Cenchrea.


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When they came to Ephesus he left them there; but he himself entered into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.


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Then, setting sail from Ephesus, he landed at Caesarea; he went up to Jerusalem and saluted the church, and came down to Antioch.


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After spending some time there, he set out and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, and strengthened all the disciples.


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Now a certain Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, a learned man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.


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He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and being full of zeal, he used to speak and to teach accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John.


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He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him they took him home and explained to him more accurately the way of God.


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When he wished to cross over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples in Corinth to receive him. On his arrival he mightily helped those who through grace had believed,


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for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public argument, proving to them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.


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Now it happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul, after passing through the hinterland, came to Ephesus, where he found a few disciples.


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"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" he asked them. "No" said they, "we did not even hear that there is a Holy Spirit."


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"John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance," answered Paul, "telling the people to believe on One who was coming after him, namely, on Jesus."


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and after Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak with tongues, and to prophesy.


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Then Paul went into the synagogue, and there continued to preach fearlessly for about three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.


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But when some grew hardened and disobedient, and spoke evil of the Way before the crowd, he left them, withdrew the disciples, and continued to hold discussions daily in the lecture-hall of Tyrannus.


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This went on for two years, so that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the Lords message, Jews as well as Greeks.


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so much so, that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick; and their diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.


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But there were also some strolling Jewish exorcists, who took it upon them to invoke the name of Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by that Jesus whom Paul preaches."


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And the man in whom the evil spirit was sprang on two of them, overpowered them and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.


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And this became known to all the people of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. Awe fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus began to be held in honor.


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And some of them who had practised magic arts, collected their books, and burned them in the presence of all. And they counted the price of them, and found it to be fifty thousand silver coins.


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Now after these things were ended, Paul resolved in his spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem. "After I get there," he said, "I must see Rome, too."


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So he sent two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, into Macedonia, while he himself kept back for a time on his way into Asia.


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There was a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, and brought rich profit to his workmen.


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He gathered them together with others of like occupation, and said. "Men, you know that by this business we make our money.


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"And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but almost throughout all of Asia, this fellow Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, by telling them that they are no gods at all who are made with hands.


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"So there is danger not only that our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana will be brought into disrepute, and that she herself may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world now worships."


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The city was filled with commotion. They rushed like one man into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Pauls companions in travel.


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and some of the Asiarchs, too, who were his friends, sent word to him repeatedly, entreating him not to venture into the theater.


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Now some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in an uproar, and the majority had no idea why they were come together.


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And they brought Alexander out of the crowd, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, would have made a defense to the people,


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At length the recorder got them quiet. "Men of Ephesus," he said, "who here does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple- guardian of the great Diana and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?


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"For you have brought these men here, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.


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If then Demetrius and his craftsmen have a grievance against any one, the courts are open and there are the proconsuls; let them accuse one another.


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For indeed we are in danger of being accused in regard to this days riot, since there is no cause for it, nor shall we be able to give account for this disorderly gathering."


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After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and, after embracing them, bade them farewell, and started for Macedonia.


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And when he had passed through those districts and encouraged the disciples in many addresses, he came into Greece where he spent three months.


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Just as he was about to set sail for Syria, the Jews laid a plot against him, and he determined to return through Macedonia.


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There accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus.


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but we ourselves set sail from Philippi, after the days of unleavened bread, and joined them five days later at Troas. There we remained for a week.


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On the first day of the week we met for the breaking of bread, and Paul, who was going away the next morning, began preaching to them, and prolonged his discourse until midnight.


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and a young man named Eutychus was sitting in a window, overborne by deep sleep, while Paul continued to preach at length. Overcome at last by sleep, he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.


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Then Paul went down, threw himself upon him, and embracing him, said. "Do not lament; his life is still in him."


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Then he went upstairs again, broke bread and took some food, and after talking with them a long time, even until daybreak, he left them.


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The rest of us going before to the ship, set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for so he had appointed, because he intended to go by land.


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We sailed from thence, and arrived next day off Chios; and the day after we touched at Samos; and the following day we came to Mitylene.


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For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, so as not to spend time in Asia, for he was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if it were possible, by the day of Pentecost.


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and when they arrived, he said to them. "You yourselves know quite well, how I lived among you, from the first day that I set foot in Asia,


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"serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and amid trials that befell me through the plots of the Jews.


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"You know that I never shrank from declaring to you anything that was profitable, nor from teaching you publicity and in your homes,


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except that in city after city the Holy Spirit is warning me that bonds and afflictions are awaiting me.


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But I hold not my life of any account, as dear unto myself, if only I may run my race, and accomplish the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to attest the gospel of the grace of God.


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And now I know that not one of you among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will ever see my face again.


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Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, and be shepherds of the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood.


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I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock;


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and that from among your own number, men will arise, perverting the truth, to draw away the disciples after them.


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So be on guard; and remember that for three years I ceased not to admonish you all, night and day, even with tears.


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"And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. He is able to build you up, and to give you your inheritance among all those who are consecrated.


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"In all things I have set you an example, how that so toiling, you ought to help the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."


text:
And they all began, with loud lamentations, to throw their arms about his neck, and to kiss him lovingly, again and again,


text:
sorrowing most of all for the words that he had spoken, that after that day they should look upon his face no more. And they began to escort him to the ship.


text:
When at least we had torn ourselves away, and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos, and next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.


text:
After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left hand, we sailed for Syria, and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.


text:
We looked up the local disciples and remained there seven days; and these disciples kept telling Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.


text:
When, however, our time was up, we left and started on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, were escorting us on our way until we were out of the city; then, kneeling down on the beach, we prayed,


