# verses

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So all the generations from Abraham to David amount to fourteen generations, and from David to the Babylonian deportation there are fourteen generations, and from the Babylonian deportation to Christ there are fourteen generations.


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But the begetting of Jesus Christ was as follows. Now then, when his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child, by holy spirit.


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But Joseph, her husband-to-be, being righteous, and not wishing to make an example of her, wanted to divorce her secretly.


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But after he had reflected on these things, what should happen, but the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, for that which has been conceived in her is so by holy spirit.


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And she shall bear a son, and you will call him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”


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Now all this took place in order that that which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet should be fulfilled, where he says,


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“Behold, a virgin will be with child, and will bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which when translated is ‘God with us.’ ”


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So when Joseph had woken up from the sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife,


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Now after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judaea, in the days of Herod the king, it so happened that magi from the east came to Jerusalem,


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and said, “Where is the king of the Jews who has just been born? For we have seen his star in the east and we have come to worship him.”


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and when he had gathered all the senior priests and scribes of the people, he enquired from them where Christ was to be born.


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‘And you, Bethlehem, of the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the governmental towns of Judah, for from you will come a governor, who will be shepherd to my people Israel.’ ”


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Then Herod called the magi privately and assiduously enquired from them the time when the star appeared,


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and he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make careful enquiries about the child, and when you find him, report back to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”


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So when they had heard the king, they went, and they saw that the star which they had seen in the east went ahead of them, until it had arrived, when it remained above the place where the child was.


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and when they had come to the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him, and opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.


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Then being oracularly warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their country by another route.


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When they had gone back, this happened: the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph, and said, “Get up and take the child and his mother with you and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod intends to seek the child in order to destroy him.”


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and he stayed there until the death of Herod, in order that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said, “I have called my son out of Egypt.”


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Then when Herod saw that he had been fooled by the magi, he became very angry, and sent troops, and had all the children in Bethlehem and in all its districts killed, from two years and under, according to the time which he had assiduously enquired about from the magi.


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“A cry was heard in Rama – lamentation and weeping and much mourning – Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, for they were not alive.”


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But when Herod had died, this is what happened: the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,


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and said, “Get up and take the child and his mother with you and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the life of the child have died.”


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But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in place of Herod his father, he was afraid to set off back there, but after he had been oracularly informed in a dream, he went back to the regions of Galilee,


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and when he arrived, he settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he should be called a Nazarene.


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For this man is the one spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, who said, “The voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.’ ”


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Now John himself wore clothing made from camels' hair and a leather belt around his loins, whilst his food was locusts and wild honey.


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But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who has intimated to you to flee from the wrath to come?


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and do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have our father Abraham.’ For I say to you that God can raise children to Abraham from these stones,


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and the axe has already been laid at the root of the trees. For every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and is thrown into fire.


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Now I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than me, whose shoes I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with holy spirit,


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– he whose winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean his threshing-floor, and he will gather his wheat into his store-house, but he will burn up the chaff with inextinguishable fire.”


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But Jesus answered by saying to him, “Allow it right now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.


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Then when Jesus had been baptized, straightaway he came up out of the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the spirit of God descending as a dove and alighting on him.


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And there was a voice from the heavens, which said, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am very pleased.”


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Then the tempter came to him and said, “If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”


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But he answered and said, “It stands written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word issuing through the mouth of God.’ ”


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and said to him, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down. For it stands written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands in case at any time you should strike your foot against a stone.’ ”


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Again, the devil took him along to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,


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Then Jesus said to him, “Be off behind me, Satan, for it stands written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”


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Then the devil left him, and the next thing that happened was that angels came and took care of him.


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and having left Nazareth, he came and settled in Capernaum, which is beside the sea in the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali,


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“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the road to the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,


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the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and a light has risen on those who were dwelling in a region and shadow of death.”


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From then on Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”


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While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a round net into the sea, for they were fishermen,


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Then going on from there, he saw another two brothers, James, the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them,


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Then Jesus would go round all of Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and curing every sickness and every ailment among the people,


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and his fame spread to the whole of Syria and they brought to him all the sick with various diseases and those afflicted with torments, and those possessed by a demon, and lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them.


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And large crowds followed him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and beyond the Jordan.


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But when he saw the crowds, he went up a mountain, and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him,


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Blessed are those who have been persecuted on account of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens.


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Blessed are you whenever they reproach you, and persecute you, and speak all kinds of offensive words, and lie about you on account of me.


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Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in the heavens is great, for it is like this that they persecuted the prophets who were before you.


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You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt becomes insipid, by what can it be salted? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by men.


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nor does one light a lamp and put it under a bushel of corn, but one puts it on a lamp-stand and it gives light to all those in the house.


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Let your light shine like this before men, so that they see your fine works and glorify your father who is in the heavens.


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Do not think that I have come to annul the law or the prophets. I have not come to annul, but to fulfil,


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for truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle will pass away from the law at all, until all has taken place.


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So whoever breaks any one of the least of these commandments or teaches men to do so will be called the least in the kingdom of the heavens, whereas it is whoever carries out and teaches the commandments who will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.


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For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you certainly will not go into the kingdom of the heavens.


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You have heard that it was said by the ancients, ‘You shall not kill,’ and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment,


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but I say to you that everyone who becomes angry with his brother without reason will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka’ shall be liable to the Sanhedrin council, and whoever says, ‘You fool’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.


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So if you are bringing your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother holds something against you,


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leave your gift there in front of the altar and go away and first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.


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Be well-disposed to your opponent quickly while you are on the way with him, in case your opponent delivers you to the judge, and the judge delivers you to the officer, and you are thrown in prison.


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Truly I say to you, you will certainly not come out of there until you have repaid the last quadrans.


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but I say to you that everyone who looks at a married woman intent on lusting after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.


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And if your right eye ensnares you, pluck it out and throw it away, for it is more profitable to you that one of your organs should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna,


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and if your right hand ensnares you, cut it off and throw it away, for it is more profitable to you that one of your limbs should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna.


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but I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, apart from by reason of fornication, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.


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Again, you have heard that it was said by the ancients, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but you will perform your oaths to the Lord,’


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nor by the earth, for it is a footstool for his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.


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but I say to you, do not resist evil, but whoever strikes you on the right cheek – turn also the other cheek to him,


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You have heard that it has been said, ‘You shall love your neighbour,’ and, ‘you shall hate your enemy,’


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but I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who treat you spitefully and persecute you,


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so that you become sons of your father in the heavens, for he makes his sun rise on the wicked and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.


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For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax-collectors also do the same?


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And if you only greet your friends, what do you do that is exceptional? Do not the tax collectors act in this way?


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And take care not to give your alms in the presence of men, so as to be seen by them. Otherwise you do not have a reward from your father in the heavens.


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So when you give alms, do not blow a trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order to be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.


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so that your alms are given in secret, and your father, who sees in secret, will reward you in public.


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And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order to be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.


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But when you pray, go into your private room and shut the door and pray to your father who is hidden, and your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you in public.


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And when you pray, do not gabble like the Gentiles, for they think that they will be heard in their loquacity.


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And do not lead us into temptation, But rescue us from evil, For yours is the kingdom, And the power and the glory, Throughout the ages. Amen.


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But if you do not forgive men their transgressions, neither will your father forgive your transgressions.


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Now whenever you fast, do not be like the sullen-looking hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces in order for it to be obvious to men that they are fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.


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so that it is not obvious to men that you are fasting, but it will be known to your father who is hidden, and your father who sees in secret will reward you.


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Do not save up treasures for yourself on the earth, where the moth and corrosion cause ruin, and where thieves break in and steal,


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but save up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor corrosion cause ruin, and where no robbers break in and steal.


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The light of the body is the eye. So if your eye is clear-sighted, the whole of your body will be bright.


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But if your eye is ill-disposed, the whole of your body will be dark. So if the light which is in you is darkness, how great the darkness is!


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No-one can serve two masters, for he will either hate one and love the other, or cling to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.


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On account of this I say to you, do not be anxious for your life about what you will eat and what you will drink, nor for your body, about what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?


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Look at the birds of the sky, how they do not sow or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly father feeds them; surely you are worth much more than they are?


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And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the wild lilies – how they grow. Yet they neither toil nor spin thread.


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Now if God so clothes the wild vegetation, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into a furnace, will he not much more clothe you, you of little faith?


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For the Gentiles seek all these things. Well then, your heavenly father knows that you need all these things.


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So do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own evil.


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for you will be judged with the judgment with which you judge, and by whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.


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Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not take notice of the joist in your own eye?


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Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all along there is a joist in your eye.


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You hypocrite! First take the joist out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck out of your brother's eye.


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Do not give anything sacred to dogs, and do not cast your pearls before swine, in case they trample them with their feet and turn and tear at you.


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For everyone who asks will receive, and he who seeks will find, and to him who knocks it will be opened.


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So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in the heavens give good things to those who ask him!


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Whatever you would like men to do to you, do the same to them. For this is the law and the prophets.


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Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.


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How narrow the gate is and confined the way is which leads to life, and how few they are who find it!


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By their fruit you will recognize them. Does one really gather a bunch of grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles?


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Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will go into the kingdom of the heavens, but rather, he who does the will of my father in the heavens.


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Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and perform many deeds of power in your name?’


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So everyone who hears these words of mine and does them – I will liken him to a prudent man who built his house on rock,


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and the rain came down and the torrents arrived, and the winds blew and beat against that house, but it did not fall, for it had been founded on rock.


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But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house on sand,


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and the rain came down, and the torrents came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell down, and its fall was great.”


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And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, that the crowds were astounded at his teaching,


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and it so happened that a leper came and worshipped him, and said, “Lord, if you will, you can cleanse me.”


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At this Jesus held out his hand and touched him and said, “I will; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.


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Then Jesus said to him, “See to it that you tell no-one, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer the gift which Moses commanded, as a witness to them.”


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Then the centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but just pronounce with a word and my servant will be cured,


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for I am also a man under a system of authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it”.


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When Jesus heard that, he was amazed and said to those following, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.


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But I say to you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of the heavens,


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whereas the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”


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Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way, and as you have believed, so be it to you.” And his servant was cured at that hour.


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Then in the evening, they brought to him many who were possessed by demons, and he cast out the spirits by a word, and cured all those who were ill,


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in order that that which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet should be fulfilled, where he says, “He took our ailments, and bore our sicknesses.”


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At this Jesus said to him, “The foxes have dens and the birds of the sky have nests, but the son of man does not have anywhere to lay his head.”


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and what happened next was that a great storm arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves; but he was sleeping.


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Then his disciples came to him and woke him up, and said, “Lord, save us, we are not going to survive”.


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But he said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and a great calm came about.


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But the men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”


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Then when he had gone to the far side, to the region of the Gergesenes, two men possessed by demons met him, as they came out of the tombs. They were very dangerous, so that no-one could pass by that way.


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And here's what they did: they shouted, and said, “What have you got to do with us, Jesus the son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the due time?”


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so the demons pleaded with him, and said, “If you cast us out, allow us to go off to the herd of pigs.”


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And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the herd of pigs. And at this point the whole herd of pigs rushed headlong down the cliff into the sea and died in the waters.


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But the herdsmen fled and went away to the city and reported everything including the things concerning those possessed by demons.


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Then it ensued that the whole city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they appealed to him to move from their districts.


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and along they came bringing a paralytic man to him lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic man, “Pluck up courage, my child. You have been forgiven your sins.”


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At this Jesus, who had perceived their thoughts, said, “Why do you have evil thoughts in your hearts?


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But in order that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he then spoke to the paralytic man – “Rise and pick up your bed and go to your home.”


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And when the crowds saw it they were amazed, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.


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Then as Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax desk, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.


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And it came to pass, as he was reclining in his house, that there were many tax-collectors and sinners who had come and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.


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And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your master eat with the tax-collectors and sinners?”


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But Jesus heard it and said to them, “Those who are in sound health have no need of a doctor, but rather those who are ill.


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But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”


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Then John's disciples came to him, and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?”


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And Jesus said to them, “Surely the wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.


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And no-one puts a patch of uncarded flannel on an old garment, for its piece added will pull strands from the garment and the tear will become worse,


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nor does one put new wine in old wineskins, or else the wineskins tear and the wine leaks out, and the wineskins will be ruined. But one puts new wine in new wineskins, and both are preserved together.”


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While he was saying these things to them, it so happened that a certain governor came and worshipped him and said, “My daughter has just died, but come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”


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and at this point a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the hem of his coat,


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But Jesus turned round and saw her and said, “Be of good courage, my daughter. Your faith has cured you.” And the woman was cured from that hour.


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he said to them, “Leave the room. For the girl has not died, but is asleep.” But they laughed at him.


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Then as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting and saying, “Have mercy on us, son of David.”


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And when he had come to the house, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”


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And their eyes were opened, but Jesus admonished them sternly, and said, “See that no-one gets to know of this.”


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However, while they were going out, it so happened that they brought to him a dumb man possessed by a demon,


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and when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds were amazed, and said, “Never before has anything like this been seen in Israel.”


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Then Jesus went around all the cities and the villages teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and curing every sickness and every ailment among the people.


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But when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were distressed and tossed about, like sheep not having a shepherd.


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And when he had called his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every sickness and every ailment.


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Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother,


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Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus who is surnamed Thaddaeus,


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Jesus sent these twelve out, and gave them orders, and said, “Do not go to off into the way of the Gentiles and do not go into any city of the Samaritans,


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Cure those who are ill, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You have received without charge; give without charge.


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nor a wallet for the way, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor staffs, for the workman is worthy of his livelihood.


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And in whatever city or village you enter, make careful enquiries as to who is worthy, and stay there until you leave.


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and if the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.


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And as for whoever does not receive you, or hear your words – come out of that house or city and shake the dust off your feet.


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Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha on the day of judgment than for that city.


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You see, I am sending you as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be prudent like serpents, and guileless like doves.


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But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the Sanhedrin councils and they will scourge you in their synagogues,


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But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will say, because what you will say will be given to you in that hour,


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Furthermore, brother will deliver up brother to death, and father a child; and children will rise up against parents and will have them put to death,


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and you will be hated by everyone on account of my name; but it is he who endures to the end who will be saved.


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And when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly I say to you, you will certainly not have completed going round the cities of Israel until the son of man comes.


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It is sufficient for the pupil that he becomes like his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!


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So do not fear them. For nothing is hidden which will not be revealed, or secret which will not become known.


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What I tell you in darkness, speak in daylight, and what you hear in your ear, proclaim from the rooftops,


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and do not fear those who kill the body, but who 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 an assarius? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your father's control.


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So as for everyone who confesses me before men, I for my part will confess him before my father in the heavens.


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For I have come to set a man apart against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,


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


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He who receives a prophet on the grounds of his being a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet, and he who receives a righteous man on the grounds of his being righteous will receive the reward of a righteous man.


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And whoever gives just a cup of cool water to drink to one of these little ones on the grounds of him being a disciple – truly I say to you – he certainly will not lose his reward.”


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And it came to pass when Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, that he moved on from there in order to teach and preach in their cities.


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The blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached to them,


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Then when these had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John, and said “What did you go out into the desert to see? A wind-swept reed?


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If not, what then did you go out to see? A man clothed in luxurious garments? Look, those who wear luxurious garments are in royal houses.


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For this man is he of whom it stands written, ‘See how I am sending my messenger in front of you, who will prepare your way ahead of you.’


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Truly, I say to you, there has not arisen among those born of women anyone greater than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.


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However, from the days of John the Baptist up to now the kingdom of the heavens has been suffering violence, and violent men are seizing it.


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To what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their companions,


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and saying, ‘We have played the flute to you, but you did not dance; we have lamented to you, but you did not mourn.’


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The son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by its children.”


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Then he began to reproach the cities in which the majority of his mighty deeds took place, because they did not repent.


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“Woe to you, Chorazin, woe to you, Bethsaida, for if the mighty works which took place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.


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However, I say to you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon than for you in the day of judgment.


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And you, Capernaum, you which have been exalted up to heaven, you will be brought down to Hades, for if the mighty deeds which took place in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained intact up to this day.


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However, I say to you that it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”


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At that time Jesus reacted and said, “I give thanks to you, father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent men, and have revealed them to infants.


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Everything has been handed over to me by my father. And no-one knows the son except the father, and neither does anyone know the father except the son and whoever the son wishes to reveal him to.


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Take my yoke upon yourselves, and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls,


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At that time Jesus went through the corn-fields on a Sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck ears of corn and eat them.


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But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing something which it is not permitted to do on a Sabbath.”


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How he went into the house of God and ate the showbread loaves, which were not permitted for him or those with him to eat, except for the priests alone?


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Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, yet are guiltless?


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And if you had known what ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’ means, you would not have condemned the innocent,


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and it so happened that there was a man with a withered hand, and they questioned him, and asked, “Is it permitted to heal on a Sabbath,” in order to accuse him.


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But he said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, he will not get hold of it and lift it out?


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Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other one.


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However, Jesus, being aware of it, withdrew from there, and large crowds followed him, and he healed them all,


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“Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is very pleased. I will put my spirit on him, and he will announce judgment to the Gentiles.


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He will not break a bruised reed, nor extinguish a smouldering wick until he brings judgment to a victory.


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Then a blind and dumb man possessed by a demon was brought to him, and he healed him, so the blind and dumb man could speak and see,


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But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”


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But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom which is divided against itself is reduced to desolation, and no city or household which is divided against itself will stand.


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And if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people cast them out? On account of this, they themselves will be judges over you.


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Or how can anyone go into a strong man's house and plunder his belongings, if he does not first bind the strong man, so that then he can plunder is house?


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On account of this I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven men.


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And whoever speaks a word against the son of man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the holy spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age or in the one to come.


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Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten, and its fruit rotten. For by the fruit the tree is known.


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You offspring of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.


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A good man brings out good things from his good treasure, and an evil man brings out evil things from his evil treasure.


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But I say to you that for every idle word which men may speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment,


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Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered and said, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.”


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But he answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.


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For as Jonah was in the stomach of the whale for three days and three nights, so the son of man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.


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The Ninevite men will rise in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because they repented at Jonah's preaching, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.


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The queen of the south will rise in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.


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And whenever an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest, but does not find it.


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Then it says, ‘I will go back to my house, from where I came out.’ And when it has gone back, it finds it unoccupied and swept clean and tidied up.


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Then it goes out and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself with it, and when they have entered, they live there, and the last condition of that man becomes worst than the first. So it will be with this evil generation as well.”


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And while he was still speaking to the crowds, it so happened that his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him.


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Then someone said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”


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For it is whoever does the will of my father in the heavens who is my brother and sister and mother.”


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and large crowds gathered together around him, so he went on board a boat and sat down, while the whole crowd was standing on the shore.


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Other seed fell on stony ground, where it did not have much soil, and quickly sprung up through not having depth of soil,


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But other seed fell on good ground, and yielded produce: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.


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He answered and said to them, “To you it is granted to know the secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not granted.


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For whoever has something, to him will be given more and it will be in abundance; but whoever does not have anything, even that which he has will be taken from him.


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


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And the prophecy of Isaiah will be fulfilled in them, which says, ‘You will definitely hear but certainly won't understand, and you will definitely see but certainly won't perceive,


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for the heart of this people has become obtuse, and with their ears they hear with difficulty, and they have shut their eyes, lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and repent, and I will heal them.’


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For truly, I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, but did not see, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear.


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When anyone hears the word of the kingdom but does not understand, the evil one comes and seizes what was sown in his heart away. This is he who was sown by the wayside.


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But he who was sown on the stony ground is he who, hearing the word immediately accepts it with joy,


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but does not have root in himself, but is unstable, and when tribulation or persecution comes on account of the word, he quickly stumbles.


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And as for him who was sown in the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but for whom the care of this age and the deceit of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.


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But he who was sown on the good ground is the one who hears the word and understands it – one who indeed bears fruit – and one produces a hundredfold, while another sixtyfold, and another thirtyfold.”


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He put another parable to them, and said, “The kingdom of the heavens is comparable to a man who sows good seed in his field.


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But while the men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away again,


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Then when the servants of the master of the house went to him, they said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then is it infested with tares?’


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So he said to them, ‘An inimical man has done this.’ Then the servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go out and we will gather them up?’


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Leave both to grow up together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, «Gather first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up, but gather the wheat into my storehouse.»’ ”


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He put another parable to them, and said, “The kingdom of the heavens is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field,


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which is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is bigger than other vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and settle on its branches.”


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He told them another parable: “The kingdom of the heavens is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sack measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”


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Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds, and he didn't speak to them without a parable,


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in order that that which was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said, “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the overthrow of the world.”


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Then Jesus left the crowds and went to his house. And his disciples came to him, and said, “Explain the parable of the tares in the field to us.”


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The field is the world; the good seed is what represents the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the evil one.


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The enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the consummation of the age; the harvesters are the angels.


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So just as the tares are gathered and burned in a fire, so it will be at the consummation of this age.


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The son of man will send his angels, and they will gather up out of his kingdom all causes of offence, and those who commit iniquity,


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and they will throw them into the fiery furnace. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


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Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.


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Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, and for the joy of it went away and sold everything he had and bought that field.


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Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a drag-net which was cast in the sea and caught all sorts of species,


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which, when it was full, they brought to land on the shore and sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but threw the rotten fish out.


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So will it be in the consummation of the age. The angels will go out and separate the evil ones from the midst of the righteous,


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and they will throw them into the fiery furnace. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”


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But he said to them, “On account of this, every scribe who has been schooled in the kingdom of the heavens is like a master of a house who casts out of his storehouse new things and old.”


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and came to his native district, and he taught them in their synagogue, in consequence of which they were amazed and said, “Where does this man get this wisdom and these powers from?


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Isn't he the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James and Joses, Simon and Judas?


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And they were offended at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his native district and in his house,”


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and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, which is why there are powers at work in him.”


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For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother,


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Then when Herod's birthday was celebrated, Herodias's daughter danced in their presence and pleased Herod,


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But she, being so induced by her mother, said, “Give me here the head of John the Baptist on a dish.”


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At this the king was grieved, but on account of his oaths and those reclining with him, he ordered it to be given,


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But when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place privately. Then when the crowds heard about it, they followed him on foot from the cities,


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When it was evening, his disciples came to him and said, “The place is desolate and the hour has already passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that they can go back to their villages and buy food for themselves.”


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Then he commanded the crowds to recline on the grass, and took the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up to heaven and offered a blessing, and broke the bread, and gave it to the disciples, whilst the disciples gave it to the crowds.


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Then straightaway Jesus made his disciples go on board the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.


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Then when he had dismissed the crowds, he went up a mountain privately to pray. It was evening and he was there alone.


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But the boat was already in the middle of the sea, being buffeted by waves, for the wind was against them.


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and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were disturbed, saying, “It is a ghost,” and they shouted for fear.


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But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and as he was beginning to sink, he called out, and said, “Lord, save me.”


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Then Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and held on to him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”


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and when the men of that place recognized him, they sent word out to the whole of that region, and they brought all those who were unwell to him,


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and they pleaded with him that they might only touch the hem of his coat, and any who touched it recovered.


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“Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”


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But he replied saying to them, “Why do you for your part transgress the commandment of God on account of your tradition?


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For God gave commandment, saying, ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ and ‘he who speaks ill of his father or mother must certainly die.’


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But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, «That by which you might have been benefitted from me is a dedicatory gift», is acting correctly’, and he does not honour his father or his mother at all.


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‘This people approaches with their mouth, and with their lips they honour me, but their heart is far removed from me.


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it is not that which goes into the mouth which defiles a man, but that which comes out of his mouth: that defiles a man.”


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Then his disciples came to him and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees take offence when they hear the word?”


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Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall in a pit.”


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Do you not yet understand that everything that goes into the mouth proceeds into the stomach and is discharged into the latrine?


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For out of the heart come evil reasonings, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies.


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and it so happened that a Canaanite woman from those territories came out and cried aloud to him saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”


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But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and appealed to him, and said, “Send her away, because she is shouting after us.”


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But he answered and said, “It is not right to take the bread of the children and throw it to the dogs.”


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But she said, “Indeed, Lord. But even the dogs eat from the crumbs which fall from the table of their masters.”


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Then Jesus answered and said to her, “Madam, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you wish.” And her daughter was cured from that hour.


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Then Jesus moved on from there and went beside the sea of Galilee, and went up the mountain, and sat there,


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and large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, deaf, maimed and many others, and they laid them down at the feet of Jesus, and he cured them,


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so that the crowds were amazed, seeing the dumb speaking, the maimed restored, the lame walking and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.


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Then Jesus called his disciples and said, “I feel compassion for the crowd, because it has been three days already that they have stayed with me and have not had anything to eat. And I do not want to dismiss them fasting, in case they faint on the way.”


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Then the disciples said to him, “Where can we get enough loaves to feed so large a crowd in such a desolate place?”


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At this Jesus said to them, “How many loaves have you got?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”


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and he took the seven loaves and the fish, and he gave thanks and broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, whilst the disciples gave it to the crowd.


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


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But he answered and said to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fine weather, for the sky is fiery red,’


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and in the morning, you say, ‘Today there will be a storm, for the sky is fiery red and overcast.’ You hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you are not able to discern the signs of the times.


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An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.” Then he left them and went away.


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But Jesus knew about it and said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, in that you did not take bread with you?


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Do you still not understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many basketsful you picked up?


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How come you do not understand that it was not about bread that I told you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?”


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Then they understood that he had not said to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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Now when Jesus went to the districts of Caesarea Philippi, he questioned his disciples and said, “Who do men say that I, the son of man, am?”


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And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”


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Then Jesus replied and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my father in the heavens.


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And I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail over it.


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And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on the earth will be bound in the heavens, and whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in the heavens.”


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From then Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go away to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and senior priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to rise on the third day.


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At this Peter took him aside and began to reprove him saying, “Goodness gracious, Lord! This will certainly not happen to you.”


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But he turned round and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan. You are a snare to me, because you do not set your mind on the affairs of God, but on the affairs of men.”


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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,”


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for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.


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For in what way is a man profited if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?


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For the son of man is going to enter into the glory of his father with his angels, and then he will render to each person according to his deeds.


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Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the son of man coming into his kingdom.


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Then six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother with him and took them up a high mountain privately,


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and he was transformed before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white like light.


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and Peter reacted and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, let us make three booths here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”


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While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud overshadowed them, and there was a voice from the cloud, which said, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am very pleased. Hear him.”


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Now as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, and said, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the son of man rises from the dead.”


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Then his disciples questioned him, and asked, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”


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but I say to you that Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him, but did to him what they wished. In this way the son of man is also going to suffer at their hands.”


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and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and is suffering badly. For he often falls into fire, and often into water,


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Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverted generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him here to me.”


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Jesus said to them, “On account of your unbelief. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.


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And as they turned back to Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The son of man is going to be delivered into the hands of men,


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and they will kill him, and on the third day, he will be raised.” At this they were greatly grieved.


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Then when they came to Capernaum, those who receive the two drachmas tax came to Peter and said, “Your teacher does not pay the two drachmas.”


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He said, “Indeed.” And when he went into his house, Jesus had got there before him and said, “What do you think, Simon? The kings of the earth – from whom do they take tax or registration duty? From their sons or from outsiders?”


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But in order that we do not cause them offence, go to the sea and cast a fish-hook, and take the first fish which comes up, and open its mouth, and you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”


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At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?”


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and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you change your ways and become like children, you certainly will not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.


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But whoever causes offence to one of these little ones who believe in me – it would be more profitable for him for an ass-driven millstone to be hung around his neck and for him to be drowned in the wide open sea.


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Woe to the world because of its snares! For it is necessary that snares come, but woe to that man through whom the snare comes.


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But if your hand or your foot ensnares you, cut them off and throw them away. For it is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the age-abiding fire.


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And if your eye ensnares you, pluck it out and throw it away. It is better to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into fiery Gehenna.


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See that you don't despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that their angels in the heavens continuously see the face of my father in the heavens.


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What do you think? If a certain man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine, and go into the mountains and seek the one which is going astray?


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And if it should happen that he finds it, truly, I say to you, that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which did not go astray.


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In this way it is not the will of your father in the heavens that one of these little ones should be lost.


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But if your brother sins against you, go and remonstrate with him as a matter between you and him alone. If he heeds you, you have won your brother over.


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But if he does not heed you, take one or two people with you in order that by the affirmation of two or three witnesses, every matter may be established.


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And if he refuses to heed them, tell the assembly; and if he refuses to heed the assembly, let him be to you like the Gentile and the tax-collector.


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Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loosen on earth will be loosened in heaven.


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Again, truly, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth about any matter which you ask about, it will be done for them by my father in the heavens.


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Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Up to seven times?”


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Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times, seven times over.


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This is why the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who was king, who wished to settle accounts with his servants.


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But as he did not have the means to repay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and everything he had, and for repayment to be made.


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So the servant fell down and paid homage to him, and said, ‘My lord, have patience with me and I will repay everything.’


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But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denaries and when he had seized him he choked him and said, ‘Repay me what you owe.’


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So his fellow servant fell down onto his feet and pleaded with him and said, ‘Be patient with me and I will repay you.’


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But he refused, and instead went away, and had him thrown him in prison until he should pay what was owed.


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But when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very grieved, and went and explained everything that had happened to their master.


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Then his master called for him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant, I cancelled all that debt for you, since you appealed to me.


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And his master became angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should repay everything owed to him.


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In this manner my upper-heavenly father will also deal with you, if you do not all forgive your brother his trespasses from your hearts.”


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Now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words that he moved on from Galilee and went to the territories of Judaea beyond the Jordan,


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Then the Pharisees came to him, testing him and saying to him, “Is it permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”


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But he answered and said to them, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning, made them male and female,


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and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will cleave to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.’


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Consequently, they are no longer two, but one flesh. What God has paired together, therefore, let no man separate.”


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Then they said to him, “Why then did Moses give commandment to give a certificate of divorce and to divorce her?”


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He said to them, “Moses, in view of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives. But from the beginning it was not so,


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and I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, and marries another, commits adultery. And he who marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”


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His disciples said to him, “If this is the situation of a man with a woman, it is not expedient to marry.”


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For there are eunuchs who were born as such from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of the heavens. He who can accept it, let him accept it.”


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Then some children were brought to him, in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples rebuked them.


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However Jesus said, “Leave the children alone and do not prevent them from coming to me. For the kingdom of the heavens consists of such ones.”


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And the next thing that happened was that a certain person came up and said to him, “Good teacher, what good thing am I to do in order that I may have age-abiding life?”


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And he said to him, “Why do you call me good? No-one is good except one: God. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”


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He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “I quote, ‘You shall not commit murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony.


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The young man said to him, “I have observed all these things from my youth. In what respect do I still come short?”


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Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your belongings and give the proceeds to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.”


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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, that it is with difficulty that a rich man can enter into the kingdom of the heavens.


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And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”


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Then Jesus looked straight at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.”


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Then Peter replied and said to him, “Look, we have abandoned everything and followed you. What then will we have?”


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Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the son of man sits on his glorious throne, you too will be seated on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel,


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and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name's sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit age-abiding life.


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For the kingdom of the heavens is like a man who is a master of a household who went out at dawn to hire workers for his vineyard,


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And at about the eleventh hour, he went out and found some more men standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here the whole day idle?’


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They said to him, ‘Because no-one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too, go to the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’


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Then when evening came, the landlord of the vineyard said to his estate manager, ‘Call the workers and give them their wages, beginning with the last, working towards the first.’


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And when those who were first came, they thought they would receive more, but they too received a denary each.


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saying, ‘These last ones worked for one hour, and you treated them as equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’


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But he replied and said to one of them, ‘My friend, I am not doing you any wrong. Did you not agree a denary with me?


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Or is it not permitted for me to do what I want with my own money? Are you jealous because I am good?’


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Then as Jesus went up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately on the way and said to them,


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“Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the son of man will be delivered to the senior priests and scribes and they will condemn him to death,


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and will deliver him to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify him and on the third day he will rise again.”


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Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, worshipping him and asking him for a certain thing.


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So he said to her, “What is it that you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine will sit one on your right hand side and one on your left hand side in your kingdom.”


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But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink from the cup which I am about to drink from? Or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.”


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Then he said to them, “You can drink from my cup and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized, but to sit on my right hand side and on my left hand side is not for me to give, but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my father.”


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But Jesus called them to himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and the high-ranking people exercise authority over them,


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but it will not be like this among you; rather, whoever among you wishes to be great will be your servant.


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just as the son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and give his life as a ransom for many.”


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And they came across two blind men sitting at the side of the road, having heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out and said, “Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David.”


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But the crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, and said, “Have mercy on us, Lord, son of David.”


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And Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes, and immediately their eyes recovered their sight, and they followed him.


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Then when they approached Jerusalem and had gone to Bethsphagé to the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,


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and said to them, “Go to the village opposite you, and straightaway you will find a female donkey bound, and a foal with her. Untie them and bring them to me,


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and if anyone says anything to you, say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and straightaway he will despatch them.”


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Now all of this took place in order that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, where he says,


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“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, meek and riding on a donkey, and a foal, the young of a beast of burden.’ ”


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And a very large crowd strewed their own clothes in the way, whereas others would cut branches from the trees and strew them in the way.


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And the crowds which went in front and those following kept shouting and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest realms!”


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Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the chairs of those selling doves,


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and he said to them, “It stands written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a robber's cave.’ ”


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but when the senior priests and the scribes saw the wonders which he performed, and the children in the temple shouting and saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” they were indignant,


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and they said to him, “Do you hear what these people are saying?”. Then Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read that ‘Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings you have furnished praise’?”


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and when he saw a certain fig tree on the way, he went to it, but did not find anything on it except just leaves. And he said to it, “Let no fruit ever be produced from you any more.” And immediately the fig tree dried up.


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But Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to perform not only the feat of the fig-tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and deposited into the sea,’ it will take place,


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Then when he had come to the temple, as he was teaching, the senior priests and elders of the people came to him and said, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?”


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But Jesus replied and said to them, “I for my part will ask you one thing, and if you tell me, I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things.


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From where was the baptism of John? From heaven, or from men?” Then they debated among themselves, and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why, then, did you not believe him?’


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So they replied and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” He in turn said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.


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But what do you think of this? A man had two children, and he went to the first and said, ‘My child, go and work in my vineyard today.’


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Then he went to the second and spoke similarly. Now he replied and said, ‘I will go, sir,’ but did not go there.


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Which of the two did the will of the father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, that the tax-collectors and prostitutes go before you into the kingdom of God.


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For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. However, the tax-collectors and prostitutes believed him. But when you had seen him, you did not repent later so as to believe him.


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Listen to another parable. A certain man was a landlord who planted a vineyard and erected a fence round it, and dug a wine-vat in it and built a tower, and put it under hired labour with farmers and went abroad.


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But when the time of the fruit-harvest approached, he sent his servants to the farmers to receive its fruit.


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But when the farmers saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’


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They said to him, “He will put such bad men to a bad kind of death, and put the vineyard out under hired labour with other farmers, who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”


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Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected is what has become the keystone. This came about from the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes.’


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Therefore, I say to you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruits.


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And whoever falls on this stone will be shattered. But on whomever it falls, it will crush to powder.”


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And when the senior priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them,


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and whilst they looked for a way to lay hold of him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.


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“The kingdom of the heavens is like a man who is a king who arranged a wedding reception for his son.


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Again, he sent out some more servants, and said, ‘Say to the guests, «Look, I have prepared my banquet-meal, my bulls and fatted cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding.»’


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And when that king heard it, he became angry, and sent his army, and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.


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So those servants went out to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both bad and good, and the wedding was furnished with diners.


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and he said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you have come here not having wedding dress?’ And he was speechless.


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Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him by the feet and hands and remove him and cast him into the outer darkness. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


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and they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, who said, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God in truth, and do not concern yourself with the opinion of anyone, for you do not regard the status of men.


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They said to him, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are of Caesar, and to God the things that are of God.”


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saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If someone dies, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife as next of kin, and raise seed to his brother’.


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Now there were seven brothers in our community. And the first married, and died, and not having any seed, left his wife to his brother.


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Then Jesus answered and said to them, “You are going astray, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.


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For in the resurrection, they do not marry or are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.


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And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, where he says,


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‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ God is not a God of the dead, but of the living.”


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And Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.


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And no-one was able to answer him a word, nor did anyone dare to question him any longer from that day.


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so whatever they tell you to keep, you are keeping to and doing, but do not do according to their works, for they say things, but do not do them.


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For they bind heavy burdens and things hard to bear, and put them on the shoulders of men, but they are not willing to move them with their finger.


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But they do all their works to be seen by men, and they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the fringes of their coats,


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But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses and for a pretence you make long prayers; on account of this you will receive greater judgment.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut up the kingdom of the heavens in front of men, for you do not go in, neither do you let those who are on the road to going in actually go in.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you go round sea and dry land to make one proselyte, and when it has taken place, you make him a son of Gehenna twofold more than yourselves.


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Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is a debtor.’


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And: ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift which is on it is a debtor.’


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you pay the tithe of mint and dill and cummin, but omit the weightier aspects of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. You should have done these things, while not omitting the former things.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites, because you clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and injustice.


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You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of them may also become clean.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you are like whitewashed sepulchres, which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside are full of bones of the dead and all uncleanness.


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In this way, you appear righteous to men on the outside, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchres of the righteous,


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and say, ‘If we had been around in the days of our fathers, we would not have been party with them to the shed blood of the prophets.’


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On account of this, look, I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, and some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from city to city,


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so that all righteous blood shed on earth should come upon you from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.


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O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I wished to gather your children in the way a bird gathers her nestlings under her wings, but you have not been willing.


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For I say to you, you certainly will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”


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Then Jesus went out and left the temple, and his disciples came to him to point out to him the buildings of the temple.


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But Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly, I say to you, there will not be a stone left on a stone here, which will not be demolished.”


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And as he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, and said, “Tell us when these things will be, and what the sign of your coming is, and of the consummation of the age.”


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But you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. Watch out and do not be troubled, for all things must take place, but the end is not yet.


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For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places.


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Then they will deliver you into tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations on account of my name.


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And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.


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So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place – may the reader understand –


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for then there will be a great tribulation, the like of which has not taken place since the beginning of the world up until now, nor ever will take place,


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and if those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the chosen, those days will be shortened.


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for false Christs will arise, and false prophets, and they will produce great signs and miracles, so as to lead astray, if it is possible, even those chosen.


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So if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the desert,’ do not go out, or, ‘Look, he is in the private offices,’ do not believe it,


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for as lightning comes out from the east and shines as far as the west, so also shall the coming of the son of man be,


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But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its lustre, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


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And then the sign of the son of man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and will see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.


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And he will send his angels, with a loud sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the skies to the other.


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But learn the parable from the fig-tree. When its branches become supple and it produces leaves, know that the harvest is near.


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Truly, I say to you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.


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But concerning that day and hour, no-one knows it – not even the angels of the heavens – except my father alone.


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For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark,


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and they did not know until the flood came, and eliminated them all – so the coming of the son of man will be too.


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At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken aside and one will be left behind.


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But know this, that if the master of a house had known at what time the thief would come, he would have been on guard and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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On account of this, you too, be prepared, because at a time when you do not expect it, the son of man will come.


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Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom his master appointed over his domestic staff to give them food at the proper time?


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then that servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect it and at an hour which he is unaware of,


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and he will cut him in two, and will consign his portion with the hypocrites. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.


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Then the kingdom of the heavens will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.


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Then in the middle of the night there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming. Come out and meet him.’


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Then the foolish ones said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps keep going out.’


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But the prudent ones answered and said, ‘No, in case there is not sufficient for us and you. Go rather to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.’


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But while they were going off to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the wedding, and the door was closed.


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For these things are like a man who went abroad and called his personal servants and handed over his property to them,


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and to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one – to each according to his own capacity – and straightaway went off abroad.


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Now the one who had received five talents went and did business with them and made another five talents.


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And the one who had received five talents came and brought another five talents and said, ‘Master, you handed me five talents. Look, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’


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And his master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a little, so I will appoint you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’


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Then the one who had received two talents came and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I have gained another two in addition to them.’


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His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a little, so I will appoint you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’


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Then the one who had received one talent came and said, ‘Master, I know that you are a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from where you did not scatter.


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And, being afraid, I went away and hid your talent in the ground. Look, here you have what is yours.’


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But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter.


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Therefore, you should have placed my money with the bankers so that when I came, I would have received what was mine with interest.


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For to everyone who has, more will be given and it will be made to abound, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken.


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And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


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But when the son of man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne,


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and all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.


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Then the king will say to those on his right hand side, ‘Come, my father's blessed ones, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the overthrow of the world.


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For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in;


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Then the righteous will reply to him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you drink?


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And the king will reply and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you have done it to me.’


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Then he will say in turn to those on the left hand side, ‘Depart from me, you cursed people, to the age-abiding fire prepared for the devil and his angels.


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For I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat; I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink;


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I was a stranger, but you did not take me in; naked, but you did not clothe me; ill, and in prison, but you did not visit me.’


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Then they too will reply and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger or naked, or ill or in prison, and did not take care of you?’


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Then he will answer them, and say, ‘Truly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, neither did you do it to me.’


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“You know that in two days' time the Passover takes place, and the son of man will be handed over to be crucified.”


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Then the senior priests and the scribes and the elders of the people gathered together in the hall of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,


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a woman came to him with an alabaster box of very costly ointment, and poured it over his head as he reclined.


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But Jesus was aware of it and said to them, “Why do you give the woman trouble? For she has done me a good deed.


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Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be recounted as a memorial to her.”


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and said “What are you willing you give me if I deliver him to you?” And they stipulated thirty pieces of silver for him.


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On the first day of the unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, “Where do you wish us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?”


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And he said, “Go to the city, and to our good friend, and say to him, ‘The teacher says, «My time is near. At your house I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples.» ’ ”


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The son of man goes as it stands written about him. But woe to that man through whom the son of man is betrayed. It would have been better for him if that man had not been begotten.”


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And Judas, who would betray him, responded and said, “Surely I am not the one, Master?” He said to him, “You have said it.”


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As they ate, Jesus took the bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave some to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat it. This is my body.”


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But I say to you, I will certainly not drink from this produce of the vine from now until that day when I drink it with you anew in the kingdom of my father.”


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Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will stumble at me this very night. For it stands written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered,’


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However Peter answered and said to him, “Even if all stumble at you, nevertheless I will never stumble at you.”


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Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, that tonight before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”


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Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I certainly will not deny you.” And all the disciples also spoke likewise.


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Then Jesus went with them to a locality called Gethsemané, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go away and pray over there.”


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And he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him, and began to be grieved and sorely troubled.


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Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death. Remain here and be watchful with me.”


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Then when he had come a little nearer, he fell face down and prayed and said, “My father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. But not as I wish, but as you do.”


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And he went to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter, “So did you not have strength to be on the watch for one hour with me?


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Be watchful and pray that you do not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”


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Again, he went a second time and prayed, and said, “My father, if this cup cannot pass from me, unless I drink it, your will be done.”


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Then he went to his disciples and said to them, “Sleep from now on and have a rest. Behold, the hour has drawn near when the son of man will be delivered into the hands of sinners.


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And while he was still speaking, along came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him there was a large crowd with swords and sticks, coming from the senior priests and elders of the people.


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Now he who would betray him had given them a sign, and had said, “He whom I kiss is the one. Lay hold of him.”


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But Jesus said to him, “My friend, what are you here for?” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.


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And what happened next was that one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand and unsheathed his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and took off his ear.


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Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back in its holder. For all who take up the sword will die by the sword.


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Or do you not think that I could not now call on my father to supply me with more than twelve legions of angels?


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At that hour, Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and sticks, to lay hold of me? I used to sit with you every day, teaching in the temple, but you did not seize me.”


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But all this took place so that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him and fled.


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But those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were gathered.


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However, Peter followed him from a distance, as far as the hall of the high priest, and he went in and sat with the attendants to see how this would end.


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Now the senior priests and elders and the whole of the Sanhedrin council were looking for a false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death.


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But eventually two false witnesses came forward and said, “He said, ‘I can demolish the sanctuary of God and build it within three days.’ ”


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And the high priest stood up and said to him, “Do you not give any answer? What is it that these men testify against you?”


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But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest reacted and said to him, “I adjure you by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the son of God.”


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Jesus said to him, “It is as you have stated. But I say to you, in the future you will see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”


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Then the high priest tore his coat apart and said, “He has blasphemed. Why do we still need witnesses? Look, you have now heard his blasphemy.


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But Peter was sitting outside in the hall, and a certain maidservant came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus of Galilee.”


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And when he had gone out to the gate, another maidservant saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was also with Jesus the Nazarene.”


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And after a short while, those who were standing around came forward and said to Peter, “Truly, you too are one of them. For even your dialect gives you away.”


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And Peter remembered the words of Jesus who had said to him: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.


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When it was early morning, all the senior priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so as to have him put to death.


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Then Judas, who betrayed him, saw that he had been condemned, and felt regret, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the senior priests and the elders,


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and said, “I have sinned, betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”


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But the senior priests took the silver coins and said, “It is not permitted to put them in the temple treasury, because they are the price of blood.”


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Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, where he says, “And they took thirty silver coins, the price of him who was valued, – him from the sons of Israel whom they valued.


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And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him, and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”


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Now at the festival, the governor had a custom of releasing one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wished.


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So when they were gathered together, 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 when he was sitting on the podium, his wife sent word to him, as follows: “Have nothing to do with that just man. For I have suffered a lot today in a dream on account of him.”


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But the senior priests and elders persuaded the crowds that they should ask for Barabbas, whilst they should have Jesus put to death.


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And the governor responded and said to them, “Which of the two to you want me to release to you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”


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Pilate said to them, “What should I do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Have him crucified.”


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However, the governor said, “But what wrong has he done?” But they shouted all the more and said, “Have him crucified.”


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And when Pilate saw that it was to no avail, but rather a tumult was arising, he took some water and washed his hands facing the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just man. You see to it.”


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Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus with them to the governor's residence and gathered the whole cohort against him,


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and they plaited a crown from thorns and put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand, and knelt before him, and kept mocking him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews.”


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And when they had mocked him, they took the cloak off him and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.


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Then as they were going out, they came across a Cyrenian man by name of Simon, and they pressed him into carrying his cross.


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where they gave him vinegar mixed with gall to drink. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.


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and they put above his head the accusation against him, which read, “This is Jesus the king of the Jews.”


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and saying, “You who would destroy the sanctuary and rebuild it in three days, save yourself. If you are the son of God, come down from the cross.”


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And the senior priests mocked him similarly, together with the scribes and elders and Pharisees and kept saying,


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“Others he saved, but himself he cannot save. If he is the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.


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And at about the ninth hour, Jesus shouted out with a loud voice, and said, “Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?” This means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


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Then immediately one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed and offered it to him to drink from.


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And behold, the veil of the sanctuary split in half from top to bottom, and the earth suffered an earthquake, and the rocks were split,


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and they came out of the tombs, after his resurrection, and went to the holy city, and appeared to many.


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Meanwhile the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things which had taken place, were very afraid, and said, “Truly, this was the son of God.”


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Now there were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, looking after him,


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among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.


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And when it was late, a rich man came from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also had himself been a disciple of Jesus.


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and put it in his new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock, and rolled a large stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.


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And the next day, which was after the Preparation Day, the senior priests and Pharisees held a meeting with Pilate,


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and said, “Your Excellency, we remember that that deceiver said, when he was still alive, ‘In three days time I will rise again.’


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So order the tomb to be secured until the third day, so that his disciples cannot go by night and steal him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead’, whereby the latter deception would be worse than the former.”


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Late on the Sabbath, as dawn drew on to the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came with the other Mary to take a look at the tomb.


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And behold, a severe earthquake took place, for the angel of the Lord had come down from heaven and had come and rolled back the stone from the entrance, and was sitting on it,


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However the angel reacted and said to the women, “Don't you fear, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.


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And go quickly to tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and look, he will go on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. There you are, I have told you.”


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So they went out from the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to report it to his disciples.


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But as they were going to report it to his disciples, behold, Jesus confronted them, and said, “Greetings.” And they went up to him and took hold of him by the feet and worshipped him.


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Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to depart for Galilee, and that they will see me there.”


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Now as they went, what happened was that some members of the guard went to the city and reported everything that had happened to the senior priests.


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And if this should catch the ear of the governor, we will persuade him and ensure you are not in trouble.”


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And they took the money, and did as they had been instructed. And this account has spread about among the Jews up to the present day.


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Then Jesus went up to them and spoke to them, and said, “All authority in heaven and on the earth is given to me.


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Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit,


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teaching them to keep everything I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you every day until the consummation of the age.” Amen.


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as it stands written in the prophets, “See how I am sending my messenger in front of you, who will prepare your way ahead of you.


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The voice of the one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”


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It was the case that John was baptizing in the desert and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins,


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and all the region of Judaea went out to him, as did the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.


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Now John was clothed in camel hair and a leather girdle around his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey.


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And he would preach, and say, “He who is more powerful than me is coming after me, whose buckle of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop to loosen.


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And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan,


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and immediately as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the spirit descending like a dove on him,


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And he was there in the desert for forty days, being tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild animals, while the angels would take care of him.


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Then after John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God,


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and saying, “The time has been completed and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the gospel.”


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Then as he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, Simon's, casting a round net in the sea. After all, they were fishermen.


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Then when he had moved on a little from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, while they were in a boat mending their nets,


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and he immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away following him.


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Then they went into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he immediately went into the synagogue and gave some teaching.


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And they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


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and said, “Hey, what have you to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the holy one of God.”


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And they were all astounded, so much so that they debated among themselves and said, “What does this mean? What is this new doctrine, where he even commands the unclean spirits with authority and they obey him?”


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Then immediately when they had come out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.


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And he came over and took hold of her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her immediately, and she looked after them.


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When evening had come, when the sun had set, they brought to him all those with ailments and those possessed by a demon,


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and he cured many who were ailing with various diseases, and he cast out many demons, and did not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.


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Then he got up early, while it was still very much night, and went out and went to a deserted place, and prayed there.


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And he said to them, “Let us go to the nearby towns, so that I may preach there too. For I have come out for this very purpose.”


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Then a leper came to him pleading with him, and kneeling down to him, and he said to him, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.”


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At this, Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched his hand out and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing, be cleansed.”


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and said to him, “See to it that you don't say anything to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed, as a testimony to them.”


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But he went out and began to publicize it widely and to blaze the matter abroad, so that he could no longer go openly into a city, but was outside in desolate places. And they kept coming to him from all sides.


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and immediately many gathered together, to the point that there was no room any more, not even space at the door. And while he was speaking the word to them,


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and not being able to approach him on account of the crowd, they opened up the roof where he was, and when they had broken it up, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralysed man was lying.


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Then when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralysed man, “My child, you have been forgiven your sins.”


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And immediately Jesus, having perceived in his spirit that they were reasoning inwardly like this, said to them, “Why are you reasoning about these matters in your hearts?


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What is easier, to say to the paralytic man, ‘You have been forgiven your sins,’ or to say ‘Arise, and pick up your stretcher, and walk’?


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But in order that you may know that the son of man has authority to forgive sins on earth ...” – he said to the paralytic man –


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And he arose immediately, and picked up his stretcher, and went out in the presence of all, so that they were all astounded, and glorified God, saying, “Never have we seen anything like this.”


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And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.


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And it came to pass as he was reclining at table in his house that many tax-collectors and sinners reclined with Jesus and his disciples. For there were many, and they followed him.


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However when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to his disciples, “What is this that he eats and drinks with tax-collectors and sinners?”


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At which Jesus, having heard it, said to them, “It is not those who are in sound health who need a doctor, but those who are ailing. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”


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Meanwhile John's disciples, and those of the Pharisees, were fasting, and people came and said to him, “Why do John's disciples and those of the Pharisees fast, whereas your disciples do not fast?”


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And Jesus said to them, “Surely the wedding guests cannot be fasting while the bridegroom is with them? 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 from them, and then, in those days, they will fast.


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And no-one sews a patch of uncarded flannel onto an old garment, or else the piece added to it pulls on it – the new on the old – and the tear becomes worse.


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And no-one puts new wine in old wineskins, or else the new wine tears the wineskins, and the wine leaks out, and the wineskins are ruined. Rather, new wine needs to be put in new wineskins.”


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Then it came to pass that he was passing by on the Sabbath through the sown fields, and his disciples had begun to make a way through, while plucking the ears of corn,


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and the Pharisees said to him, “Look at what they are doing on the Sabbath, which is not permitted,”


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at which he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and those with him?


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– How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not permitted to eat, except for the priests, and he also gave some to those who were with him?”


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And he said to them, “Is it permitted to do good or evil on the Sabbath? To save a life or to kill?” But they remained silent.


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Then he looked around at them with anger, thoroughly grieved at the hardness of their heart, and he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored, healthy like the other one.


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Then the Pharisees immediately went out with the Herodians and took counsel against him, as to how they might destroy him.


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Meanwhile Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a very large number of people followed him, from Galilee and from Judaea,


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and from Jerusalem and from Idumaea and across the Jordan, while those from around Tyre and Sidon, a large community who had heard everything he was doing, came to him.


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So he told his disciples that a small boat should remain at hand for him on account of the crowd, so that they should not press on him,


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for he had healed many people, and as a result they converged on him in order that whoever had infirmities might touch him.


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Also whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they would fall down before him and shout out saying, “You are the son of God,”


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Then he went up into a mountain and called along those whom he himself wanted, and they went off to him,


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Furthermore he appointed James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, and he gave them additional names: Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”,


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and Andrew and Philip and Bartholomew and Matthew and Thomas and James the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus and Simon the Canaanite,


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And when those close to him heard about it, they went out to take charge of him, for people were saying that he was out of his senses.


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Now the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said that he was possessed by Beelzebul and that he cast out the demons by the ruler of the demons.


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No-one can plunder the goods of a strong man, after entering his house, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he can plunder his house.


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Truly, I say to you, that the sons of men will be forgiven their sins and whatever blasphemies they perpetrate,


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but whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit does not have forgiveness throughout the Age, but is liable to age-abiding judgment.”


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Meanwhile a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Excuse us, but your mother and your brothers and your sisters outside are looking for you.”


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Then after he had looked around at those sitting around him, he said, “Behold my mother and my brothers.


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Next he began to teach again by the sea, and a large crowd gathered to him, so that he went on board a boat to sit in on the sea, while the whole crowd was by the sea on land.


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And it so happened that as he sowed, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up.


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But some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much soil, and it immediately sprang up through not having depth of soil,


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And some fell into the thorn-bushes, and the thorns came up and smothered it, and it did not yield any fruit.


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And some fell onto good ground, and while it sprang up and grew, it yielded fruit, and some produced a thirtyfold return, and some a sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold.”


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and he said to them, “To you it is granted to know the mystery of the kingdom of God, but to those outside, everything comes in parables,


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in order that they should definitely see but not perceive, and definitely hear but not understand, lest they should be converted and they should be forgiven their sins.”


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And he said to them, “Do you not know the meaning of this parable? How then can you know the meaning of any parable?


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One group are those alongside the road where the word is sown, but when they hear it, Satan immediately comes and removes the word sown in their hearts.


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And another group are like those sown on the stony ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy,


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but they do not have inward roots, but rather are for a season. Then when affliction or persecution comes on account of the word, they immediately take offence.


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but the cares of this age and the deceit of riches and the desires in regard to other matters, when they come in, choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.


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And another group are those sown on the good ground, who hear the word, and receive it and yield fruit, some a thirtyfold return, and some a sixtyfold, and some a hundredfold.”


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Furthermore he said to them, “A lamp isn't brought to be put under a bushel of corn or under a bed, is it? It is to be put on a lamp-stand, isn't it?


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For there is nothing hidden except what will be made manifest, nor has anything secret taken place but that it will come into the open.


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And he said to them, “Watch out with what you hear. By the same measure by which you measure, it will be meted out to you; and to you who hear, the measure will be increased.


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For to whoever has, more will be given. But from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”


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and should sleep and get up night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow long in a way he is unaware of,


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for the land produces fruit spontaneously: first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.


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But when the fruit yields itself, he immediately sends out the sickle, because the harvest is at hand.”


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And he said, “To what should we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what kind of parable should we represent it?


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It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown on the ground is the smallest of all the seeds which are on the earth,


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but when it is sown, it comes up and becomes bigger than all the other vegetables and puts out big branches, so that the birds of the sky can settle in its shade.”


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And he spoke the word to them in many such parables, inasmuch as they were able to give them a hearing.


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Indeed he did not speak to them without using a parable. But he did explain everything privately to his disciples.


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Then when they had sent the crowd away, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. And there were other small boats with him.


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And a severe windy storm arose, and the waves were breaking over into the boat, so that it was already filling up.


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And he was at the stern, sleeping on a pillow, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, is it not of concern to you that we are in mortal danger?”


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And when he woke up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet, be silenced.” And the wind abated, and a great calm came.


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And they were very afraid and said to each other, “Who can this be then, seeing both the wind and sea obey him?”


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and when he had disembarked from the boat, a man from the tombs who was possessed by an unclean spirit immediately went to meet him.


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because he had often been bound in shackles and chains, but the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken, and no-one was able to tame him.


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And he was always in the mountains and the tombs, day and night, shouting and lacerating himself with stones.


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and he cried out in a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God not to torment me.”


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And he had asked him, “What is your name?” And he had answered and said, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”


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At this Jesus immediately permitted them. So the unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs, at which the herd rushed headlong down the cliff into the sea. There were about two thousand of them, and they drowned in the sea.


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And those tending the pigs fled and reported it in the city and in the fields. Then they went out to see what it was that had happened,


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and they came to Jesus and saw the man possessed by a demon sitting, and clothed, and in his senses – the one who had been possessed by Legion – and they were afraid.


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And those who had seen how it happened to the man possessed by a demon described it to them, and the matter of the pigs.


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But when he had embarked on a boat, the one who had been possessed by a demon asked him if he could stay with him.


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However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go to your home, to your family and tell them everything that the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.”


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And he went off, and began to proclaim in Decapolis everything that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.


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Meanwhile, when Jesus had again crossed to the other side in the boat, a large crowd gathered to him and he was by the sea,


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and it so happened that one of the officials of the synagogue came, Jairus by name, and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,


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and pleaded with him earnestly saying, “My little daughter is at death's door. I ask you to come and lay your hands on her, so that she should be saved and live.”


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– and had suffered much at the hands of many doctors, and had spent everything she had, but had not been benefitted in any way, and had rather become worse –


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And immediately her issue of blood dried up and she knew in her body that she had been cured of her infirmity.


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Then Jesus, having become inwardly aware of the power which had gone out of him, immediately turned to the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”


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At this the disciples said to him, “You see the crowd thronging you, yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”


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


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But he said to her, “My daughter, your faith has saved you. Go off in peace and be cured of your infirmity.”


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While he was still speaking, men came from the synagogue official and said, “Your daughter has died. Why are you still troubling the teacher?”


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But when Jesus heard what was said, he immediately said to the synagogue official, “Don't be afraid; just believe.”


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And he did not permit anyone to go along with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James,


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and he came to the house of the synagogue official and saw a tumult of people weeping and lamenting greatly,


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and he went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child has not died, but is asleep.”


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And they laughed at him. But he sent them all out and took the father of the child with him, and the mother and those with him, and he went into the room where the child was lying.


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And he took hold of the child's hand and said to her, “Talitha cumi”, which, being translated, means, “Young girl, (I say to you), ‘Arise.’ ”


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And immediately the young girl arose and walked around. Now she was twelve years old. And they were astonished with great astonishment.


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Then he ordered them strictly that no-one should get to know this. He also said that something should be given to her to eat.


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Then, it being a Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astounded, and said, “Where does this man get these things from? And what is this wisdom which has been given to him, so that such deeds of power take place at his hands?


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Isn't this is the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judah and Simon? And aren't his sisters here with us?” And they were offended because of him.


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But Jesus said to them “A prophet is not without honour except in his native land and among his kinsmen and in his own house.”


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And he could not do any deeds of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few invalids and healed them.


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Indeed he was astonished on account of their unbelief. And he would go round the neighbouring villages teaching.


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Then he called the twelve to himself and began to send them out two at a time, and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits,


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and commanded them not to take anything for the journey except just a staff: neither a wallet, nor bread, nor bronze money for their money belt,


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And he said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, remain there until you go out from that place.


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And as for whoever does not receive you, or hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony to them. Truly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom or Gomorrha on the day of judgment than for that city.”


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And King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become well-known, and he said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why deeds of power are at work in him.”


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But when Herod heard about it, he said, “John, whom I had beheaded – that's who it is. He has been raised from the dead.”


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For Herod himself had had John arrested and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.


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For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him, and when he had heard him, he would do many things, and he used to listen to him with pleasure.


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But when an opportune day came, when Herod held a dinner on his birthday for his nobles, and the cohort commanders, and the prominent men of Galilee,


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and the daughter of Herodias herself had come and danced, and had pleased Herod and those reclining at table with him, and the king said to the young girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”


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Then she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”


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Then straightaway she came in with haste to the king and made her request, saying, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a dish at once.”


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Now the king, who had become greatly grieved, because of the oaths and the guests at table, did not want to deny her the request.


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And he went off and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a dish and gave it to the young girl, and the young girl gave it to her mother.


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And the apostles gathered to Jesus and reported everything to him, both what they had done, and what they had taught.


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And he said to them, “You yourselves come privately to a desolate place, and rest a short while.” For those who came and went were many, and they did not even have an opportunity to eat.


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And people saw them departing, and many recognized him, and they were quick to converge there on foot from all the cities, and arrived before them and gathered round him.


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Then when Jesus went out, he saw a large crowd and felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep which had no shepherd, and he began to teach them many things,


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and with it already being a late hour, his disciples came up to him and said, “The place is desolate and it is already a late hour.


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Send them away so that they can go off into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves loaves of bread, for they do not have anything to eat.”


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But he answered and said to them, “You give them something to eat.” Then they said to him, “Should we go off and buy bread for two hundred denaries and give it to them to eat?”


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At this he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” Then when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”


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Then he took the five loaves and the two fish and looked up to heaven and blessed them, and broke the bread and kept giving it to his disciples to serve them, and he shared out the two fish for everyone.


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Then straightaway he made his disciples board the boat and go on ahead, to the far side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the crowd away.


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And when he saw them being harrowed while rowing (for the wind was against them), he then at about the fourth watch of the night came to them walking on the sea, and intended to pass by them,


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For all of them saw him, and were alarmed. Then straightaway he spoke with them and said to them, “Take heart, it is me. Don't be afraid.”


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And he climbed up into the boat with them, and the wind abated, and they were most exceedingly amazed and astounded within themselves.


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and ran round the whole of that neighbouring region and began to bring those who were ill round on stretchers to where they heard that he was.


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And wherever he went – to villages or cities or country places – they placed the sick in the market places and pleaded with him to just touch the hem of his cloak. And whoever touched him was cured.


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and seeing some of his disciples with unclean hands (that is, unwashed) eating bread, they found fault.


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For neither the Pharisees nor any Jews eat unless they have washed their hands with the fist, holding to the tradition of the elders,


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and on return from the market, unless they dip themselves, they do not eat. And there are many other things which they have received to keep to: dippings of chalices and pots and copper vessels and beds.


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Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”


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To which he answered and said to them, “Isaiah prophesied well about you, you hypocrites, as it stands written, ‘This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far removed from me.


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For having abandoned the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men: dippings of pots and chalices, and you do many other similar things.”


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And he said to them, “How finely you set aside the commandment of God so as to keep your own tradition!


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For Moses said, ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ and ‘He who speaks ill of his father or mother must certainly die.’


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But you approve if a man says to his father or mother, ‘What you might have been benefitted by from me is corban’, which means ‘a gift offering’.


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so you invalidate the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. And you do many similar things.”


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Then when he had called all the crowd to himself, he said to them, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand:


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there is nothing on the outside of man which can defile him, if it goes into him, but it is the things that come out of him – those are the things which defile man.


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And he said to them, “Are you also witless in this way? Do you not understand that nothing from outside which goes into a man can defile him?


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Because it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and goes out into the latrine, a system which makes all foodstuffs clean.”


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For from inside, out of the heart of men, come ill-natured disputes, adulteries, fornications, murders,


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thefts, frauds, wicked acts, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, arrogance, foolishness.


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Then he got up and departed from there to the regions between Tyre and Sidon, and went into a house, not wanting anyone to know, but could not escape notice.


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For a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit had heard about him, and she came and fell down at his feet.


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Now the woman was a Greek, a Syro-phoenician by race. And she asked him to cast out the demon from her daughter.


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But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”


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Then she answered and said to him, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs under the table eat from children's crumbs.”


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And she went off to her house, and found that the demon had come out and that the daughter had been laid on a bed.


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And again he left the borders of Tyre and Sidon and came to the Sea of Galilee in the middle of the districts of Decapolis.


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And they brought him a man deaf and hardly able to speak, and pleaded with him to put his hand on him.


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Then he took him away from the crowd privately and put his fingers in his ears and spat and touched his tongue,


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And immediately his sense of hearing was opened and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke properly.


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Then he commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he commanded them, the more profusely they publicized it.


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And they were astounded in the extreme, and said, “He has done everything well – he enables both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.”


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In those days when there was a very large crowd, and they didn't have anything to eat, Jesus called his disciples to himself and said to them,


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“I feel compassion for the crowd, because they have remained with me for three days now and do not have anything to eat.


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And if I send them off to their home fasting, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a long way.”


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And he instructed the crowd to recline on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and gave thanks and broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served them to the crowd.


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And the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with him, seeking a sign from him from heaven, putting him to the test,


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at which he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation keenly seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, there certainly will not be a sign given to this generation.”


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Now they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have any with them in the boat except for one loaf,


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and he instructed them and said, “Watch out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”


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But Jesus was aware of that and said to them, “Why are you arguing because you haven't got any bread? Don't you discern or understand yet? Do you still have a hardened heart?


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Do you not see, although you have eyes? And do you not hear, although you have ears? And do you not remember?


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When I broke five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketsful of pieces did you pick up?” They said to him, “Twelve.”


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“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many hampers full of pieces did you pick up?” And they said, “Seven.”


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Then he took hold of the blind man's hand and led him out of the village, and spat into his eyes and put his hands on him, and asked him if he could see anything.


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And he looked up and said, “I can see men, inasmuch as I can see them walking around looking like trees.”


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Then he put his hands on his eyes again and enabled him to see again, and he was restored, and he saw everyone clearly.


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And he sent him off to his house, and said, “Do not go into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.”


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Then Jesus went out, as did his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, and on the way he questioned his disciples and said to them, “Who do men say I am?”


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They replied, “ ‘John the Baptist,’ whilst others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, ‘One of the prophets.’ ”


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Then he said to them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter answered and said to him, “You are the Christ.”


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Next he began to teach them that the son of man had to suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the senior priests and the scribes, and to be killed, and to rise again after three days.


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Indeed, he would make the assertion openly. Then Peter took him aside, and began to remonstrate with him.


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But he turned around, and looked at his disciples, and remonstrated with Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan. For you are not mindful of the affairs of God, but those of men.”


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Then he called the crowd to himself with his disciples and said to them, “Let whoever wishes to follow me deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.


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For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but it is whoever loses his own life for my sake and that of the gospel who will save it.


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For as for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the son of man will be in turn ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his father with the holy angels.”


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And he said to them, “Truly, I am telling you that there are some of those standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power.”


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Then six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John along and brought them up to a high mountain alone, privately. Then he was transfigured in front of them.


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And his clothes became shining – very white like snow – clothes of a kind which no cloth dresser on earth can make shine like that.


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at which Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three booths: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”


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Then a cloud materialized and overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my beloved son. Hear him.”


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Yet the moment when they looked round, they didn't see anyone any longer, except just Jesus with them.


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Then as they came down from the mountain, he commanded them not to recount the things they had seen to anyone until the son of man had risen from the dead.


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And they kept the matter to themselves, whilst discussing with each other what rising from the dead meant.


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Then he answered and said to them, “Elijah does indeed come and restore everything first, so how come it stands written concerning the son of man that he must suffer many things and be thought nothing of?


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But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and that they did to him whatever they wanted, as it stands written concerning him.”


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At this one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I have brought you my son who is possessed by a dumb spirit.


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And wherever it seizes him, it tears at him and he foams and gnashes his teeth and he becomes dehydrated. Moreover, I told your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn't.”


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Then he answered him and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me.”


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So they brought him to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately convulsed him, and he fell onto the ground, and rolled about, foaming.


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And he asked his father, “How long is it since this happened to him?” And he said, “Since childhood.


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And it has often thrown him in both fire and water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, help us and have compassion on us.”


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Then Jesus, quoting him, said to him, “ ‘If you can’ believe, everything is possible for him who believes.”


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Then the father of the child immediately cried out and said with tears, “I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.”


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Then when Jesus saw that a crowd was converging, he rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not go in to him any more.”


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Then it shouted and convulsed him severely and came out, and he became as though he was dead, so that many said that he had died.


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Then when he had gone home, his disciples asked him privately, “Why is it that we could not cast it out?”


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For he kept teaching his disciples and saying to them, “The son of man will be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and after being killed, he will rise on the third day.”


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Then he went to Capernaum, and after going into a house, he asked them, “What did you discuss among yourselves on the way?”


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Then he sat down and addressed the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be the first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.”


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“Whoever receives one of such children in my name receives me, and whoever receives me doesn't receive me, but him who sent me.”


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Then John answered him and said, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, someone who does not follow us, and we prevented him, because he does not follow us.”


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But Jesus said, “Do not prevent him, for there is no-one who can perform a deed of power in my name and will quickly be able to speak ill of me.


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For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's – truly I am telling you – he will certainly not lose his reward.


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And it would be better for anyone who causes one of the little ones who believe in me to stumble if an upper millstone were put round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.


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So if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It would be better for you to go into life maimed than to go off into Gehenna, into the inextinguishable fire, with two hands,


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And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It would be better for you to go off into life lame than to be thrown into Gehenna, into the inextinguishable fire, with two feet,


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And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It would be better for you to go into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to be thrown into fiery Gehenna with two eyes,


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Salt is good. But if salt becomes bland, with what can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and live peaceably among yourselves.”


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Then he arose from there and went to the districts of Judaea, through the far side of the Jordan, and again crowds flocked to him, and, as was his custom, he taught them again.


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And when some Pharisees arrived, they asked him, “Is it permitted for a husband to divorce his wife,” testing him.


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At this Jesus replied and said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you in view of your hardness of heart.


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Then they brought children to him, so that he might touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.


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But when Jesus saw it, he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them. For of such is the kingdom of God.


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Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will certainly will not go into it.”


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Then as he was setting off on his way, a certain man ran up to him and kneeled before him and asked him, “Good teacher, what should I do in order to inherit age-abiding life?”


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You know the commandments. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not commit murder. You shall not steal. You shall not give false witness. You shall not defraud. Honour your father and mother.”


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Then Jesus looked at him and felt brotherly love for him and said to him, “You lack one thing: go and sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come and follow me and take up the cross.”


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Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “With what difficulty those who have money will go into the kingdom of God!”


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Now the disciples were astounded at his words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how difficult it is for those trusting in money to go into the kingdom of God!”


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It is easier for a camel to go in through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of God.


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So Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. For everything is possible with God.”


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But Jesus answered and said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no-one who has left home, or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,


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who will not receive a hundredfold now, in this season – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, with persecutions, and in the age to come, age-abiding life.


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Now they were on their way going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were astounded, and they were afraid as they were following. Then he took the twelve aside again and began to tell them about the things that would happen to him,


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and said, “Here we are going up to Jerusalem, and the son of man will be delivered up to the senior priests and the scribes and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles.


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And they will mock him and scourge him and spit on him and kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.”


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Then James and John the sons of Zebedee came to him and said, “Teacher, we would like you to do for us whatever we ask.”


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But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup which I drink, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”


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Then they said to him, “We can.” But Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup which I drink, and be baptized with the baptism with which I am being baptized.


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But to sit on my right and my left is not mine to give, but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”


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But Jesus called them to himself and said to them, “You know that those who are deemed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high ranking people exercise authority over them.


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But it will not be like this among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,


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For indeed the son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”


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Then they arrived at Jericho, and as he went out of Jericho, as did his disciples and a considerable crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, who was blind, was sitting at the side of the road begging.


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And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout and say, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.”


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At this many rebuked him telling him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.”


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And Jesus stopped and ordered him to be called. So they called the blind man and said to him, “Take courage, get up, he is calling you.”


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Then Jesus answered and said to him, “What would you like me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “Rabbouni, to see again.”


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Then Jesus said to him, “Off you go; your faith has saved you.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Jesus on his way.


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And when they were approaching Jerusalem, Bethsphagé and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples out,


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and said to them, “Go off into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied up, on which no man has sat. Untie it and bring it.


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And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it,’ and he will immediately despatch it here.”


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And many spread their clothes in the way, whereas others cut foliage from the trees and spread them in the way.


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Both those who were going in front and those following shouted and said, “Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.


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Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest realms.”


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Then Jesus went into Jerusalem, and into the temple, and when he had looked around at everything, the time already being evening, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.


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so when he saw a fig-tree from a distance, which had leaves, he went to see if he would find anything on it. But when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves. After all, it was not the fig season.


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And reacting, Jesus said to it, “Let no-one ever eat from you any more.” And the disciples heard him.


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Then they went to Jerusalem, and when Jesus had gone into the temple, he began to throw out those selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the chairs of those selling doves,


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Then he gave some teaching and said to them, “Does it not stand written that, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a robber's cave.”


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Now the scribes and the senior priests heard it, and looked for a way to destroy him. For they feared him, because all the crowd were amazed at his teaching.


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For truly, I say to you, that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be uplifted and cast into the sea’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come about – then whatever he says will come to pass for him.


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Which is why I say to you, believe that you will receive everything that you ask for when praying and it will come to pass for you.


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And when you stand praying, be forgiving if you have anything against anyone, in order that your father in the heavens may forgive you your transgressions.


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Then they went to Jerusalem again, and while he was walking around in the temple, the senior priests and scribes and the elders came to him,


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and they said to him, “By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?”


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Then Jesus replied and said to them, “I for my part will ask you one thing, so answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.


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Then they reasoned among themselves, and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why do you not believe him then?’


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But should we say, ‘Of men’? ” They feared the people, for everyone held John to really have been a prophet.


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Then they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” To which Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”


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Then he began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence round it and dug a vat pit and built a tower and put it under hired labour with farmers and went abroad.


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And in due course he sent a servant to the farmers, in order to receive some vineyard fruit from the farmers.


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Then he sent another servant to them. But they stoned that one and beat him on the head and sent him off having been shamefully treated.


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Then he sent another one. But they killed that one, and many others, flogging some and killing others.


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Well then, still having his one son, his beloved, he also sent him, the last one, to them, and said, ‘They will respect my son.’


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But those farmers said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’


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What, then, will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others.


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And have you not read this scripture, ‘The stone which the builders rejected is what has become the keystone.


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And they looked for a way to seize him, but they feared the crowd. For they knew that he had levelled the parable at them. So they left him and departed.


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So they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not concern yourself about anyone, for you do not regard the outward appearance of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it permitted to give census-tax to Caesar or not?


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Are we to give it or not to give it?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denary to see.”


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So they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.”


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Then Jesus replied and said to them, “Give the things of Caesar to Caesar and the things of God to God.” And they were amazed at him.


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“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If a brother of anyone dies, and leaves a wife, but does not leave children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed to his brother.’


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Then Jesus replied and said to them, “You are in error in this, aren't you, because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God.


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For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in the heavens.


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And concerning the dead – the fact that they are raised – have you not read in the book of Moses, at the passage about the bush, when God spoke to him, and said ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’


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Then one of the scribes who had come up and heard them disputing, knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “What is the first commandment of all?”


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And Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is, ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.’


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And, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.


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And the second is similar – this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”


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Then the scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You have spoken truly in that, ‘He is one and there is no other apart from him.’


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And, ‘To love him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all the soul and with all strength, and to love one's neighbour as oneself is greater than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ ”


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Then when Jesus saw that he had answered astutely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Then no-one dared question him any more.


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And Jesus answered them and said, when teaching in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?


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For David himself said by holy spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, «Sit on my right hand side until I make your enemies your footstool.» ’


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David himself, therefore, calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” Now the common people were listening to him with pleasure.


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And he said to them in his teaching, “Beware of the scribes who enjoy walking around in robes, and greetings in the markets,


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who devour widows' houses and for show make long prayers. These will receive a more serious judgment.”


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Then Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the crowd put copper money into the treasury. And many rich people were putting in a lot,


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Then he called his disciples to himself and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than anyone of those who contribute to the treasury.


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For everyone contributed from their surplus, but this woman from her paucity put in everything she had – her whole livelihood.”


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Then as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, see what impressive stones and buildings these are.”


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At this Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not a stone shall be left on a stone, nor escape being reduced to rubble.”


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Subsequently, while he was sitting down on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately and said,


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“Tell us, when will these things take place? And what is the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?”


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And when you hear of wars and reports of wars, do not be alarmed. For such things must take place, but that is not yet the end.


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For nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and disorders. These things are the beginnings of sorrows.


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But you watch out for yourselves. For they will deliver you to the Sanhedrin councils, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before leaders and kings on account of me, as a testimony to them.


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Then when they lead you and deliver you up, do not be worried beforehand about what you are to say, and do not be concerned, but say whatever is given to you at that hour. For it is not you who will be speaking, but the holy spirit.


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And brother will betray brother to death, and father child, and children will rise up against their parents, and will have them put them to death.


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And you will be hated by everyone on account of my name. But it is he who endures to the end who will be saved.


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Then when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it should not – let him who reads take note – then those in Judaea must flee to the mountains.


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For those days will be a tribulation such as has never taken place since the beginning of creation which God created, up to now, and never will be again,


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and if the Lord were not to shorten those days, no flesh would be saved, but on account of the elect whom he has chosen, he has shortened those days.


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For false Christs and false prophets will rise up, and they will give signs and wonders with the intention of deceiving, if possible, even the elect.


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But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its gleam.


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And then he will send his angels, and they will gather up his elect from the four winds, from the extremities of the earth to the extremities of heaven.


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Now learn from the parable of the fig tree. When its branch has already become fresh and has produced leaves, know that the summer is near.


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Truly, I say to you, that this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place.


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But no-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels who are in heaven, nor the son, except the father.


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It will be like a man abroad, who has left his house, and given his servants authority, and to each one his work, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.


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So be vigilant. For you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning,


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Now two days later it was the Passover and the days of the unleavened bread, and the senior priests and the scribes were looking for a way to catch him by deceit and put him to death.


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Then when he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, while he was reclining at table, a woman who had an alabaster box of very expensive genuine spikenard ointment came, and broke the alabaster box and poured it down onto his head.


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For this could have been sold for more than <b>Mark 14:30Mark 14:0 denaries and given to the poor.” And they railed at her.


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For you always have the poor with you, and you can do them good whenever you want, but you do not always have me.


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She has done what she was able to do. She has had the anticipation to anoint my body for my embalming.


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Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken about as a memorial to her.”


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Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the senior priests in order to betray him to them.


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And when they heard it, they were delighted and promised to give him money. Then he looked for a convenient way to betray him.


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Then on the first day of the unleavened bread, when they were sacrificing the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover lamb?”


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And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go off into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him,


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and wherever he goes to, say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher asks, «Where is the guest-room where I may eat the Passover lamb with my disciples?» ’


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So his disciples went out and came to the city, and found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover lamb.


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And while they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray me: the one who eats with me.”


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Then they began to grieve and say to him one by one, “Surely not me?” And another would say, “Surely not me?”


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Now the son of man goes away according to what stands written concerning him. But woe to that man through whom the son of man is betrayed. It would have been better for him if that man had not been born.”


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Then while they were eating, after Jesus had taken bread and blessed it, he broke it and gave some to them, and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”


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and he said to them, “This is my blood, that of the new covenant, which is poured out on behalf of many.


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Truly, I say to you, that I will no longer drink from the produce of the vine at all until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.”


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Then Jesus said to them, “You will all take offence at me this night, in that it stands written, ‘I will smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered,’


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Then Jesus said to him, “Truly, I say to you, that you today, this night, before the cock crows twice, will deny me three times.”


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But he all the more insistently kept saying, “Even if I need to die with you, I will definitely not deny you.” They all spoke similarly too.


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Then they came to a place, the name of which was Gethsemané, and he said to his disciples, “Sit down here while I pray.”


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Then he took Peter and James and John with him, and began to be struck with astonishment, and be sorely troubled.


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And he said to them, “My soul is extremely sorrowful to the point of death. Remain here and be watchful.”


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Then he went towards him a little and fell to the ground and prayed that, if it was possible, the hour should pass away from him,


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and he said, “Abba, father, everything is possible with you. Remove this cup from me, but not what I want, but what you want.”


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Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not be watchful for one hour?


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Be watchful and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”


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Then he returned and found them sleeping again, for their eyes were weighed down and they did not know what to answer him.


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Then he came for the third time and said to them, “Sleep from now on and rest. It has passed away. The hour has come. Behold, the son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners.


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And immediately, while he was still talking, Judas, being one of the twelve, arrived, as did a large crowd with him, with swords and sticks, from the senior priests and the scribes, and the elders.


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Now he who was betraying him had pre-arranged a signal, and had said, “He whom I kiss, that is him. Seize him and lead him away securely.”


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So he went off and straightaway he went up to him and said to him, “Rabbi, rabbi,” and kissed him profusely.


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whilst a certain one of those standing around drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his ear.


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But Jesus responded and said to them, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and sticks to arrest me?


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I was with you every day teaching in the temple, but you did not seize me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”


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However a certain young man followed him, wearing fine linen over his naked body, and the young men seized him,


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Then they led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the senior priests and the elders and the scribes went with him.


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Meanwhile Peter followed him from a distance up to inside the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting with the attendants and was warming himself at the fire.


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Now the senior priests and all the Sanhedrin council were looking for a testimony against Jesus, so as to put him to death, but could not find one,


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“We have heard him say, ‘I will destroy this sanctuary which is made by hands and within three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ”


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Then the high priest stood up in full view and questioned Jesus and asked, “Do you not answer anything? What are these people testifying against you?”


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But he remained silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the blessed?”


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Then Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power coming with the clouds of heaven.”


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You have heard the blasphemy. How does it look to you?” Then they all condemned him to be punishable by death.


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Then some began to spit at him, and to blindfold his face, and to buffet him and to say to him, “Prophesy.” Then the attendants would give him sharp slaps on the face.


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and when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him and said, “You were also with Jesus the Nazarene.”


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But he denied it, and said, “I do not know or even understand what you are saying.” Then he went out into the forecourt, and the cock crowed.


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Then when the maidservant saw him again, she began to say to those standing around, “This man is one of them.”


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And he kept on denying it again. And after a short while, those standing around said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, and indeed you are a Galilean, and your dialect is similar.”


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At this the cock crowed a second time. At this Peter remembered the saying that Jesus had spoken to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Then he took it to heart and wept.


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Then straightaway in the morning the senior priests with the elders and scribes and all the Sanhedrin held a council, and they bound Jesus and carried him away and handed him over to Pilate.


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And Pilate questioned him and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He then answered and said to him, “As you say.”


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Then Pilate questioned him again, and asked, “Do you not answer anything? See how many things they testify against you.”


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And a man called Barabbas was held bound among the insurgents who had committed murder in the insurrection.


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Then Pilate replied again and said to them, “What then do you want me to do to him whom you call the king of the Jews.”


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Then Pilate said to them, “Well what has he done wrong?” But they shouted all the more profusely, “Crucify him!”


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Then Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and when he had had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.


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Next the soldiers led him into the courtyard, which is the governmental compound, and they convened the whole cohort.


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And they kept striking his head with a reed, and spitting on him, and kneeling and paying homage to him,


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and when they had made fun of him, they took off the purple clothing, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out in order to crucify him.


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And they pressed a certain passer-by, Simon the Cyrene, who was coming from a field, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.


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Then when they had started to crucify him, they shared out his clothes among themselves and cast lots for them as to who would take what.


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And those passing by blasphemed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ah, you who would demolish the sanctuary and build it again in three days,


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And the senior priests also similarly mocked among themselves along with the scribes and said, “He saved others. He cannot save himself.


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Let Christ, the king of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe him.” And those crucified with him kept reproaching him.


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And at the ninth hour, Jesus shouted in a loud voice and said, “Eloi Eloi, lima sabachthani,” which in translation is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”


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Then a certain person ran and filled a sponge with vinegar and put it on a reed and offered it him to drink, and said, “All right. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down.”


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When the centurion who was standing by opposite him saw that he had shouted and expired in this way, he said, “Truly, this man was the son of God.”


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There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were also Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James junior and Joses, and Salome,


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who had also followed him and served him when he was in Galilee, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.


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Then with it being late by this time, since it was the Preparation Day, which is the day before the Sabbath,


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Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable councillor, who himself was awaiting the kingdom of God, came and ventured to go up to Pilate and asked for Jesus's body.


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Now Pilate was surprised that he had already died, and he called for the centurion and asked him if he died a while ago.


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And having bought fine linen, he took him down and wrapped him in the fine linen and deposited him in a sepulchre, which had been hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance to the sepulchre,


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Then when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the the mother of James, and Salome bought spices with which to come and anoint him.


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and they were saying to each other, “Who will roll back to stone from the entrance to the sepulchre for us?”


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Then they went into the sepulchre and saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe, and they were astonished.


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But he said to them, “Do not be astonished. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they put him.


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But go off and tell his disciples, including Peter, that he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, as he told you.”


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At this they went out and ran away from the sepulchre, and fear and bewilderment possessed them, and they didn't say anything to anyone, for they were afraid.


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Then after he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons.


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And after this, he was manifested in another form to two of them who were walking around, as they were going to a field.


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Later, he was manifested to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table and he reproached their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him risen.


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He who has believed and has been baptized will be saved, but he who has not believed will be condemned.


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And these signs will closely follow those who have believed. They will cast out demons in my name; they will speak in new tongues;


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they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will not harm them at all; they will lay hands on the infirm, and they will get better.”


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So then, after speaking to them, the Lord was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God.


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And they went out and preached everywhere, with the Lord working with them, confirming the word through signs following. Amen.


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Seeing that many have undertaken to draw up an account concerning the proceedings fully carried through among us,


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just as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses to, and had become servants of the word – just as they handed those things down to us,


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so it seemed right to me too, who has followed everything accurately from the beginning, to write to you in an orderly way, Your Excellency Theophilus,


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in order that you might come to know the certainty of the matters about which you have been taught by word of mouth.


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In the days of Herod the king of Judaea there was a certain priest by the name of Zacharias, from the division of Abia, whose wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.


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They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord blamelessly.


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and it came to pass while he was holding the office of priest in the appointed order of his division before God,


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in accordance with the custom of the priestly office, that he received the lot of burning incense as he went into the Lord's sanctuary.


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but the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your supplication has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call him John,


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for he will be great in the Lord's sight, and he will not drink any wine or liquor at all, and he will be filled with holy spirit even from his mother's womb,


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And he will go ahead of him in the spirit and power of Elijah, in order to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the prudence of the righteous, to prepare a people equipped for the Lord.”


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Then Zacharias said to the angel, “By what means will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is elderly.”


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Then the angel replied and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and bring you the good tidings of these things.


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Now look, you will be dumb and not able to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their due time.”


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Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they were surprised at him taking so much time in the sanctuary,


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and when he came out, he was not able to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. So he kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.


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And it came to pass when the days of his officiating service were completed that he went off to his home,


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“This is how the Lord has acted for me in the days when he condescended to remove my reproach among men.”


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Then in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee, the name of which was Nazareth,


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to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the name of the virgin was Mary,


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and when the angel had come to her, he said, “Greetings, you who have been shown grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”


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Now when she saw this, she was deeply disturbed at his words, and pondered on what kind of greeting this might be,


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He will be great, and be called the son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,


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and he shall reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”


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At this the angel answered and said to her, “Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the Most High will overshadow you. On account of this, the holy child who will be born will be called the son of God.


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And look, Elizabeth your kinswoman has herself also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren,


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Then Mary said, “Here am I, the maidservant of the Lord. May it come to pass for me according to your words.” And the angel departed from her.


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Then it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby in her womb leapt, and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit,


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and she called out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.


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And blessed is she who has believed that an accomplishment of the things spoken to her by the Lord will take place.”


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because he has looked favourably on the lowly status of his maidservant. For it will be seen that from now on all generations will pronounce me blessed,


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He has acted in strength with his arm; he has scattered those who are arrogant in the thoughts of their heart.


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And her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had magnified his mercy with her, and they rejoiced with her.


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And it came to pass on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child, and they called him after the name of his father Zacharias,


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At this he asked for a writing-tablet and wrote as follows: “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.


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Then fear came upon all those who lived around them, and in the entire mountainous region of Judaea all these matters were talked about,


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and all those who heard it laid it to heart and said, “What then will this child turn out to be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.


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“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has visited and accomplished redemption for his people,


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And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his ways,


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by means of the compassionate mercy of our God, by which one who has sprung up has visited us from on high,


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in appearing to those living in darkness and the shadow of death, to direct our feet onto the way of peace.”


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So the child grew up, and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert places until the day of his being presented to Israel.


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Now it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole Roman world should be registered.


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And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and the paternal lineage 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 feeding-trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.


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Now there were shepherds in the same region spending the nights in the open, and keeping guard over their flock at night,


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and behold, the angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were very much afraid.


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Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for look, I bring you tidings of great joy, which will be to the whole of the people,


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And this is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a feeding-trough.”


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And it came to pass, when the angels had departed from them for heaven, that the shepherds said to each other, “Let us without fail cross over to Bethlehem and see this episode which has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”


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So they went, going quickly, and discovered both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding-trough.


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Then when they had seen it, they publicized the account which had been told them concerning this child.


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Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, according to what they were told.


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Subsequently, when eight days had passed for the circumcising of him, he was given the name Jesus, which had been given by the angel before he had been conceived in the womb.


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Then when the days of their purification were completed, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,


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as it stands written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb will be called holy to the Lord,”


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and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been spoken in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtle-doves or fledgling pigeons.”


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Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and holy spirit was on him,


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and it had been oracularly communicated to him by the holy spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord's Christ,


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and he went under the impulse of the spirit to the temple, and when the parents brought the child Jesus in for them to do what was the custom of the law concerning him,


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but Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, he is destined to be an occasion of falling and rising of many in Israel, and a sign spoken against,


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and a sword will cut through your own soul also, in order that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”


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Also, there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher – she was very elderly and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage –


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and she was an eighty-four year old widow, who had not left the temple, serving with fastings and supplications night and day,


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and she stood by at that very hour, and gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of him to all those who were awaiting redemption in Jerusalem.


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Then when they had completed all the things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town, Nazareth.


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So the child grew, and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was on him,


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Then when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the festival,


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and when they had spent the days there, as they returned, the boy Jesus remained in Jerusalem, but neither Joseph nor his mother knew it,


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but they supposed he was in the group of travellers, and went a day's journey and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,


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And it was after three days that they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and questioning them,


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Then when they saw him, they were astounded, and his mother said to him, “My child, why have you acted this way to us? You can see that your father and I have been very worried looking for you.”


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Then he said to them, “How come you were looking for me? Did you not know that I need to be immersed in my father's affairs?”


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Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.


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Now in the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother was tetrarch of Ituraea, and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,


text:
at the time when Annas and Caiaphas were high priest, the word of God came to John the son of Zecharias in the desert,


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and he went to the whole area around the Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins,


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as it stands written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, where he says, “The voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.


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Every ravine will be filled in, and every mountain and hill will be made level and the crooked places will be made straight, and the rough tracks will be made smooth roads.


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Then he said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of adders, who has intimated to you to flee from the coming wrath?


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Well then, produce fruit worthy of repentance, and do not start saying to yourselves, ‘We have our father Abraham.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones,


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and the axe also already lies at the root of the trees. For every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”


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At this he replied and said to them, “Let him who has two tunics share with him who does not have any, and let him who has food do likewise.”


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Then some tax-collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”


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Then some men on military service also questioned him, and said, “And as for us, what shall we do?” At that he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone or falsely accuse anyone and be satisfied with your pay.”


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Moreover, since the people were in expectation and everyone was considering John in their hearts, as to whether he might be the Christ,


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John reacted and said to them all, “I baptize you with water. But he who is mightier than me is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not fit to unloose. He will baptize you with holy spirit and fire,


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and his winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and gather the wheat into his store, but will burn up the chaff in an inextinguishable fire.”


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But Herod the tetrarch, because he was being rebuked by him concerning Herodias the wife of his brother, and concerning all the wicked things Herod had done,


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Then it came to pass, when all the people had been baptized, and Jesus had been baptized, and was praying, that heaven was opened,


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and the holy spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him, and a voice from heaven came and said, “You are my beloved son; I am very pleased with you.”


text:
Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old, beginning his ministry, being, as was reckoned by law, the son-in-law of Joseph, who was the son-in-law of Heli,


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who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,


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who was the son of Mattathiah, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Naum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Naggai,


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who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathiah, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Judah,


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who was the son of Joana, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zorobabel, who was the son of Salathiel, who was the son of Neri,


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who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,


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who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Joreim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,


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who was the son of Simeon who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonah, who was the son of Eliakeim,


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who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,


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who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Naason,


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who was the son of Aminadab, who was the son of Ram, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Perez, who was the son of Judah,


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who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor,


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who was the son of who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Heber, who was the son of Shela,


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who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arpacshad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,


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who was the son of Methusalah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Mahalaliel, who was the son of Cainan,


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Then Jesus, who was full of holy spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the spirit into the desert,


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and was tempted by the devil for forty days, and did not eat anything in those days. Then when they were completed – after all this – he was hungry.


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At this Jesus answered him and said, “It stands written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”


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Then the devil led him up to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,


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and the devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, because it has been given to me, and I give it to whomever I wish,


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Then Jesus answered him and said, “Off with you behind me, Satan. It stands written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ”


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Next he led him to Jerusalem, and stood him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the son of God, throw yourself down from here,


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At this Jesus responded and said to him, “It has been spoken, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”


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and Jesus returned in the power of the spirit to Galilee, and a report about him spread throughout the entire surrounding region,


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Then he went to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and in accordance with his custom, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read,


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and the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed over to him, and he unrolled the book, and found the place where it was written,


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“The spirit of the Lord is on me, on account of which he has anointed me to bring good tidings to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim release to captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send the wounded off discharged,


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Then he rolled the book up and returned it to the attendant and sat down. Now the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were looking at him intently,


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So they all bore witness to him, and were astounded at the words of grace coming from his mouth, and they said, “Isn't this the son of Joseph?”


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At this he said to them, “You will no doubt tell me this parable: ‘Doctor, cure yourself. All the things we have heard which took place in Capernaum, do also here in your native country.’ ”


text:
and I say to you truthfully, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven had been closed for three years and six months, when there was a severe famine in all the land,


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Also, there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”


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and they rose up and threw him out of the town, and led him to a brow of the mountain on which their town had been built, intending to throw him off a precipice,


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Now there was a man in the synagogue possessed by a spirit of an unclean demon, and he shouted out in a loud voice,


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and said, “Hey, what have you got to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the holy one of God.”


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Then Jesus rebuked it and said, “Be silent and come out of him.” At this the demon threw him right in among them, and came out of him, not having harmed him in any way.


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And astonishment came upon them all, and they spoke to each other and said, “What kind of speech is this, where he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out?”


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Then he left the synagogue and went to Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in the grip of a severe fever and they appealed to him concerning her.


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So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she got up and waited on them.


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Then when the sun was setting, all those who had folk sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on each one of them and cured them.


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Demons also came out of many of them, shouting and saying, “You are the Christ the son of God,” but he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.


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Then when it was day, he departed and went to a desolate place, but the crowds looked for him and came up to him and tried to stop him moving on from them.


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So he said to them, “I must also announce good tidings of the kingdom of God in the other towns, because this is what I have been sent for.”


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Then it came to pass, when the crowd were pressing him so as to hear the word of God, and he himself was standing beside the lake of Galilee,


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that he saw two boats standing by the lake. The fishermen had disembarked from them and had washed out their nets.


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So he went on board one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out to sea away from the land a little. Then he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat.


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Then when he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out to the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”


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At this Simon answered and said to him, “Master, we have toiled all night long, but caught nothing. But at your word I will lower the net.”


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so they beckoned to their colleagues, who were in the other boat, to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats, so much so that they were on the point of sinking.


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Then when Simon Peter saw it, he fell at Jesus's knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”


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For astonishment had gripped him, and all those with him, at the catch of the fish which they had taken.


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So too had astonishment gripped James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were companions of Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men.”


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And it came to pass when he was in one of the towns that there was a man infected with leprosy, and when he saw Jesus he fell face down and pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me.”


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At this he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy departed from him.


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Then he instructed him not to tell anyone, but, he said, “Go off and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses prescribed, as a testimony to them.”


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But the report about him spread all the more, and many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their infirmities by him.


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Then it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was present to cure them.


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And there were men bringing a man who was paralysed, on a bed, and they kept trying to bring him in and set him before him,


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but not finding a way by which they might bring him in, on account of the crowd, they went up onto the roof and lowered him, bed and all, through the tiles in among them in front of Jesus.


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Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, and said, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”


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But having discerned their reasonings, Jesus replied and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?


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But in order that you may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralysed man – “I say to you, get up and pick up your bed and go to your home.”


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And immediately he got up in their presence, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went away to his home, glorifying God.


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At this, amazement gripped them all, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, and said, “We have seen wonders today.”


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Then after these things he went away and saw a tax collector by name of Levi, sitting at the tax collection point, and he said to him, “Follow me.”


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Then Levi organized a big reception in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were sitting with them.


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However, their scribes and the Pharisees complained to his disciples and said, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax-collectors and sinners?”


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So Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are in good health who need a doctor, but those who are ill.


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Then they said to him, “Why do John's disciples fast frequently, and make supplications, as those of the Pharisees do for their part, whereas yours eat and drink?”


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He then said to them, “Surely you can't make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?


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But such days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then – in those days – they will fast.”


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And he told them a parable: “No-one puts a patch of new cloth on an old garment, otherwise the new one will tear, and that of the new material will not be compatible with the old.


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And no-one puts new wine in old wineskins, or else the new wine will tear the wineskins, and will itself be spilt and the wineskins will be ruined.


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And no-one who has drunk old wine immediately wants new. For he says, ‘The old is more palatable.’ ”


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Now it came to pass on a high day Sabbath that he was crossing through the corn-fields, and his disciples were plucking ears of corn and eating them, rubbing them with their hands.


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And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what it is not permitted to do on the Sabbath days?”


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So Jesus replied to them and said, “Have you not read this – what David did when he was hungry – he and those with him –


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when he went into the house of God, and took the showbread loaves and ate from them, and gave some to those who were with him as well, loaves which it is not permitted to eat, except for the priests alone?”


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And it also came to pass on another Sabbath that he went into the synagogue and gave teaching, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.


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The scribes and the Pharisees, however, watched carefully to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find an accusation against him.


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But he knew their reasonings, and said to the man who had a withered hand, “Get up and stand in full view.” And he got up and stood there.


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So Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something. Is it permitted to do good or bad – to save life or to kill – on the Sabbath days?”


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Then he looked round at them all and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did that and his hand was restored as sound as the other one.


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But they were filled with senselessness, and they discussed with each other what they might do to Jesus.


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And it came to pass in those days that he went off to the mountain to pray, and passed the night in prayer to God.


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Then he went down with them, and stood in a place on the plain, and there was a crowd of his disciples, and a very large number of the people from the whole of Judaea and Jerusalem and the coastal area of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him, and to be cured of their diseases.


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And the whole crowd kept trying to touch him, because power would go out from him and cure everyone.


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Then he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said, “Blessed are you poor, because yours is the kingdom of God.


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Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh.


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Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they ostracize you and reproach you and reject your name as evil, on account of the son of man.


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Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for you will see that your reward is great in heaven. After all, their fathers acted along those lines towards the prophets.


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Woe to you who have been filled, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.


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Woe when men speak well of you. After all, their fathers acted along those lines towards the false prophets.


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To him who hits you on the cheek, offer the other one also, and from him who takes your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.


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And if you love those who love you, what kind of graciousness is that to you? For even the sinners love those who love them.


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And if you do good to those who do good to you, what kind of graciousness is that to you? For even the sinners do the same.


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And if you lend things to those from whom you hope to get them back, what kind of graciousness is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners on terms that they get the same things back.


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But love your enemies, and do good, and lend not hoping for anything back, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and wicked.


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And do not judge, and you will not be judged at all. And do not condemn, so that you will not be condemned at all. Acquit others, and you will be acquitted.


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Give, and you will be given. They will give you a good measure, compacted and shaken and overflowing in your bosom. For with the same measure with which you measure it will be measured to you in turn.”


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Then he told them a parable. “Surely a blind man cannot guide a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?


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And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, but not notice the joist in your own eye?


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Or how can you say to your brother, ‘My brother, let me extract the splinter in your eye,’ not seeing the joist in your own eye yourself? You hypocrite! First extract the joist from your eye, and then you will see clearly to extract the splinter in your brother's eye.


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For there is no good tree which produces rotten fruit, nor is there a rotten tree which that produces good fruit.


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For each tree is known by its own fruit. For one does not gather figs from thorn-plants, nor does one harvest a bunch of grapes from a bramble bush.


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A good man produces what is good from the good store of his heart, whereas the wicked man produces wickedness from the wicked store of his heart. For his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.


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He is like a man who built a house, who dug and went deep and laid a foundation on rock. Then when a flood came, the river beat against that house, but it was not strong enough to shake it, for it had been founded on rock.


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But he who hears but does not do accordingly is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the river beat, so that it immediately collapsed, and the devastation of that house was severe.”


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Now the servant of a certain centurion, who was highly valued by him, was ill and on the point of dying,


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and having heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him requesting him to come and save his servant.


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Then when they had come to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, and said that he to whom he would grant this was worthy of it,


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So Jesus went with them, and by the time he was not far away from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, who said to him, “Lord, do not put yourself to trouble, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof,


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which is why I have not considered myself worthy to come to you either. But just say the word and my servant will be cured.


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For indeed I am a man appointed under a system of authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”


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When Jesus heard these things, he was astonished at him, and he turned and said to the crowd who were following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found so much faith.”


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Then those who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant who had been ailing in good health.


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And it came to pass soon afterwards that he went to a town called Nain, and a considerable number of his disciples went with him, and also a large crowd,


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and when he approached the gate of the town, it transpired that a dead man was being carried out – the only-begotten son of his mother – and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.


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And he went up and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still, and he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.”


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Then fear gripped everyone, and they glorified God, and said, “A great prophet has arisen among us,” and, “God has visited his people.”


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at which John called for a certain two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”


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Then when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you asking, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”


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Now in that very hour he cured many of their diseases and infirmities and evil spirits and he granted many blind their sight.


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And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report back to John what you have seen and heard: that the blind recover their sight; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear again; the dead are raised; good tidings are preached to the poor.


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Then when John's messengers had departed, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out in the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind?


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Well then, what did you go out to see? A man clothed in delicate clothes? You know that people in elegant clothing and living in luxury are to be found in royal palaces.


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So what then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one more eminent than a prophet.


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This man is he about whom it stands written, ‘See how I am sending my messenger in front of you, and he will prepare your way ahead of you.’


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For I say to you, no-one among those born from women is a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”


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Then when all the people had heard it, including the tax collectors, they pronounced God righteous, having been baptized with John's baptism.


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But the Pharisees and scholars in the law rejected God's counsel to them and were not baptized by him.


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They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to each other, and saying, ‘We have played the flute to you, but you have not danced. We have sung you a dirge, but you have not wept.’


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For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’


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The son of man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a gluttonous and wine-drinking man, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners.’


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Then one of the Pharisees asked him to dine with him. So he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined.


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Now there was a woman in the town, who was a sinner, who had found out that he was reclining in the Pharisee's house, and she brought an alabaster box of ointment,


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and stood at his feet weeping behind him, and began to wet his feet with the tears and wipe them off with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.


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But when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who, and what kind of woman it is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”


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At this Jesus reacted and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Then he said, “Teacher, say it.”


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Since they did not have the means to repay, he waived the debt for both of them. Which of them, then,” – he said, – “will love him more?”


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Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one for whom he waived the greater debt.” Then he said to him, “You have judged correctly.”


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Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house, but you did not put water on my feet. But she wet my feet with tears and wiped them off with the hairs of her head.


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For this reason I say to you, her many sins have been forgiven, so that she loved me a lot. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”


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Then those reclining at table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”


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Then it came to pass shortly afterwards that he travelled from city to city and village to village preaching and bringing good tidings of the kingdom of God, the twelve being with him also,


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as also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and illnesses: Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out,


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and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's administrator, and Susanna and many others, and they attended to them with their own resources.


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Then when a large crowd had assembled and people of various towns had come to him, he spoke using a parable,


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“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed it, some fell beside the road and was trodden on, and the birds of the sky devoured it.


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And some fell amid the thorn-bushes, and when the thorn plants had grown up with it, they choked it.


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And some fell onto good ground, and grew up, and produced a hundredfold yield.” While he was saying these things, he would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”


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Then he said, “To you it is granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest they are described in parables, in order that they might see, but not have an eye to them, and hear, but not understand.


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Those beside the road are they who hear, but then the devil comes and removes the word from their hearts, in order that they might not believe and be saved.


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Those on the rock are those who when they hear, receive the word with joy, but these do not have root, and they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away,


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and that which fell into the thorn bushes is those who hear, but are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life as they go, and do not go on to produce fruit.


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But that on the good ground is those with a noble and good heart who hear the word and hold on to it and produce fruit with patience.


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No-one who has lit a lamp hides it with a container or puts it under a bed, but rather puts it on a lamp-stand so that those who come in can see the light.


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For there is nothing hidden that will not become manifest, nor anything secret that will not become known and come into the open.


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So watch out how you hear. For whoever has something, more will be given to him, but whoever does not have anything, even that which he thinks he has will be taken from him.”


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And it was reported to him by people saying, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”


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But he replied and said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”


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Then it came to pass in one of those days that he went on board a boat, as did his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail.


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Now as they were sailing, he fell asleep. Then a squall descended on the lake, and they were filling up with water, and were in danger.


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So they went to him, and woke him up and said, “Master, master, we are in mortal danger.” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and the dashing of the water, and they stopped, and it became calm.


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Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and astonished, and said to each other, “Who is this then, in that he even commands the winds and water, and they obey him?”


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And when he had disembarked onto land, a certain man from the town met him, a man who had been possessed by demons for a considerable time, and who was not wearing any outer clothing, and who did not stay at home, but among the tombs.


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And when he saw Jesus, he shouted out and fell down at him and said in a loud voice, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I implore you, do not torment me.”


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For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man, for it had held him in its grip for a long time, and he was kept under guard bound with chains and fetters, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into desolate places.


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Then Jesus questioned him and said, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.


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Now there was a herd there of a considerable number of pigs feeding on the mountain, and they pleaded with him to allow them to go into them. At this he allowed them.


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Then when the demons had come out of the man, they went into the pigs, whereupon the herd rushed headlong down the cliff into the lake and drowned.


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Then when the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported it in the city and in the fields.


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So they came out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man out of whom the demons had come sitting down, clothed, and in his senses, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid.


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Then those who had seen it for their part related to them how he who had been possessed by demons had been saved.


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However, the whole populace of the surrounding area of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, because they were gripped by a great fear. So he went on board a boat and returned.


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But the man out of whom the demons had come implored him to stay with him. However, Jesus sent him away, saying,


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“Return to your home, and tell them about all the things God has done for you.” At this he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what Jesus had done for him.


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Then it came to pass as Jesus was returning that the crowd welcomed him, for they were all awaiting him,


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and the next thing that happened was that a man, whose name was Jairus, who was president of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus's feet and implored him to come into his house,


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because he had an only-begotten daughter, twelve years old, and she was dying. And as he went off, the crowds pressed him,


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and a woman who had been suffering from a haemorrhage for twelve years, who had spent all her life-savings on doctors, but had not been able to be cured by anyone,


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At this Jesus said, “Who is it who touched me?” Since everyone denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the crowds are pressing and thronging you, yet you ask, ‘Who is it who touched me?’ ”


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Then when the woman saw that she had not gone unnoticed, she came trembling and fell down at him and explained to him the reason why she had touched him in the presence of all the people, and how she had been cured immediately.


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While he was still speaking, someone came from the entourage of the president of the synagogue saying to him, “Your daughter has died; do not trouble the teacher.”


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But when Jesus heard it, he replied to him and said, “Do not fear; just believe, and she will be saved.”


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Then when he had come to the house, he did not permit anyone to go in, except Peter and John and James and the father of the child, and the mother.


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Everyone was weeping and mourning her. But he said, “Do not weep; she has not died, but is sleeping.”


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at which her spirit returned, and she immediately stood up. Then he ordered her to be given something to eat.


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Next he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to cure diseases,


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and he said to them, “Do not take anything for the journey, neither staffs nor wallet, nor bread, nor money, nor have two coats each,


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But as for whoever does not receive you, go out of that city and shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”


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So they departed and passed through from village to village bringing good tidings and healing people everywhere.


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Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all the things being done by him, and he was quite put out, with it being said by some that John had been raised from the dead,


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Then Herod said, “I had John beheaded. So who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he looked for a way to see him.


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Meanwhile the apostles returned and described to him the things which they had done, at which he took them along and withdrew privately to a deserted place in the city called Bethsaida,


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but the crowds, having come to know about it, followed him. Nevertheless he received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed curing.


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Then the day began to decline, and the twelve came up and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go off to the surrounding villages and fields to lodge and find provisions, because here we are in a desolate place.”


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But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They then said, “We do not have more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go to buy food for all these people.”


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After all, there were about five thousand men there. Then he said to his disciples, “Seat them in groups of fifty.”


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Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up to heaven and blessed them and broke them and gave them to the disciples to serve to the crowd.


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And they all ate and were filled, and the fragments they left over were picked up: twelve basketsful.


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Subsequently, it came to pass when he was praying on his own, that his disciples were with him, and he questioned them, and asked, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”


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They answered and said, “John the Baptist, while others say Elijah, and others that one of the ancient prophets has risen.”


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and said, “The son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and senior priests and scribes, and be killed, and rise on the third day.”


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Then he said to everyone, “If anyone wishes to follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.


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For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but it is whoever loses his life for my sake who will save it.


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For how is man benefitted if he has gained the whole world, but has lost or suffered damage to his very self?


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For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the son of man will be ashamed of him, when he enters into his glory and that of the father and that of the holy angels.


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And I say to you, truly, there are some of those standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”


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Then it came to pass about eight days after these words that he took Peter and John and James along with him and went up the mountain to pray.


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And as he was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and his clothing flashed like lightning.


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and they appeared in glory, and were speaking of his departure from this life, which he was about to fulfil in Jerusalem.


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Then Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep, but on waking up they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.


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And it came to pass as they moved away from him that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here, so let us make three booths, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he was saying.


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But as he was saying these things, a cloud materialized and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as the aforementioned went into the cloud.


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And when the voice had passed, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and did not disclose to anyone in those days anything of what they had seen.


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Then it came to pass on the next day when they had come down from the mountain that a large crowd met him.


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And it so happened that a man from the crowd shouted out and said, “Teacher, I implore you, have an eye to my son, for he is my only-begotten child,


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and what happens is, a spirit gets possession of him, and he suddenly shouts out, and it convulses him with foaming, and it hardly recedes from him as it crushes him.


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At this, Jesus replied and said, “O faithless and wayward generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.”


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Even as he was coming, the demon tore at him and convulsed him. Jesus, however, rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the child and gave him back to his father.


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And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. And while they all marvelled at everything Jesus did, he said to his disciples,


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But they failed to understand this remark, and it was veiled from them, so that they did not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this remark.


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But Jesus, having seen the disputing of their heart, took hold of a child and stood him next to himself,


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and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For it is he who is least among you all who will be great.”


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Then John responded and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we prevented him, because he does not follow with us.”


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Now it came to pass, towards the completion of the days to him being taken up, that he resolutely disposed himself to go to Jerusalem.


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And he sent messengers ahead of him, who departed and went into a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.


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Then when his disciples James and John saw him, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them, as Elijah did for his part?”


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For the son of man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” Then they went to another village.


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Then it came to pass as they were going on the way that someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go, Lord.”


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But Jesus said to him, “The foxes have dens and the birds of the sky have nests, but the son of man does not have anywhere to lay his head.”


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He also said to someone else, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, allow me to go off and bury my father first.”


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However, Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go off and proclaim the kingdom of God.”


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Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord. But first allow me to bid farewell to those in my house.”


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But Jesus said to him, “No-one, having put his hand to the plough, but looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”


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After these things the Lord appointed another seventy in addition and sent them in twos ahead of him into every town and place where he was going to go himself.


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Then he said to them, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So entreat the Lord of the harvest to send out workers to his harvest.


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And if there is a man of peace there, your peace will rest on him. But if not, it will turn back on you.


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And remain in that house eating and drinking what they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move from house to house.


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‘We are wiping away even the dust from your town which has stuck to us so testifying against you. But know this, that the kingdom of God has drawn close to you.’


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Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power which have taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented sitting in sack-cloth and ashes a long time ago.


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He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”


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Subsequently the seventy returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.”


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Here you are, I give you the authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over every power of the enemy, and nothing at all will harm you.


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But do not rejoice at this, in that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice rather in that your names have been written in the heavens.”


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At that hour, Jesus rejoiced in the spirit and said, “I give thanks to you, father, Lord of heaven and earth, in that you have hidden these things from the wise and clever, and have revealed them to infants. Indeed, father, because this met with your approval”.


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Then he turned to his disciples and said, “Everything has been handed over 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 whoever the son wishes to reveal it to.”


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For I say to you that many prophets and kings have wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”


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Then what happened was that a certain scholar in the law stood up, testing him, and said, “Teacher, by doing what will I inherit age-abiding life?”


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He then replied and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.”


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Jesus then rejoined and said, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers who for their part stripped him and gave him a beating and went off leaving him, as his fate would have it, half dead.


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And likewise also a Levite, who had come down to the place, came and saw him, and passed by opposite.


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and went to him and bound up his wounds, and poured oil and wine on them, and mounted him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.


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Then on the next day when he departed, he produced two denaries and gave them to the inn-keeper and said to him, ‘Take care of him and whatever you spend in addition I will repay you when I return.’


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Which, then, of these three do you consider to have emerged as the neighbour of him who fell among the robbers?”


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Then it came to pass as they were on the move that he went into a certain village, and a certain woman by name of Martha received him into her house.


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Now this woman had a sister called Mary, who had sat down beside Jesus's feet, and was listening to his word.


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But Martha was distracted with a lot of serving. Then she came up and said, “Lord, are you not concerned that my sister has left me alone to do the serving? So tell her to assist me.”


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But Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and agitated about many things.


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And it came to pass when he was praying in a certain place, when he stopped, that one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John for his part taught his disciples.”


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So he said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our father in the heavens, May your name be sanctified. May your kingdom come. May your will be done, As in heaven, So on the earth.


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And forgive us our sins, For indeed we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But save us from evil.’ ”


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Then he said to them, “Who among you has a friend, and would go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, ‘My friend, lend me three loaves,


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Then from indoors he would reply and say, ‘Do not give me trouble. The door has already been shut and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you any.’


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I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him something because he is his friend, he will get up anyway and give him what he needs because of his shameless behaviour.


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And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.


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Which of you, as the father, if your son were to ask for bread, would give him a stone? Or also if he were to ask for a fish, instead of a fish would give him a serpent?


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So if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father from heaven give holy spirit to those who ask him!”


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Subsequently he was casting out a demon, and it was dumb. And it came to pass that when the demon had come out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds were amazed.


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But he, knowing their cogitations, said to them, “Every kingdom which is divided against itself is made desolate, and a house divided against a house falls.


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So then, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.


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And if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people cast them out? By this logic, they themselves will be judges over you.


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but as soon as one stronger than he arrives and overcomes him, he will take his weaponry, in which he trusted, and will divide his spoils.


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Whenever an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it traverses arid places seeking a resting place, and if it does not find it, it says, ‘I will return to my house from where I came out,’


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Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself along with it, and they go and dwell there, and the latter state of that man becomes worse than the first.”


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And it came to pass as he was saying these things that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb which carried you and the breasts which you sucked.”


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As the crowds continued to accumulate, he went on to say, “This generation is wicked. It is looking for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet,


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The queen of the south will rise in the judgment with the men of this generation, and will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, one greater than Solomon is here.


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The men of Nineveh will rise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.


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And no-one lights a lamp and puts it in a vault, or under a bushel of corn, but on a lamp-stand, so that those coming in can see its glow.


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The light of the body is the eye. So when your eye is clear-sighted then the whole of your body will be bright, but if it is bad then your body is dark.


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Therefore, if the whole of your body is bright, not having any dark part, it will be bright all over, as when a lamp lights you up with its brilliance.”


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Now while he was speaking, a certain Pharisee asked him to dine with him, and he went and reclined at table.


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And the Pharisee, when he saw it, was astounded that he did not first perform ablutions before the meal.


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Then the Lord said to him, “Well now, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but your inside is full of greed and wickedness.


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But woe to you, you Pharisees, because you give tithes of mint and rue, and every herb, but you pass by the judgment and love of God. You ought to have done these things, while not neglecting the former things.


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Woe to you Pharisees, for you love the privileged seating in the synagogues and the greetings in the market places.


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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you are like the inconspicuous tombs, and the men walking around above them are unaware of them.”


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Then one of the scholars in the law answered and said to him, “Teacher, by saying these things, you are insulting us as well.”


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But he said, “Woe to you scholars in the law too, for you burden men with burdens which are hard to bear, but you yourselves do not feel what the burdens are like with a single one of your fingers.


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Consequently, you bear witness and approve of the works of your fathers, because they themselves killed them, whereas you build their sepulchres.


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On account of this the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them,’ but they will kill some of them, and persecute them,


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so that an account is required from this generation of the blood of all the prophets which has been shed since the overthrow of the world,


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from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the house. Yes, I say to you, an account will be required from this generation.


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Woe to you scholars of the law, because you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not go in, and you have prevented those who were going in.”


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Now while he was saying these things to them, the scribes and Pharisees began to harbour an intense grudge and to draw him out on very many matters,


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Meanwhile myriads of the crowd gathered together to the point of treading on each other, and he went on to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.


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because whatever you have said in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken to the ear in closed rooms will be proclaimed on the rooftops.


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But I say to you friends of mine, do not fear those who can kill the body but after that are unable to do anything more.


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And I will show you whom to fear. Fear him who after killing has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I say to you, fear him.


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But even the hairs on your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.


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And I say to you, as regards everyone who acknowledges me in the presence of men – the son of man will in turn acknowledge him before the angels of God.


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Now as for anyone who speaks a word against the son of man, it will be forgiven him, but it will not be forgiven him who blasphemes against the holy spirit.


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When they haul you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not be concerned about how or what you will answer in defence, or what you should say,


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Then someone said to him from the crowd, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”


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And he said to them, “Watch out and guard yourselves against greed. For it is not the abundance of a person's possessions which makes up his life.”


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And he thought things over and said, ‘What should I do? For I do not have anywhere to gather up my fruits into.’


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And he said, ‘This is what I will do – I will demolish my storehouses and build bigger ones, and gather up there all my produce and my goods.


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And I will say to myself, «Self, you have many goods laid up for many years. Have a rest, eat, drink, and be merry.» ’


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But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night they demand your life from you. Then who will have what you have prepared?’


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Then he said to his disciples, “This is why I say to you, do not be concerned about yourself, as to what you will eat, or about your body, as to what you will wear.


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Observe the ravens, how they do not sow or reap, which have neither store nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more you are worth than the birds!


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Observe the lilies – how they grow. They do not toil, nor spin thread. But I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.


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And if God so clothes the vegetation in the field in existence today, but it is thrown into a furnace tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!


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So don't you concentrate on what you will eat or what you will drink, and do not be in suspense about it,


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for the nations of the world concentrate on all these things, but your father knows that you need these things.


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Sell your belongings and give alms. Make yourselves purses which do not wear out – an unfailing treasure in the heavens where no thief comes near nor does a moth cause ruin.


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and you yourselves be like men awaiting their master when he returns from the wedding reception, so that when he comes and knocks, they open to him immediately.


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Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on the alert when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will gird himself and have them recline at table, and will come up to them and serve them.


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And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them like this, blessed are those servants.


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Know this: if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.


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The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward whom the master will appoint over his body of servants to give them their ration of wheat at the proper time?


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But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is taking a long time coming,’ and starts beating the menservants and maidservants, and eating and drinking, and becoming drunk,


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that servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect it, and at an hour which he does not know, and he will cut him in two and assign his lot with the unfaithful.


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And that servant, who knew his master's will but did not make preparations nor act in accordance with his will, will be flogged with many lashes.


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But he who did not know, and acted in a way worthy of beating, will be flogged with few lashes. From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required, and from him to whom much has been entrusted, they will ask all the more.


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For from now on there will be five in one house at odds with each other three against two and two against three.


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A father will be at variance with his son, and a son with his father; a mother with her daughter and a daughter with her mother; a mother-in-law will be against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”


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Then he said to the crowds as well, “Whenever you see a cloud arising from the west, you immediately say, ‘A downpour is coming.’ And so it comes to pass.


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And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be a scorching heat.’ And so it comes to pass.


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You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the condition of the earth and the sky, but how come you cannot interpret this period of time?


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For when you go before a magistrate with your opponent, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he does not drag you to the judge, and the judge hands you over to the executive officer, and the executive officer throws you in prison.


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Now there were some people present at that very time reporting to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.


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To this Jesus reacted and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans, because they have suffered such things?


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Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them – do you suppose these were more at fault than all the other men who live in Jerusalem?


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Then he related this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any,


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and he said to his vinedresser, ‘That's three years that I have been coming looking for fruit on this fig tree, but not finding any. Cut it down. Why should it for its part occupy the ground pointlessly?’


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But he answered and said to him, ‘Master, leave it this year too, until I have dug around it and applied manure.


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and there was a woman who had been possessed by a spirit of illness for eighteen years, and was bent double, and was not able to straighten up at all.


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Then when Jesus saw her, he called to her and said to her, “Madam, you have been made free of your illness.”


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But the president of the synagogue, who was annoyed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded and said to the congregation, “There are six days on which one must do work. So come on these days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”


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Therefore the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you untie his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath and lead it away to give it drink?


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Should not this woman, who is a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound all these eighteen years, not be freed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”


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And with him saying these things, all those who opposed him were put to shame, and all the congregation rejoiced at all the illustrious things which were done by him.


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It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and threw in his own garden, and it grew and became a big tree, and the birds of the sky nestled in its branches.”


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Then he crossed around from town to town and village to village, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.


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“Exert yourselves to go in through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, are trying to go in, but will not be able.


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Once the master of the house has got up and closed the door, when you make a move and stand outside and knock on the door and say, ‘Lord, lord, open up to us,’ he will then answer and say to you, ‘I don't know where you are from.’


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Then you will go on to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in your company, and you taught us in our streets.’


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Then he will say, ‘I say to you, I do not know where you are from. Keep away from me, all you perpetrators of iniquity.’


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There, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves cast out.


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And they will come from the east and the west and the north and the south, and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.


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And you will see that there are some last who will be first, and that there are some first who will be last.”


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On that day, some Pharisees came over and said to him, “Get out and go away from here, for Herod wishes to kill you.”


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At this he said to them, “Go and say to that fox, ‘Look, I cast out demons and accomplish healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will come to an end.’


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But it is necessary for me to make my journey today and tomorrow and the day after, because it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside Jerusalem.


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Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I wished to gather your children in the way a bird gathers its own brood under its wings, but you were not willing!


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See how your house is left to you desolate. And I say to you that you will not see me at all until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”


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Now it came to pass, when he had gone into the home of one of the senior members of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him closely,


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at which Jesus reacted and addressed the scholars in the law and Pharisees and said, “Is it permitted to heal on the Sabbath?”


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Then he replied to them and said, “Who among you whose son or ox falls into a well would not immediately draw him up on the Sabbath day?”


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Then he told the guests a parable as he noticed how they chose the places of honour, and said to them,


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“When you have been invited to a wedding by someone, do not recline at a place of honour, in case someone more honourable than you is invited by him,


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and the one who invited you and him should come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you will have to move on with shame to occupy the last choice place.


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But when you are invited, go and recline in the last choice place so that when your host comes, he says to you, ‘My friend, come up higher.’ Then you will have honour in the sight of those sitting with you.


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Then he said to him who had invited him, “When you give a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relations or rich neighbours, in case they also invite you in return, and you have a repayment.”


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and you will be blessed, because they don't have the means to repay you. For it will be repaid to you in the resurrection of the righteous.


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Then when one of those reclining with him at table heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will eat lunch in the kingdom of God.”


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And he sent his servant at the hour of the dinner to say to the guests, ‘Come along, for everything is already prepared.’


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But they all one after the other set about excusing themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field and need to go out and see to it. I ask you to accept my apologies.’


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And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. I ask you to accept my apologies.’


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So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor and the disabled and the lame and the blind here.’


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In due course the servant said, ‘Master, it has been done as you ordered, but there is still place.’


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At this the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the roads and paths and compel them to come in, so that my house is filled.


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For I say to you, no-one of those who were invited will have a taste of the dinner of mine.’ For many are called, but few chosen.”


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“If anyone comes to me but does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be a disciple of mine.


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For who among you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see whether he has enough money for its completion,


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in case after he has laid the foundation, he does not have the means to complete it, and everyone who sees it starts mocking him,


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Or what king, making a move to engage another king in war, does not first sit down and take counsel as to whether he is powerful enough with ten thousand soldiers to confront him with twenty thousand soldiers coming against him?


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So in this way, every one of you who does not bid farewell to all his own possessions cannot be a disciple of mine.


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It is not fit for either land or manure; it is thrown away outside. Let him who has ears to hear, hear.”


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at which the Pharisees and scribes would mutter among themselves, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”


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“What man among you who has one hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?


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and comes to his house and calls his friends and neighbours together, and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep.’


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I say to you that there will be more joy like this in heaven at one sinner who repents, than at ninety-nine righteous, who have no need of repentance.


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Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, will not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?


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And when she has found it, she will call her friends and neighbours together and say, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma which I had lost.’


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and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of the property which falls to me.’ So he distributed his estate between them.


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Then not many days later the younger son gathered everything and moved to a distant country and squandered his substance there by living extravagantly.


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But when he had spent everything, a severe famine set in throughout that country, and he began to be in need.


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And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to tend pigs.


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However, he would long to fill his belly with the carob-pods which the pigs ate, but no-one gave him any.


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Then he came to himself and said, ‘How many hired servants of my father have bread in abundance, whereas I am perishing from famine!


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I will get up and go to my father and say to him, «Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.


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So he got up and went to his father. Now while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved to compassion, and ran and fell around his neck and kissed him.


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Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’


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But his father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.


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because this son of mine was dead, but has come back to life, and was lost, but has been found.’ So they began to rejoice.


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But his elder son was in the field, and as he came back and approached the house, he heard music and dancing,


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And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come back and your father has slaughtered the fatted calf, because he has got him back in good health.’


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But he replied and said to his father, ‘Look, I have been serving you for all these years and I have never disobeyed any commandment of yours, but you have never given me a kid for me to enjoy with my friends.


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But when this son of yours came, who has dissipated your wealth with harlots, you slaughtered the fatted calf for him.’


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But it was befitting to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead, but has come back to life, and was lost, but has been found.’ ”


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Then he also said to his disciples, “A certain man was rich, and he had a steward, and this man was accused by him of squandering his possessions.


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So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you will not be able to hold the office of steward any longer.’


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Then the steward said to himself, ‘What should I do, for my master is taking my stewardship away from me. I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.


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I know what I will do, so that when I have been dismissed from my stewardship, they will receive me into their homes.’


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And he called for each one of his master's debtors, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’


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So he said, ‘A hundred baths of oil.’ Then he said to him, ‘Take your agreement and sit down quickly and write fifty.’


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Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ This one said, ‘One hundred cors of grain.’ Then he said to him, ‘Take your agreement and write eighty.’


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Then the master commended the dishonest steward, because he had acted prudently. For the sons of this age are more prudent than the sons of light towards their own generation.


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And I say to you, make yourselves friends of dishonest mammon, so that when you fail, they will receive you in age-abiding dwellings.


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He who is trustworthy in the least thing is also faithful in a greater matter, and he who is dishonest in the least thing is also dishonest in a greater matter.


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So if you have not been trustworthy with dishonest mammon, who will entrust you with that which is true?


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And if you have not been trustworthy with another person's property, who will give you something of your own?


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No domestic servant can serve two masters. For he will either hate one and love the other, or be attached to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”


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Then he said to them, “You are those who justify themselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in God's sight.


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The law and the prophets were the order of the day until John. From then on the kingdom of God has been preached, but everyone is using force against it.


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Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.


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Now there was a certain rich man, and he used to wear purple and fine linen, and he feasted luxuriously every day.


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And there was a certain poor man by the name of Lazarus, who had been placed at his gate, covered in sores,


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and he longed to be fed from the crumbs which fell from the table of the rich man; not only that, but the dogs would also come and lick his sores clean.


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Then it came to pass that the poor man died, and he was carried away by angels to Abraham's bosom. Then the rich man also died and was buried.


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And when in Hades he lifted up his eyes, where he was in torments, he saw Abraham from a distance, and Lazarus in his bosom.


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Then he called and said, ‘Father Abraham, have compassion on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering pain in this flame.’


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But Abraham said, ‘My child, remember that you received the good things you had in your life, whereas Lazarus likewise bad things. But now this man is comforted whereas you suffer pain.


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And besides all these things, a great chasm between us and you has been established, so that those wishing to cross from here to you cannot do it, nor can anyone cross from your side to us.’


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for I have five brothers, to testify solemnly to them, so that they do not also come to this place of torment.’


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But he said to him, ‘If they will not hear Moses and the prophets, even if someone were to rise from the dead, they would not be persuaded.’ ”


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Then he said to the disciples, “It is impossible for offences not to come, but woe to him through whom they come.


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It would be better for him if an ass-driven millstone were hung around his neck and he had been thrown in the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.


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And if he sins against you seven times a day, and he turns back seven times a day and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”


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To which the Lord said “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would have obeyed you.


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But who is there among you who has a servant ploughing or tending sheep, who will straightaway say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come along and recline at table?’


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But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat for dinner, and gird yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and after that you can eat and drink.’


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Likewise you too, when you have done everything you were ordered, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants, for we have only done what we had to do.’ ”


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Subsequently it came to pass when he was going to Jerusalem that he crossed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee,


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Then when he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And it came to pass as they were going off that they were cleansed.


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Then when he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he replied to them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with close watching.


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Nor when they say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘Look, there it is.’ After all, look, the kingdom of God is in you.”


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Then he said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the son of man, but will not see him.


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And they will say to you, ‘Look, here he is’ or, ‘Look, there he is.’ Do not go along with or follow them.


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For just as flashing lightning gives illumination from one part of the sky to another part of the sky, so will the son of man be in his day.


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They were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.


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And similarly with what happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building,


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but on the day when Lot departed from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from heaven and destroyed them all.


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On that day, let him who is on the roof and whose goods are in the house not come down to pick them up, and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back.


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I say to you, on that night, there will be two in one bed and one will be taken away and the other will be left.


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Then they answered and said to him, “Lord, where?” And he said to them, “It is where the body is that the eagles will be gathered together.”


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and said, “There was a certain judge in a certain city who did not fear God, nor did he respect man.


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And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my opponent.’


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But for a long time he refused. But at length he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God or respect man,


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nevertheless because this widow gives me trouble, I will get her vindicated, so that she does not endlessly come and grind me down.’ ”


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Will God not provide the vindication due to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, and be longsuffering over them?


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I tell you he will provide the vindication due to them swiftly. But when the son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”


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And he spoke this parable to certain people who trusted in themselves – that they were righteous – and despised the others.


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The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself as follows: ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like other men, the grasping, the unjust, the adulterers – nor like this tax collector either.


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Then the tax collector stood at a distance and was not even willing to lift his eyes up to heaven, but he beat his breast and said, ‘O God, be propitious to me, a sinner.’


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I say to you, the latter went down to his house justified rather than the former. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”


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Then they also brought some infants to him for him to touch, and when the disciples saw it they rebuked them.


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But Jesus called them along, and said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them. For the kingdom of God is constituted of such.


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Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will definitely not enter into it.”


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Then a certain governor enquired with him, and asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit age-abiding life?”


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You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not commit murder, do not steal, do not give false witness, honour your father and your mother.”


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Then when Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have got and distribute the proceeds to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.”


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Then when Jesus saw that he had become very sad, he said, “How it is with difficulty that those who are affluent will go into the kingdom of God.


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For it is easier for a camel to go in through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go into the kingdom of God.”


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At which he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no-one who has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,


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who will not certainly receive in return many times over in this epoch, and in the age to come – age-abiding life.”


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And taking the twelve along, he said to them, “Here we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written through the prophets will be accomplished by the son of man.”


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But they did not understand any of these things, and this remark was hidden from them, and they did not discern the import of the things spoken.


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Then it came to pass as he approached Jericho that a certain blind man was sitting beside the road, begging,


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But those going in front rebuked him, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have compassion on me.”


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Then Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought to him, and when he had come near, he questioned him,


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And immediately he recovered his sight, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people saw it and gave praise to God.


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And there was a man by the name of Zacchaeus, and he was a senior tax-collector, and this man was rich,


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and he was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not for the crowd, because he was short in stature.


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So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see him, because it was by that way that he was going to cross through.


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And when he came to the place, Jesus looked up and saw him and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry up and come down, for today I must stay in your house.”


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but when they all saw it, they muttered among themselves, and said, “He has gone in to lodge with a sinful man.”


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Meanwhile Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, I am giving half my possessions to the poor, Lord, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I will repay it four times over.”


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As they heard these things, he again told a parable, because of him being close to Jerusalem, and of them thinking that the kingdom of God was immediately going to manifest itself prominently.


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So he said, “A certain nobleman went to a distant land to receive a kingdom for himself and to return.


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And he called ten of his own servants and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business until I come.’


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But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, who said, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’


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And it came to pass when he returned, having received the kingdom, that he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, in order to find out who had gained what in doing business.


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At this he said to him, ‘Well done, you good servant, for you were faithful in a very small matter. Have authority over ten cities.’


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For I was afraid of you, for you are a harsh man. You take what you did not put there, and you reap what you did not sow.’


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So he said to him, ‘I will judge you from your own mouth, you bad servant. You knew that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not put there, and reaping what I did not sow.


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So why did you not invest my money at a bank, so that when I came, I would have availed myself of it with interest?’


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Furthermore he said to those standing around, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten minas.’


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‘For I say to you that to everyone who has something, more will be given, but from him who does not have anything, even what he has will be taken away from him.


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However, bring those enemies of mine here – those who did not want me to reign over them – and execute them before me.’ ”


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And it came to pass as he approached Bethsphagé and Bethany at the mount called the Mount of Olives, that he sent off two of his disciples,


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and said, “Go off to the village opposite, in which as you go in, you will find a tethered foal, on which no man has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.


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And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it,’ you will say the following to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”


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And as he was by now approaching the descent down the Mount of Olives, the whole company of the disciples started rejoicing and praising God in a loud voice for all the deeds of power which they had seen,


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saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest realms.”


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and said, “If only you had known, and of all times on this day of yours, the things pertaining to your peace. But as it is, they are hidden from your eyes,


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because the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a rampart round you, and will surround you, and enclose you from all sides.


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And they will dash you and your children in you to the ground, and they will not leave stone on stone in you, because you did not know the occasion of your visitation.”


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Then when he had gone into the temple, he went on to throw out those who sold things in it, and those who bought them,


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saying to them, “It stands written, ‘My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a robber's cave.’ ”


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And he taught in the temple each day, but the senior priests and the scribes were looking for a way to dispose of him, as were the leading men of the people,


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but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were completely enraptured listening to him.


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Now it came to pass in one of those days as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, that the priests and scribes came up to him, as did the elders,


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and spoke to him, and said, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is who has given you this authority.”


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They then debated among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’


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But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they have been persuaded that John is a prophet.”


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He then went on to speak this parable to the people: “A man planted a vineyard, and put it under hired labour with farmers and went abroad for a considerable time.


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And in due course, he sent a servant to the farmers for them to give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers flogged him and sent him away empty-handed.


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Then he sent another servant. But they also flogged that one and treated him with indignity and sent him away empty-handed.


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Then the landlord of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Maybe when they see him, they will respect him.’


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But when the farmers saw him, they talked it through among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let's kill him, so that the inheritance will become ours.’


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So they drove him out to a place outside the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the landlord of the vineyard do to them?


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He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they had heard it, they said, “May it not take place.”


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But he looked straight at them and said, “What does this scripture mean: The stone which the builders rejected is what has become the keystone?


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Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered, and on whomever it falls, it will crush to powder.”


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Then the senior priests and the scribes looked for a way to lay hands on him at that very time, but they were afraid, for they knew that he had levelled that parable against them.


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And they watched him closely, and sent infiltrators pretending to be sincere in order to seize on his remarks, with a view to informing on him to the administration and authority of the governor.


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And they questioned him, and asked, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality, but teach the way of God in truth.


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Then he said to them, “Well then, render to Caesar the things due to Caesar, and to God the things due to God.”


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So they were not able to seize on his remark in the presence of the people, and they were amazed at his answer, and were silent.


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and said, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us, ‘If someone's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother is to take the wife and raise up seed to his brother.’


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Then the third took her likewise, and like this indeed the seven of them. They did not leave any children, and they died.


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but those who have been considered worthy of attaining to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage.


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Nor can they die any more, for they are like angels and are sons of God, being members of the resurrection.


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Now that the dead are raised, even Moses disclosed, at the passage about the bush, where he says, ‘The Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’


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when David himself says in the book of the Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, «Sit on my right hand side


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“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in robes and love greetings in the market places and privileged seats in the synagogues and the privileged couches at dinners,


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who devour widows' houses and for show pray at length. These will receive judgment to a greater degree.”


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For these all contributed towards gifts for God from the surplus they have, but this woman contributed all the livelihood she had from her penury.”


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And while some were speaking of the temple, how it had been adorned with fine stones and ornaments, he said,


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“As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which no stone will be left on stone, or escape demolition.”


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Then they questioned him, and said, “Teacher, when, then, will these things take place, and what is the sign when these things are about to happen?”


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He then said, “Watch out that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the one’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ So do not go after them.


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And when you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be scared, for these things must take place first, but the end is not immediate.”


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and there will be severe earthquakes in various places, and famines and plagues, and there will be fearful things and great signs from heaven.


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But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to synagogues and prisons, as you are brought before kings and governors for my name's sake,


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for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of those opposing you will be able to contradict or resist.


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And you will also be betrayed by parents and relations and friends and brothers, and they will put some of you to death.


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Then let those in Judaea flee into the mountains, and let those in its midst move out, and let not those in the country areas go into it.


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For these are the days of vengeance, in order for all the things that stand written to be fulfilled.


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And alas for to those who are with child and those who are breastfeeding in those days, for there will be great anxiety on the earth and wrath among this people.


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And they will fall by the blade of the sword, and will be taken captive to all the Gentiles, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.


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And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on earth anguish among the nations in bewilderment, while the sea roars, as does its swell,


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as men faint from fear and expectation of the things befalling the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.


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But when these things start taking place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”


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When they are already putting out shoots, you see for yourselves and know that the harvest is already near.


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Truly, I say to you, that this generation will certainly not pass away until everything has taken place.


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And watch out for yourselves that your hearts do not become stupefied with intoxication or drunkenness or everyday cares, and that day comes on you suddenly,


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So be watchful, entreating on every occasion to be considered worthy to escape all the things about to take place and to stand in the presence of the son of man.”


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And by day he would teach in the temple, whereas at night he would go out to spend the night on the mount called the Mount of Olives.


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and the senior priests and the scribes were looking for a way to eliminate him, for they were afraid of the people.


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And he went away and spoke with the senior priests and chief magistrates on how he could deliver him to them,


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So he fully complied and looked for an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of a crowd.


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Then the day of the unleavened bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed.


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And he sent Peter and John off, and said, “Go and prepare the Passover lamb for us so that we can eat it.”


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He then said to them, “As you go into the city, you will see that a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house where he goes in.


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And say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher asks you, «Where is the lodging where I can eat the Passover lamb with my disciples?» ’


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For I say to you, I will no longer partake of it at all until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”


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For I say to you, I will not be drinking any of the produce of the vine at all until the kingdom of God comes.”


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And he took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave some to them and said, “This is my body which is being given on behalf of you; do this as a memorial to me.”


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Then similarly he took the cup after dining and said, “This cup is the new covenant by my blood which is shed for you.


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So the son of man proceeds according to what has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed.”


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So he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have dominion over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors.


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But don't you be like that; rather, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.


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For who is greater, he who reclines at table, or he who serves? Surely he who reclines? Yet I am in your midst as the servant.


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so that you may eat and drink at my table, and may sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”


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And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, see how Satan has made a claim on you all, so as to sift you like grain.


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But I have pleaded for you, that your faith might not fail, so once you have come to yourself, strengthen your brothers.”


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But he said, “I say to you, Peter, the cock definitely will not crow today before you have denied three times that you know me.”


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Furthermore, he said to them, “When I sent you out without wallet or purse or footwear, did you lack anything?” They then said, “No, nothing.”


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However, he said to them, “But now, he who has a wallet must take it, and likewise also a purse. And he who does not have one must sell his cloak and buy a sword.


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For I say to you that this scripture must still be fulfilled in me, the words, ‘And he was reckoned among the lawless.’ And indeed, the things concerning me are coming to completion.”


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And said, “Father, if you are willing to remove this cup from me ... – but not my will, but yours be done.”


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but being in agony, he prayed all the more intensely. Furthermore his sweat had become like clots of blood falling to the ground.


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Now while he was still speaking, a crowd happened to come and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was going in front of them and he approached Jesus to kiss him.


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Then when those around him had seen what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike them with the sword?”


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Then Jesus said to the senior priests and chief magistrates of the temple and elders who had come against him, “Have you come out with swords and sticks as if against a thief?


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When I was with you in the temple each day, you did not stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the authority of darkness.”


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But they seized him, and led him away, and brought him in to the house of the high priest. Meanwhile, Peter was following at a distance.


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As they had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting together, Peter went and sat in among them.


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But when a certain maidservant saw him sitting in the fire-light, she looked at him intently and said, “This man was also with him.”


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And after a short time, another person saw him and said, “You are also of their company.” But Peter said, “No, I am not, sir.”


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Then after about one hour had passed, a certain other person made positive assertions and said, “This man was truly with him as well, and indeed he is a Galilean.”


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But Peter said, “Sir, I don't know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still talking, the cock crowed.


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Then the Lord turned round and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered the Lord's words when he said to him, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”


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and blindfolded him and struck him on the face and then questioned him, saying, “Prophesy, who is it who struck you?”


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Then when day had come, the council of the elders of the people met, consisting of senior priests and scribes, and they led him up to their Sanhedrin council and said,


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“Are you the Christ? Tell us.” He then said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe it at all.


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And they began to accuse him, and said, “We found this man misleading the nation and forbidding them to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”


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Then Pilate questioned him, and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He then answered him and said, “As you say.”


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But they persisted and said, “He stirs up the people as he teaches throughout all Judaea, starting from Galilee and reaching here.”


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And having ascertained that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he referred him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.


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Then when Herod saw Jesus, he rejoiced greatly, for he had been wanting to see him for some time, because he had heard many things about him, and he hoped to see some sign performed by him.


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Then after Herod, with his troops, had treated him contemptuously and mocked him, he put resplendent clothes on him and sent him back to Pilate.


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So Pilate and Herod became friends with each other on that very day, for they had previously been at enmity with each other.


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and said to them, “Bring me this man who is supposedly perverting the people, and be aware that I have examined him in your presence and found nothing in this man incriminating him of the things you accuse him of.


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Indeed nor Herod. For I sent you to him and the result is that nothing worthy of death has been committed by him.


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But they shouted out with the whole crowd, and said, “Take this man away; but release Barabbas to us,”


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– someone who had been put in prison on account of a certain sedition which had taken place in the city, and for murder.


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Then he spoke to them a third time, “But what wrong has this man done? I have not found anything culpable by death in him. So I will chastise him and release him.”


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But they insisted in a loud voice and demanded that he be crucified, and their voices and those of the senior priests kept gaining strength.


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And he released him who had been put in prison on account of sedition and murder, the one whom they demanded, whereas he delivered Jesus to their will.


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Then as they led him away, they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, as he was coming back from the field, and forced him to carry the cross behind Jesus.


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And a large number of the people followed him, including women, who both mourned for him and lamented him.


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But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


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For be aware of this, the days are coming on which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs which did not give birth, and the breasts which never breastfed.’


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And when they arrived at the place called the Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.


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Jesus, though, said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then in sharing out his clothes, they cast a lot.


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Meanwhile the people stood watching, and the rulers also sneered with them, and said, “He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ, the chosen one of God.”


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Indeed there was an inscription written over him in Greek and Latin and Hebrew letters: “This is the king of the Jews.”


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Then one of the criminals who were hung there blasphemed him and said, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.”


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But the other responded and rebuked him and said, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same sentence?


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And we rightly so, for we are receiving what is deserved for what we have done, but this man has done nothing wrong.”


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And Jesus called out in a loud voice and said, “Father, into your hands I will commit my spirit.” And when he had said these things, he breathed his last.


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And when the centurion saw what had taken place, he glorified God and said, “This man really was righteous.”


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Then when all the crowds who had converged on that spectacle had seen the things that took place, they beat their breasts and went back,


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while all his acquaintances stood at a distance, as did the women who had followed him from Galilee, watching these things.


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and he was not in agreement with their verdict or action. He was from Arimathaea, a Jewish city, and he himself also was also awaiting the kingdom of God.


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And he took it down and wrapped it up in fine linen and put it in a hewn-out tomb where no-one had ever yet lain.


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And some women who had come with him from Galilee followed and looked at the tomb and how his body was laid.


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Then they returned and prepared fragrances and ointment. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.


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Then on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they went to the tomb carrying the fragrances which they had prepared, and some others went with them,


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And it came to pass as they were at a loss on this matter, that this happened: two men in dazzling clothes came into their view.


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Then, as they had become frightened and were bowing face down to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you seeking among the dead him who is living?


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when he said that the son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and rise on the third day.”


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So it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James and the others with them, who told the apostles these things.


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Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, and stooped, and saw the linen strips lying on their own, and went off home, astonished at what had taken place.


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Then, as it happened, two of them were walking on that day to a village which was sixty stades distant from Jerusalem, which had the name Emmaus.


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and it came to pass while they were talking and assessing things, that Jesus himself approached and walked along with them,


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Then he said to them, “What are these words which you are exchanging with one another as you walk, and are sullen?”


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So one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered and said to him, “Are you the only one staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened in it in recent days.”


text:
Then he said to them, “What things?” They then said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word in the presence of God and all the people,


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and how the senior priests and our rulers delivered him up to a sentence of death and had him crucified,


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whereas we were hoping that he was the one who would liberate Israel. But as it is, with all these things, he has passed through this third day today since these things took place without doing so.


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Not only this, but some of our women astonished us after they had gone to the tomb early in the morning,


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and when they did not find his body, they came also telling us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive,


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at which some of those with us went off to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.”


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Then he said to them, “O witless men and slow in heart to believe all the things the prophets have spoken.


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Then starting from Moses and from all the prophets, he gave them an exposition of all the scriptures concerning himself.


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but they urged him not to, and said, “Stay with us, for it is towards evening and the day has declined. So he went in to stay with them.”


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Subsequently it came to pass while he was reclining at table with them that he took the bread, and gave blessing, and broke it, and handed some to them,


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Then they said to each other, “Was not our heart burning inside us while he was speaking to us on the way and when he expounded the scriptures to us?”


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Then they got up at that hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven, and those associated with them, assembled,


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Then they related in detail the things on the way, and how he became known to them at the time of the breaking of the bread.


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And while they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.”


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See my hands and my feet, and that it is me myself. Feel me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”


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And while they still disbelieved for joy and were amazed, he said to them, “Have you got any food here?”


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And he said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you when I was still with you, that everything written in the law of Moses and the prophets, and the psalms concerning me needs to be fulfilled.”


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And said to them, “So it stands written and so the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,


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and for repentance and forgiveness of sins to be preached in his name to all the nations, starting from Jerusalem.


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And mark this, I am sending my father's promise over you. So stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are invested with power from on high.”


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and it came to pass while he was blessing them that he became separated from them and was carried up to heaven.


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Everything came into being through it, and not one thing that has come into being came into being apart from it.


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He came with a view to a testimony, in order to testify about the light, in order that everyone should believe through him.


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But as for those who did receive him, he gave them authority to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in his name,


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And the word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the father, full of grace and truth.


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John testified concerning him, and cried out, saying, “This is he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me had existence before me, because he was prior to me.’ ”


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No-one has seen God at any time. It is the only-begotten son, who is in the bosom of the father, who has expounded him.


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And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”


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Then they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “No, I am not.” – “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.”


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So they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us, so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”


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He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”


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and they questioned him, and asked him, “So why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”


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John replied to them and said, “I baptize with water. But in your midst stands he whom you do not know.


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He is the one who comes after me, who had existence before me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to loosen.”


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The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and he said, “Behold the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.


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This is he about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who had existence before me, because he was prior to me.’


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And I did not know him, except that he should be manifested to Israel – that is why I came baptizing with water.”


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And John testified, saying, “I have seen the spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.


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And I did not know him, except that he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘On whom you see the spirit descending and remaining, that is the one who baptizes with holy spirit.’


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Jesus then turned round and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” And they said to him, “Rabbi,” – which, translated, is “teacher” – “where are you staying?”


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He said to them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and remained with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour.


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He found his own brother Simon first, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” – which, translated, is the “Christ” –


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and he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You will be called Cephas, which translated, is ‘Peter.’ ”


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The next day, he wished to set out for Galilee, and he found Philip, and Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”


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Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, namely Jesus, the son of Joseph, who is from Nazareth.”


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And Nathanael said to him, “Can there be anything good from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”


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Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said concerning him, “Look, an Israelite, truly, in whom there is no guile.”


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Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”


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Jesus replied and said to him, “Do you believe because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’? You will see greater things than these.”


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And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you people, from now on you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the son of man.”


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Now there were six stone water-jars there, standing according to the cleansing of the Jews, each holding two or three metrets.


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But when the catering steward had tasted the water, which had become wine – and he did not know where it was from, but the servants who had drawn off the water knew – the catering steward called the bridegroom,


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and he said to him, “Every man first puts out the good wine, and when they have become drunk, then the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now.”


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Jesus performed this first of the signs in Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him.


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After this, he went down to Capernaum, he and his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they remained there for a few days.


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And he found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting down,


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and he made a whip from cords, and drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen, and he poured out the small change of the money-changers, and turned the tables upside down.


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And he said to those who were selling doves, “Take these things away from here. Do not make my father's house a house of commerce.”


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So the Jews said, “This temple was built in forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?”


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So when he had risen from the dead, his disciples remembered him saying this, and they believed the scripture and the words which Jesus had spoken.


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Then when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, at the festival, many believed in his name, when they saw his signs, which he performed.


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This man came to him by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, for no-one can do these signs which you do unless God is with him.”


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Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a person is begotten from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”


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Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot go into his mother's womb a second time and be born again?”


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Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a person is begotten from water and from spirit, he cannot go into the kingdom of God.


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The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it is going. So is everyone who has been begotten from the spirit.”


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Truly, truly, I say to you, that we speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.


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If I told you of earthly things, and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you of upper-heavenly things?


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And no-one has ascended to heaven except him who came down from heaven, the son of man who is in heaven.


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For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only-begotten son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost, but have age-abiding life.


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For God did not send his son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.


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He who believes in him is not judged, but he who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten son of God.


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And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness more than the light, for their works were evil.


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For everyone who does base things hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his works are not shown up.


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But he who works the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be made manifest, for they have been carried out in God.”


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After these things, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judaean region, and he spent time there with them, and had some baptizing done.


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Now John was also baptizing in the Ainon near Salem, because there was a lot of water there, and people would come and be baptized.


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And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – of whom you have testified – see how he is baptizing, and all are coming to him.”


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You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but said, ‘I have been sent ahead of 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 on account of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been fulfilled.


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He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.


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For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the spirit by measure to him.


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He who believes in the son has age-abiding life, but he who does not believe in the son will not see life, but God's anger remains on him.”


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So when the Lord came to know that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making more disciples, and having them baptized, than John


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so he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land which Jacob gave to Joseph his son.


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Now Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being tired from the journey, was just sitting at the well. It was about the sixth hour.


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So the Samaritan woman said to him, “How come you, being a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.


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Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it was saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”


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The woman said to her, “Sir, you do not have a bucket and the well is deep. Where do you get the water of life from then?


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Surely you are not greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as did his sons, and his cattle.”


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Whoever drinks the water which I give him will certainly never thirst, but the water which I give him will become a well of water in him, springing up to age-abiding life.”


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The woman said to him, “Sir give me this water, so that I don't thirst or have to come here to draw water.”


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The woman answered and said, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’


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For you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. You have spoken the truth about this.”


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Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and you say that the place where one should worship is in Jerusalem.”


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Jesus said to her, “Madam, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the father neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem.


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You worship that which you do not know, but we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.


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But the hour is coming, and is now, when true worshippers will worship the father in spirit and truth. For indeed the father seeks such people to worship him.”


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The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. When he comes, he will clarify everything for us.”


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Then at this point his disciples came, and were amazed that he was speaking with a woman. However, no-one said, “What are you looking for?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”


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Jesus said to them, “My food is that I should do the will of him who sent me, and complete his work.


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You say, do you not, ‘It is still four months for the harvest to come’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the farmlands – they are already white, ready for the harvest.


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And the reaper receives wages and gathers fruit for age-abiding life, so that the sower and the reaper rejoice together.


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I have sent you to reap that which you did not toil over. Others have toiled, but you have entered into their toil.”


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Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him, on account of the words of the woman who gave this testimony: “He told me everything I have done.”


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So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he remained there for two days,


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And they said to the woman, “It is no longer on account of your story that we believe, for we have heard him ourselves, and we know that this is truly the saviour of the world, the Christ.”


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So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen everything that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival, for they also went to the festival.


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Then Jesus went to Cana in Galilee again, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.


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When he heard that Jesus had come from Judaea to Galilee, he went off to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was on the point of dying.


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Jesus said to him, “Go your way – your son will live.” And the man believed the words which Jesus had said to him, and he went his way.


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And while he was still going down, his servants met him and gave him a report and said, “Your child is alive.”


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So he enquired from them the hour when he became better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him”.


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So the father knew that it was at the very hour at which Jesus said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole house believed.


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Now there is a pool in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate, which is called in Hebraic Bethesda, and it has five colonnades.


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In these a very large number of people who were ill were lying down: the blind, the lame, the wizened, awaiting the movement of the water,


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for an angel would come down into the pool at a certain time and disturb the water. Then the first to go in after the disturbance of the water would be cured of whatever disease he was suffering from.


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When Jesus saw him lying down, knowing that he had been like that for a long time now, he said to him, “Do you want to be cured?”


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The infirm man replied to him, “Sir, I do not have anyone to put me in the pool, when the water is disturbed. By the time I go, someone else goes down in before me.”


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And immediately the man was cured, and picked up his stretcher, and walked. However, it was the Sabbath on that day.


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So the Jews said to him who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath. It is not permitted for you to pick up the stretcher.”


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He replied to them, “He who restored my health – he said to me, ‘Pick up your stretcher and walk.’ ”


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But he who had been cured did not know who it was, for Jesus had moved aside, as there was a crowd in the place.


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After these things, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Look, you have been cured. Don't sin any more, in case something worse happens to you.”


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And for this reason the Jews kept persecuting Jesus and looking for an opportunity to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.


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Then on account of this, the Jews looked all the more for an opportunity to kill him, because not only would he break the Sabbath, but he would also say that God was his own father, making himself equal to God.


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So Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the son can do nothing on his own initiative – only if he sees the father doing something. For whatever he does, so the son does in the same manner.


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For the father loves the son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him works greater than these, so that you may be amazed.


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For as the father raises up the dead and makes them alive, so the son for his part makes alive those whom he wishes to,


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in order that everyone should honour the son, as they honour the father. He who does not honour the son does not honour the father who sent him.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, that he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has age-abiding life, and will not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, that the hour is coming, and is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the son of God, and those who hear it will live.


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For as the father has life in himself, so he has also granted that the son may have life in himself,


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and those who have done good things will go out into the resurrection of life, but those who have done base things to the resurrection of judgment.


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I cannot do anything on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous, for I do not seek my will, but the will of the father who sent me.


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There is another who testifies concerning me, and I know that the testimony which he testifies concerning me is true.


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But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John. For the works which the father gave me to complete, those very works which I do witness concerning me that the father has sent me.


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And the father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his appearance,


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You examine the scriptures because you think you have age-abiding life in them. Now they are what testify concerning me,


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I have come in the name of my father and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.


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How can you believe, receiving glory from one another, while you do not seek the glory which is from the only God?


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Do not think that I will accuse you to the father. Moses is the one who is accusing you, in whom you have put your hope.


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Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, and he said to Philip, “From where can we buy loaves of bread so that these may eat?”


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Philip answered him, “Two hundred denaries' worth of bread would not suffice for them, so that each of them could take a little.”


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“There is one little boy here who has five barley loaves and two cooked fish, but what is that for so many?”


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But Jesus said, “Have the men recline.” Now there was a lot of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.


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And Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks, and distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples distributed them to those reclining. And they did the same with the cooked fish – as much as they wanted.


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And when they were full, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces which are left over so that nothing goes to waste.”


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So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets of pieces from the five barley loaves which those who had eaten had left over.


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Then when the men had seen the sign which Jesus had performed, they said, “This is truly the prophet who was to come into the world.”


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So Jesus, who knew they would come and seize him to make him king, withdrew into the mountain alone.


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and went on board a boat and were going across the sea to Capernaum. Now dark had already fallen, and Jesus had not come to them,


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Then when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stades, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near to the boat, and they were afraid.


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Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the place which they were heading for.


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The next day, the crowd who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one which his disciples had boarded, and that Jesus had not gone with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples had departed alone,


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but that boats had come from Tiberias near to the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.


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So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves went into the boats and went to Capernaum, looking for Jesus.


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And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you arrive here?”


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Jesus replied to them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate the bread and had your fill.


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Work not for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures, leading to age-abiding life, which the son of man will give you. For the father, God, has sealed him.”


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Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you should believe in him whom he has sent.”


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Then they said to him, “What sign will you perform then for us to see and believe you? What will you perform?


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Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it stands written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”


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Then Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven.


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And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger at all, and he who believes in me will not ever thirst at all.


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Everything that the father gives me will come to me, and I will certainly not cast out him who comes to me.


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And this is the will of the father who sent me, that I should not lose any part of anything that he has given me, but that I should raise it up on the last day.


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And this is the will of him who sent me, that everyone who sees the son and believes in him should have age-abiding life, and that I should raise him up on the last day.”


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Then the Jews murmured about him, because he had said, “I am the bread which has come down from heaven.”


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And they said, “Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How come, then, he says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”


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No-one can come to me, unless the father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.


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It stands written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ So everyone who hears from the father and has learnt comes to me.


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I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If a person eats this bread, he will live throughout the Age. And moreover, the bread which I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”


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So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you do not have life in you.


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He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has age-abiding life, and I will raise him up on the last day.


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As the living father sent me, so I live because of the father. As for him who eats me, he will also live because of me.


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This is the bread which has come down from heaven, not comparable to how your fathers ate the manna and died. He who eats this bread will live throughout the Age.”


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But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were murmuring about this, said to them, “Does this offend you?


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It is the spirit which makes alive; the flesh is of no benefit. The words which I am speaking to you are spirit and are life.


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But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe and who it was who would betray him.


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And he said, “This is why I have said to you that no-one can come to me, unless it has been granted to him by my father.”


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Then Simon Peter replied to him, “Lord, to whom could we go. You have the words of age-abiding life,


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He was speaking here of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. For this man was going to betray him, being one of the twelve.


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And after that Jesus walked around in Galilee, for he did not wish to walk around in Judaea, because the Jews were looking for a way to kill him.


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Then his brothers said to him, “Move on from here and go to Judaea, so that your disciples may see your works which you do,


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for no-one does a thing in secret when he is trying to be known in public himself. If you are doing these things, manifest yourself to the world.”


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You go up to this festival. I am not yet going up to this festival, for my time has not yet been fulfilled.”


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But when his brothers went up, then he went up to the festival as well – not openly, but as it were in secret.


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And there was a lot of murmuring about him among the crowds. Some said, “He is good.” Others said, “No. Rather, he is misleading the crowd.”


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Then when the festival was already half way through, Jesus went up to the temple and gave some teaching.


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If anyone wishes to do his will, he will know about the teaching – whether it is from God or whether I speak on my own initiative.


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He who speaks on his own initiative seeks his own glory, but it is he who seeks the glory of him who sent him who is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.


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Did not Moses give you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for a way to kill me?”


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For this reason Moses gave you circumcision – not that it was from Moses' time, but from the fathers' time – and you circumcise a man on a Sabbath.


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If a man receives circumcision on a Sabbath, in order that the law of Moses should not be broken, why are you angry at me because I cured a man in his entirety on the Sabbath?


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And look, he is speaking openly, and they aren't saying anything to him. The leaders really have not established, have they, that this really is the Christ?


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But we know where this man is from. However, when the Christ comes, no-one will know where he is from.”


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So Jesus shouted out, while teaching in the temple, and said, “You both know me and you know where I am from. And yet I have not come on my own initiative, but he who sent me is true, whom you do not know.


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Then they looked for a way to seize him, yet no-one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.


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But many of the crowd believed in him and said, “When the Christ comes, surely he will not do more signs than these which this man has done?”


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The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about him, and the Pharisees and senior priests sent officers to seize him.


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Then Jesus said, “I will only be a little while with you still, and then I will go away to him who sent me.


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Then the Jews said to themselves, “Where is he going to go, such that we won't find him? Is he going to go to the Diaspora among the Greeks, and then teach the Greeks?


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What does this remark which he said mean, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot go’?”


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Now on the last great day of the festival, Jesus, stood up and shouted, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.


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As regards him who believes in me, as the scripture says, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his inside.’ ”


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He said this referring to the spirit which those who believed in him were about to receive, for there was not yet any holy spirit, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.


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Others said, “This is the Christ”. Yet others said, “No, for surely the Christ does not come from Galilee?


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Does not the scripture say that the Christ comes from the seed of David, from the village of Bethlehem, where David was?”


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Then the officers went to the senior priests and Pharisees, and those said to them, “Why did you not bring him here?”


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“Surely our law does not judge a man if it has not first heard from him and knows what he is doing?”


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They answered and said to him, “You aren't from Galilee too, are you? Investigate and see: no prophet has arisen from Galilee.”


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Then at dawn he presented himself at the temple again. And all the people came, and he sat down and was teaching them,


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when the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placed her at the focus of attention,


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But they said this testing him, so that they might have something to accuse him with. But Jesus stooped and wrote on the ground with his finger, not acting in pretence.


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And when they persisted in asking him, he looked up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you cast a stone at her first.”


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And having heard it, and being convicted by their conscience they went out one by one, beginning with the elders; then Jesus was left there alone with the woman at the focal point.


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Jesus straightened himself up and not seeing anyone except the woman, said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours? Didn't anyone condemn you?”


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And she said, “No-one, Lord.” Jesus then said, “Neither do I judge you. Go and do not sin any more.”


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Then Jesus spoke to them again, and said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will certainly not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”


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Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.


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And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but it is a case of me and the father who sent me.


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Then they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You neither know me nor my father. If you knew me, you would know my father too.”


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Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, while teaching in the temple, but no-one seized him because his hour had not yet come.


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Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot go.”


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Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself, in that he said, ‘Where I am going, you cannot go’?”


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And he said to them, “You are of the things below, but I am of the things above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.


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So I said to you, ‘You will die in your sins.’ For if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins.”


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Then they said to him, “Who are you?” And Jesus said to them, “I tell you: the beginning, which I have been telling you all along.


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I have many things concerning you to say and to judge, but he who sent me is true, and what I hear from him, that I say to the world.”


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So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the son of man, then you will know that I am, and that on my own initiative I do not do anything, but as my father has taught me, so I speak.


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And he who sent me is with me. The father has not left me alone, because I always do the things which are pleasing to him.”


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Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples,


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They replied to him, “We are the seed of Abraham, and we have never been slaves to anyone. How come you say, ‘You will be free’?”


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Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.


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I know that you are the seed of Abraham, but you are looking for a way to kill me, because my word does not find room in you.


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I speak of what I have seen with my father. And you consequently do what you have seen with your father.”


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They answered and said to him, “Our father is Abraham.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing Abraham's works.


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But now, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.


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You do the works of your father.” Then they said to him, “We were not born from fornication. We have one father: God.”


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Then Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, since I came out from God, and have come here, for I did not come on my own initiative, but he sent me.


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You stem from your father the devil, and you have a will to carry out the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and he does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own mind, because he is a liar and is the father of it.


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He who is from God hears the words of God. That is why you do not hear them, because you are not from God.”


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Then the Jews replied and said to him, “Were we not right in saying, ‘You are a Samaritan and you are possessed by a demon’?”


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Truly, truly, I say to you, if a person keeps my word, he will by no means see death throughout the Age.”


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The Jews said to him, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘If a person keeps my word, he will by no means taste death throughout the Age.’


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Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Whom do you make yourself out to be?”


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Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my father who glorifies me, whom you say is our God.


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But you have not known him. But I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be like you – a liar. But I do know him, and I keep his word.


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Then they took up stones to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself, and he went out of the temple, and crossed through the thick of them, and so passed them by.


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And the disciples questioned him, and asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, he or his parents, that he should be born blind?”


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Jesus replied, “Neither he nor his parents sinned, but it happened in order that the works of God should be manifested in him.


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I must carry out the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming, when no-one can do any work.


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When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay from the spittle and smeared the clay on the eyes of the blind man,


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and he said to him, “Go and wash yourself in the Pool of Siloam,” which, translated, is “Sent.” So he went away and washed himself, and came back sighted.


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Then the neighbours and those who had previously seen that he had been blind, said, “Is this not the one who sits and begs?”


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He replied and said, “A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go off to the Pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went off and when I washed myself, I recovered my sight.”


text:
Then the Pharisees also asked him on the same ground how he had recovered his sight. He then said to them, “He placed clay on my eyes, then I washed myself, and now I can see.”


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Then some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, since he does not keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a sinful man perform such signs?” So there was a division among them.


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They asked the blind man again, “What have you got to say about him, in that he opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”


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In fact the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and had recovered his sight until they had called the parents of him who had recovered his sight.


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And they questioned them, and asked, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How come that he can now see?”


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Then his parents answered them, and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind.


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But as to how he can now see, we don't know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.”


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His parents said these things because they feared the Jews. For the Jews had already decided that if anyone professed that that man was the Christ, he would be excommunicated from the synagogue.


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So they called the man who had been blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”


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At which he answered and said, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know, that although I was blind, I can now see.”


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He replied to them, “I have told you already, but you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't want to become his disciples too, do you?”


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The man answered and said to them, “Well, in this matter it is astounding that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.


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They replied and said to him, “You were wholly born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.


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Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and found him, and asked him, “Do you believe in the son of God?”


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Then Jesus said, “I have come into this world with a view to judgment – that those who do not see should see, and those who see should become blind.”


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Now some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Surely we are not blind too?”


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Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But as it is, you say, ‘We see.’ So your sin remains.”


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“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not come into the sheep-fold through the door, but climbs up from somewhere else is a thief and a robber.


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To him the door-keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


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And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.


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However they certainly will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”


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Jesus spoke this proverb to them, but they did not know what the things that he was saying to them meant.


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I am the door. If anyone goes in through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and will find pasture.


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The thief does not come except to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came in order that they might have life and have it abundantly.


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But the hired man, so who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. Then the wolf seizes them and scatters the sheep.


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I have other sheep too, which are not of this fold, and I must lead those too, and they will hear my voice, and there will be this: one flock, one shepherd.


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No-one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. I received this commandment from my father.”


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Others said, “These words are not those of one possessed by a demon. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can it?”


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Then the Jews gathered round him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”


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Jesus replied to them, “I have told you, and you do not believe. It is the works which I do in the name of my father which testify concerning me.


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And I give them age-abiding life, and they will certainly not be lost throughout the Age, and no-one will snatch them out of my hand.


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My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no-one can snatch them from my father's hand.


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Jesus replied to them, “I have shown you many good works from my father. On account of which of those works do you stone me?”


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The Jews answered him, and said, “We are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy, and in that you, being a man, make yourself God.”


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If he called those people to whom the word of God came ‘gods’ – and the scripture cannot be broken –


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do you say of him whom the father 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 do do them, and if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the father is in me and I in him.”


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And he departed again, across the Jordan, to the place where John was first baptizing, and remained there.


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And many came to him and said that John did not perform any sign, but that everything John had said about this man had been true.


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Now there was a certain man who was ill: Lazarus from Bethany, from the village of Mary and Martha her sister.


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Mary, incidentally, was the one who had anointed the Lord with ointment and had wiped his feet dry with her hair, and whose brother Lazarus was ill.


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Then when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness is not with death in view, but is for the sake of the glory of God, so that the son of God may be glorified through it.”


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The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were only recently looking for a way to stone you, yet are you going there again?”


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Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If a person goes around in the daytime, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.


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He said these things, and after this he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going along to awaken him.”


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However, Jesus had spoken about his death, but they thought he was speaking about falling asleep in the sense of natural sleep.


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And I rejoice on your account, so that you may believe, because I was not there. But let us go to him.”


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Then Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us go too, so that we may die with him.”


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And many of the Jews had gone to the women connected with Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.


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Then when she heard that Jesus was coming, Martha went to meet him. But Mary was sitting down in the house.


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Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he dies, he will live.


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And everyone who lives and believes in me will certainly not die throughout the Age. Do you believe this?”


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She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, who should come into the world.”


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And when she had said these things, she went away and called Mary her sister in secret, and said, “The teacher is present and is calling for you.”


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So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw that Mary had quickly got up and gone out, they followed her, and said, “She is going off to the tomb to weep there.”


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Then when Mary came to where Jesus was, when she saw him she fell down at his feet, and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”


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Then when he saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her weeping, Jesus was exasperated in spirit, and was disquieted,


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But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have also acted so that this man should not die?”


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Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased man, said to him, “Lord, by now he will stink, for he has been dead for four days.”


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So they removed the stone where the deceased was lying. Jesus lifted his eyes upwards and said, “Father, I give thanks to you because you have heard me.


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But I knew that you would always hear me. But on account of the crowd standing round, I spoke, so that they might believe that you sent me.”


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And he who had died came out, bound at the legs and the hands with swathing, and his face was wrapped with a sweat-band. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him and let him go.”


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Then the senior priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin council and said, “What are we doing, seeing that this man is performing many signs?


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If we leave him like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”


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But one of them, Caiaphas, who was the high priest in that year, said to them, “You do not know anything.


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Nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people so that the whole nation should not perish.”


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Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,


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and not only for the nation, but also so that he should gather the children of God who are scattered into one.


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So Jesus no longer went around openly among the Jews, but went away from there to a region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and spent time there with his disciples.


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Now the Jews' Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the region before the Passover to sanctify themselves.


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Then they looked for Jesus and spoke with each other as they stood in the temple, and said, “What do you think? Will he definitely not come to the festival?”


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The senior priests and Pharisees on this score had issued a commandment that if anyone knew where he was, he must inform them so that they might seize him.


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So six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died, whom he had raised from the dead.


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Then they made a meal for him there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.


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Then Mary took a litra of very costly genuine ointment of spikenard, and anointed Jesus's feet and wiped his feet dry with her hair. And the house was filled with the scent of the ointment.


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But he said this, not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money-bag, and kept the funds.


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Then a large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there, and they came not on account of Jesus only, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.


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and they took branches of palm trees, and went out to meet him, and shouted, “Hosanna; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel.”


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But his disciples did not know these things at first, but when Jesus had been glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him, and that they had done these things for him.


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Then the crowd who were with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead, gave a testimony,


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which is why the former crowd also went to meet him, because they had heard that he had performed this sign.


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Then the Pharisees said to each other, “You see that it has not availed in any way. Look, the world has gone after him.”


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These then went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and appealed to him, and said, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”


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Truly, truly, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, only it remains. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.


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He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it, saved up for age-abiding life.


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If anyone serves me, let him follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be; and if anyone serves me, the father will honour him.


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My soul is troubled now. Well what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it is for this that I came, for this hour.


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Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, and said, “I both have glorified it and will glorify it again.”


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Then the crowd who were standing by and had heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”


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The crowd replied to him, “We have heard from the law that Christ remains throughout the Age, so how can you say ‘The son of man must be lifted up?’ Who is this son of man?”


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Then Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for just a little while yet. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. For he who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.


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While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of the light.” Jesus said these things, then went away and was hidden from them.


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so that the word of Isaiah the prophet, which he spoke, might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed our announcement? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”


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“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they do not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and become converted, and I should heal them.”


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Nevertheless, however, even many of the rulers believed in him, but did not confess it on account of the Pharisees, so as not to become excommunicated from the synagogue,


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Then Jesus shouted out and said, “He who believes in me does not believe in me, but in him who sent me.


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And if anyone hears my words, but does not believe, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.


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He who dismisses me and does not accept my words has one judging him: it is the word which I have spoken which will judge him on the last day.


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For I have not spoken on my own initiative, but it is the father who sent me who gave me a commandment as to what I should say and what I should speak.


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And I know that his commandment means age-abiding life. As for the things I say, as my father has spoken to me, so I speak.”


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Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come for him to move out of this world to the father, after he had loved his own who were in the world. He loved them to the end.


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And when supper had taken place, and the devil had already laid it on the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray him,


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Jesus knew that the father had committed everything to his responsibility and that he had come out from God, and was going to God,


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and he got up from the supper and laid aside his garments and took a linen cloth and girded himself.


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Then he put water in the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the linen cloth with which he was girded.


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Peter said to him, “Don't ever wash my feet at all.” Jesus replied to him, “If I don't wash you, you have no part with me.”


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Jesus said to him, “He who has washed himself does not need anything other than to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not all of you.”


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Then when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, he reclined again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you?


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Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than him who sent him.


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I do not speak of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen, but let this scripture be fulfilled: ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’


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From now on I will tell you before a thing takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe that I am.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, if I send someone, he who receives him receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.”


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When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray me.”


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Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of food when I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon.


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And after the incident of the morsel of food, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said, “What you are doing, do quickly.”


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For some thought, since Judas had the money-bag, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or that he should give something to the poor.


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When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the son of man has 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 will immediately glorify him.


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Little children, I will be with you for just a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot go,’ so I also say to you now.


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I give you a new commandment, to love each other – that you also love each other as I have loved you.


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Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied to him, “Where I am going, you cannot now follow me, but later you will follow me.”


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Jesus replied to him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the cock will certainly not crow until you have denied me three times.


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In my father's house there are many residences. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.


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And if I go, I will prepare a place for you; I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am, you also might be.


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Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the father except through me.


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If you had known me, you would have known my father. But from now on, you know him and you have seen him.”


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Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the father?’


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Do you not believe that I am in the father, and the father is in me? The words which I say to you, I do not say on my own initiative, but it is the father who remains in me who does the works.


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Believe me, that I am in the father and the father in me. And if not, believe me on account of the works themselves.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works which I do, and he will do greater ones than these, because I am going to my father.


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Moreover, I will ask the father, and he will give you another comforter, so that he may remain with you throughout the Age,


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the spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive, because it does not see it or know it. But you know it, because it remains with you and will be in you.


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Just a little while and the world will see me no longer, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.


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He who has my commandments and keeps them – that's who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my father, and I will love him, and I will reveal myself to him.”


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Judas, not Iscariot, said to him, “Lord, what has happened then, in that you are going to reveal yourself to us but not to the world?”


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Jesus replied and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my father will love him, and we will come to him, and we will make an abode with him.


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He who does not love me does not keep my words. And the word which you hear is not mine, but that of the father who sent me.


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But the comforter, the holy spirit, which the father will send in my name, he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have said to you.


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I leave you peace. I give you my peace. I give it to you not as the world gives it. Do not let your heart be troubled, or be afraid.


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You have heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced in that I said, ‘I am going to the father,’ because the father is greater than I am.


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I will no longer discuss many things with you. For the ruler of the world is coming, but he has no hold on me in any way.


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But let the world know that I love the father, and that as my father commanded me, so I act. Up you get, let us move on from here.


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As for every branch in me which does not bear fruit, he removes it. But as for every one which bears fruit, he prunes it, so that it bears more fruit.


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Remain in me, and I will in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, if it does not remain in the vine, so neither can you, if you do not remain in me.


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I am the vine; you are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit, because without me you cannot do anything.


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If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and withers, and people gather them and put them on the fire, and they are burnt.


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If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will take place for you.


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If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, as I have kept the commandments of my father and remain in his love.


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I have said these things to you in order that my joy may remain in you, and your joy may be fulfilled.


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I no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, because I have informed you of everything that I have heard from my father.


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You did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, and for your fruit to remain, so that whatever you ask the father for in my name, he should give you.


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If you were of the world, the world would love its own. However since you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world – that is why the world hates you.


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Remember the words which I spoke to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too. If they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.


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But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.


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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 the works among them which no-one else has done, they would have no sin. But as it is they have seen and hated both me and my father.


text:
But when the comforter comes, whom I will send you from the father – the spirit of truth which proceeds from the father – he will testify about me.


text:
They will excommunicate you from the synagogues, but an hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.


text:
However, I have told you these things so that when the hour comes, you will remember that I told you them. But I did not tell you these things from the start, because I was with you.


text:
But I tell you the truth: it is advantageous to you for me to depart, since if I do not depart, the comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.


text:
But when he comes, the spirit of truth, he will guide you into the whole truth, for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears he will say, and he will announce to you things to come.


text:
Everything that the father has is mine. That is why I said that he takes from what is mine and he will announce it to you.


text:
Just a little while and you will not see me, and then another little while and you will see me, because I am going to the father.”


text:
Then some of his disciples said to each other, “What does this that he says mean: ‘Just a little while and you will not see me, and then another little while and you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the father’?”


text:
So they said, “What does this that he said mean: ‘Just a little while’? We do not know what he is saying.”


text:
Then Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him about it, and he said to them, “Are you discussing this matter with each other because I said, ‘Just a little while and you will not see me, and then another a little while and you will see me’?


text:
Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. So you will be grieved, but your grief will turn into joy.


text:
When a woman is in labour, she is in pain, because her hour has come, but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy in that a man has been born in the world.


text:
So you now have grief. But I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no-one will take your joy from you.


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And on that day you will not ask me anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, that whatever you ask of the father in my name, he will give you.


text:
Up to now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask, and you will receive, so that your joy may be fulfilled.


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I have told you these things in proverbs, but the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in proverbs, but I will inform you plainly concerning the father.


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On that day you will ask in my name. But I do not say to you that I will ask the father on behalf of you,


text:
for the father himself loves you because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.


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I came from the father and I have come into the world. I am leaving the world again and I am going to the father.”


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We now know that you know everything, and don't need anyone to ask you. By this we believe that you have come from God.”


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Look the hour is coming, and has now come, for each of you to be scattered to your own home, and for you to leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the father is with me.


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I have spoken these things to you so that you may have peace in me. In the world, you have tribulation, but be of good courage: I have overcome the world.”


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Jesus said these things and lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son, in order that your son may for his part glorify you.


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Do this just as you gave him authority over all flesh, which you did so that he should give age-abiding life to the whole of what you have given him.


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And this is age-abiding life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.


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And now, glorify me, father, in your presence with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.


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I have manifested your name to the men you have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have given them to me, and they have kept your word.


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because I have given them the words which you have given me, and they received them, and they truly knew that I came out from you, and they believed that you sent me.


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I make a request for them. I do not make a request for the world, but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.


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I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I am going to you. Holy father, keep them in your name which you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are.


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When I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have guarded those whom you have given me, and not one of them has been lost, except the son of perdition, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.


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And now I am going to you, and I say these things in the world so that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.


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I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world.


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so that all may be one, as you, father, are in me and I in you, so that they too may be one in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me.


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I in them and you in me, so that they may be perfected into one, and so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them as you loved me.


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Father, I want those whom you have given me also to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory which you gave me, because you loved me before the overthrow of the world.


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Righteous father, although the world did not know you, yet I knew you, and these knew that you sent me,


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and I have made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.”


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When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Cedron Brook, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples went into.


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Now Judas, who would betray him, also knew the place, because Jesus had often gathered there with his disciples.


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Then Judas, having received a cohort, and officers from the senior priests and Pharisees, went there with torches and lamps and weapons.


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Then Jesus, knowing everything that was coming upon him, went out and said to them, “Who are you looking for?”


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They answered him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, incidentally, who would betray him, was also standing with them.


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This was in order that that the words which he had said might be fulfilled, “I have not lost one of those whom you have given me.”


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Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The name of the servant, by the way, was Malchus.


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Then Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword in its sheath. Shall I in any way not drink the cup which the father has given me?”


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and led him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest in that year.


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Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the sake of the people.


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Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, as was the other disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest's precinct.


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But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came out and spoke to the doorkeeper-girl, and brought Peter in.


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Then the doorkeeper maidservant said to Peter, “Are you not also one of this man's disciples?” He said, “No, I am not.”


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Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. And Peter was standing with them, warming himself as well.


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Jesus replied to him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where the Jews always gather, and I did not say anything in secret.


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Why are you questioning me? Question those who have heard what I said to them. Look, they know what I said.”


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When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face and said, “Is this how you answer the high priest?”


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Jesus replied to him, “If I have said anything wrong, testify concerning the wrong. But if it was right, why are you hitting me?”


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Meanwhile Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, “Are you not also one of his disciples?” He then denied it and said, “No, I am not.”


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One of the high priest's servants, who was a relative of him whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?”


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Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the governmental headquarters. Now it was early, but they themselves did not go into the governmental headquarters, so as not to be defiled, but rather to be able to eat the Passover meal.


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They answered and said to him, “If he were not a wrongdoer, we would not have handed him over to you.”


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Then Pilate said to them, “You take him and judge him according to your law.” Then the Jews said to him, “It is not permitted for us to kill anyone.”


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This was so that the word of Jesus, which he spoke, might be fulfilled, indicating what kind of death he was going to die.


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Then Pilate went into the governmental headquarters again, and called for Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”


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Jesus replied to him, “Are you asking this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?”


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Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your people and the senior priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”


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Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my assistants would be contending for me not to be delivered to the Jews. But as it is my kingdom is not constituted of things here.”


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Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king, then?” Jesus answered, “As you say, I am a king. I was born for the following purpose, and for the following purpose I came into the world: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.”


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Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And having said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no case against him at all.


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Now it is a custom for you that I release one person to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release the king of the Jews to you?”


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And the soldiers plaited a crown from thorns, and put it on his head, and put a purple robe around him,


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Then Pilate came out again, and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no case against him at all.”


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Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and he said to them, “Behold the man!”


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Then when the senior priests and officers had seen him, they shouted, and said, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “You take him and crucify him, for I find no case against him.”


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The Jews replied to him, “We have a law and he needs to die according to our law, because he has made himself the son of God.”


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and he went into the governmental headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.


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Then Pilate said to him, “Won't you speak to me? Don't you know that I have authority to crucify you and authority to release you?”


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Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, if it were not given you from above. That is why he who is betraying me to you has a greater sin.”


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From then on Pilate looked for a way to release him. But the Jews shouted, and said, “If you release him, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself king opposes Caesar.”


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Then Pilate heeded this talk and led Jesus out and sat at the tribunal at a place called The Pavement, which in Hebraic is Gabbatha.


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Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover at about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your king!”


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And they shouted, “Away with him, away with him. Crucify him.” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?” The senior priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”


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And carrying his cross, he went out to the place called The Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebraic Golgotha,


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And Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross, and it read, “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”


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So many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. And it was written in Hebraic, Greek, and Latin.


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Then the Jews' senior priests said to Pilate, “Don't write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, «I am the king of the Jews.» ’ ”


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Then, when they had crucified Jesus, the soldiers took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier, and the tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven from the top in one piece.


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So they said to each other, “Let us not split it, but cast lots for it as to whose it will be,” so that the scripture might be fulfilled which says, “They shared out my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast a lot.” So the soldiers did these things.


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But standing at the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.


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Then Jesus, seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, said to his mother, “Madam, behold your son”.


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Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour, the disciple took her into his own home.


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After this Jesus saw that everything had already been completed, and in order that the scripture be fulfilled, he said, “I am thirsty.”


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Accordingly, a jar full of vinegar was standing there. Then they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it round a hyssop plant and brought it to his mouth.


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So when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It has been completed,” and, bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.


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Then, in order that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, since it was the Preparation Day, for that Sabbath day was a high Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate for their legs to be broken and for them to be removed.


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So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first one, and of the other who had been crucified with him,


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however one of the soldiers pierced his rib with his spear, and immediately blood and water came out.


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And he who saw it testified, and his testimony is true, and he knew that he spoke the truth, in order that you might believe.


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For these things took place in order that the scripture might be fulfilled: “Not a bone of him shall be crushed.”


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After these things Joseph of Aramathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate (but secretly, for fear of the Jews), that he might remove Jesus's body, and Pilate gave permission. So he went and removed Jesus's body.


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And Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus previously by night, also came, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about <b>John 19:10John 19:0 litras in weight.


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Then they took Jesus's body and bound it with linen strips with the scented ointments, as it is the custom of the Jews to embalm.


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Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no-one had ever been laid.


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On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning when it was still dark, and she saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.


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So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him.”


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and the two of them ran together, although the other disciple ran on ahead faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.


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Then Simon Peter, following him, arrived, and went into the tomb and saw the linen strips lying there,


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and the sweat-band, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen strips, but wrapped up on its own in a certain place.


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So then the other disciple, who had arrived first, also went into the tomb, and saw this, and believed.


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But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. Then while she was weeping, she stooped and peered into the tomb,


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and saw two angels in white sitting down, one at the head and one at the feet of where the body of Jesus had lain.


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And they said to her, “Madam, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken my Lord away, and I don't know where they have put him.”


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Then when she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but did not know that it was Jesus.


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Jesus said to her “Madam, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, thinking that it was the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you put him, and I will remove him.”


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Jesus said to her, “Don't touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my father, and your father, and my God, and your God.’ ”


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Mary Magdalene went to report to the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.


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Then with it being evening on that first day of the week, and the doors where the disciples had gathered being closed for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their company and said to them, “Peace to you.”


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And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and side. So the disciples rejoiced at seeing the Lord.


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If you forgive the sins of any, their sins are forgiven. If you hold on to the sins of any, they remain held.”


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so the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and I put my finger in the mark of the nails, and put my hand in his side, I will definitely not believe.”


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Then eight days later, his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came in, although the doors were closed, and stood in their company, and said, “Peace to you.”


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Then he said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and see my hands, and stretch out your hand and put it in my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”


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Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed.”


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To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs too in the presence of his disciples, which have not been written in this book,


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but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing, you may have life through his name.


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After these things, Jesus manifested himself to the disciples again, at the Sea of Tiberias, and he manifested himself in this way:


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Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus were there, as were Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.


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Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will come along with you.” They departed and immediately went on board the boat, but that night they caught nothing.


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Then with morning having already broken, Jesus was standing on the shore. The disciples, however, did not know that it was Jesus.


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Then he said to them, “Cast the net on the right hand side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and they could no longer haul it up because of the large number of fish.


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Then that disciple, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It's the Lord!” Then, when he heard that it was the Lord, Simon Peter girded himself with his cape – for he was naked – and cast himself into the sea.


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But the other disciples came by boat, for they were not far from land, just about two hundred cubits, dragging the net full of fish.


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Then when they had disembarked onto land, they saw a charcoal fire set up and fish lying on it, and bread.


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Simon Peter went on board and hauled the net on land, full with one hundred and fifty-three large fish, yet with so many the net did not tear.


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Jesus said to them, “Come and have your breakfast.” But not one of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.


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then when they had had breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these do?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I hold you in affection.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”


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He asked him a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I hold you in affection.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”


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He asked him a third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you hold me in affection?” Peter was grieved that he had asked him a third time, “Do you hold me in affection?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know I hold you in affection.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.


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Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and go around where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will hold out your hands, and another will gird you, and he will take you where you don't want to go.”


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He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”


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Then Peter turned round and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who had for his part leant back on his breast at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is the one who will betray you?”


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Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what has that got to do with you? You follow me.”


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So this saying spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not said to him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what has that got to do with you?”


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This is the disciple who is testifying about these things, and who wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true.


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And there are many other things which Jesus did, for which, if they were individually written down, I don't think the world itself could contain the books which would be written. Amen.


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I compiled the first account, Theophilus, of everything that Jesus both did and taught from when he began


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up to the day when through holy spirit he instructed the apostles whom he had chosen, and was taken up,


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the apostles to whom he also presented himself alive, after his suffering, with many sure signs, when he was seen by them for forty days, and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.


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And when he met up with them, he instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the father's promise, “Which,” he said, “you have heard from me.


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So they met together and asked him, and said, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?”


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But he said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the father has placed under his own authority.


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But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and as far as the extremity of the land.”


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And when he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was taken up, and a cloud took him from their sight.


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And while they were looking up intently towards heaven as he departed, it became apparent that two men in white clothing were standing next to them,


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who for their part said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing gazing towards heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the way you saw him go into heaven.”


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, being a Sabbath's journey away.


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And when they had gone in, they went up to the upper room where they were staying, the company being Peter and James and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas the son of James.


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All these continued resolutely of one mind in prayer and supplication with the women including Mary the mother of Jesus with his brothers.


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And in those days Peter stood up in the presence of the disciples and said (there was a crowd of about one hundred and twenty people in all),


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“Men and brothers, it was necessary that this scripture should be fulfilled, which the holy spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus,


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This man then bought a parcel of land with unrighteous gain, and falling headlong burst open in the waist, and all his innards were poured out.


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And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that that parcel of land was called in their own dialect ‘Aceldama’, which means ‘Grounds of Blood.’


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For it stands written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his dwelling become desolate and let there be no inhabitant in it’ and, ‘May another person take his office.’


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Therefore it is necessary that, from the men who have been with us all the time during which the Lord Jesus went about among us,


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beginning with the baptism of John up to the day on which he was taken up from us, one of these should become a witness to his resurrection with us.”


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And they prayed and said, “Lord, you know the heart of everyone. Show plainly the one whom you have chosen of these two,


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to take the office of this apostolic ministry from which Judas fell in transgression so that he went to his own place.”


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And they gave them their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was reckoned along with the eleven apostles.


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And suddenly a noise from heaven came like a strong driving blast, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.


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And all were filled with holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues according to what the spirit gave them to utter.


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And when this noise had passed, the crowd gathered and was confused, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect.


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And all were astonished and they marvelled, and said to each other, “Look at this – aren't all these Galileans who are speaking?


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Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,


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Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and Romans away from home, both Jews and proselytes,


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But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them as follows, “Men, Jews and all dwellers of Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give ear to my words.


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‘And it shall come to pass in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out some of my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your youths will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams,


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and I will indeed pour out some of my spirit on my servants and on my maidservants in those days, and they will prophesy.


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And I will show miracles in heaven above and signs on earth below: blood and fire and a smoky vapour.


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The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the great and illustrious day of the Lord comes.


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You Israelite men, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene, a man from God demonstrated to you by powers and miracles and signs which God performed through him in your midst, as you yourselves also know –


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him, delivered up by the deliberate plan and foreknowledge of God, you took and through lawless hands crucified and killed,


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For David speaks with reference to him, ‘I saw the Lord before me continually, that he was on my right hand side, so that I might not be shaken.


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Men and brothers, I may speak to you frankly about the patriarch David – indeed that he died and was buried and his tomb is among us to this day.


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Now since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him by an oath that he would raise up the Christ from the fruit of his loins according to the flesh to sit on his throne,


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foreseeing this, he spoke about the resurrection of Christ: that his being was not left in the Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.


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So being exalted at the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the holy spirit from the father, he poured out this which you now see and hear.


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For David has not ascended into the heavens but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, «Sit on my right hand side


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So let the whole house of Israel certainly know that God has made him both Lord and Christ – that is, this Jesus whom you crucified.”


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And when they heard this, they were pierced in their hearts, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What shall we do, men and brothers?”


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Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit.


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For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all those who are far away, whomever our Lord God calls to himself.”


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And with very many other words he would testify solemnly and exhort them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.”


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So they gladly received his word and were baptized, and on that day about three thousand people were added to their number.


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And they continued resolutely in the teaching of the apostles and in fellowship and in the breaking of the bread and in prayers.


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and they sold their possessions and belongings and distributed them to everyone according to whatever anyone needed.


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And they resolutely continued daily in unanimity in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, partaking of food with gladness and plainness of heart,


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praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord would add to the church those who became saved daily.


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when a certain man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried, a man whom they would put at the door of the temple called “Beautiful” every day, for him to ask for alms from those going into the temple.


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But Peter said, “Silver and gold I don't have, but what I do have, I will give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk.”


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And taking hold of him by his right hand, he lifted him up, and immediately his feet and his ankles were made firm.


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And he leapt up, and stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking around and leaping and praising God.


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and the recognized him – that this was the man who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.


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Then while the lame man who had been healed held onto Peter and John, all the people converged on them at what is called Solomon's Portico, greatly astonished.


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And when Peter saw this, he answered the people, “You Israelite men, why are you astonished at this, or why do you look at us so intently as if it were by our own power or godliness that we made him walk?


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The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob – the God of our fathers – glorified his servant Jesus whom you though delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had resolved to release him.


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But you disowned the holy and righteous one and asked for a man who was a murderer to be granted release to you.


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And by faith in his name, his name has given strength to this man whom you see and know, and faith which is through him has given him this clean bill of health in the presence of you all.


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But God has in this way fulfilled the things which he declared beforehand through the mouth of all his prophets, namely that Christ should suffer.


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Repent therefore, and return, in order that your sins may be wiped out, and that the times of relief may come from the Lord,


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whom heaven must receive until the times of the restoration of all things of which God has spoken through the mouth of all his holy prophets of old time.


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For Moses said to the fathers, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet to you from your brothers like me. You will hear him in regard to whatever he says to you.


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And it will come to pass that anyone who does not hear that prophet will be utterly eradicated from the people.’


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Indeed all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed – all who have spoken – also announced these days.


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You are the sons of the prophets and the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.’


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God raised up his servant Jesus to you first, and sent him to bless you by turning each one away from your wicked ways.”


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But while they were speaking to the people, the priests and the head guard of the temple and the Sadducees confronted them,


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and were exasperated at them teaching the people, and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in Jesus,


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and they laid hands on them and had them put in custody until the following day, for it was already evening.


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with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and all who were of the high-priestly family,


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let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that it is in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God has raised from the dead – that it is by him – that this man stands here in your presence, healthy.


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And there is no salvation in any other, for neither is there any other name given among men by which we must be saved.”


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And when they saw the confidence of Peter and John, and realized that they were unlettered and laymen, they were amazed, and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.


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And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against it.


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and said, “What shall we do to these men? For an evident sign has taken place through them, manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it,


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but in order that it does not spread any further throughout the people, we will threaten them strongly telling them not to speak any more in this name to any man.”


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But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in God's sight to hear you rather than God, you judge.


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Then they threatened them some more and released them, not finding any way to have them punished, on account of the people, because everyone was glorifying God for what had happened.


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So having been released, they went to their own circle and reported everything that the senior priests and elders had said to them.


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And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God in unanimity and said, “Master, you who are God who made heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,


text:
you who said through the mouth of David your servant, ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples exercise themselves with vain concerns?


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The kings of the earth take a stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Christ.’


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For they have truly gathered against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed: both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,


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And as for the present situation, Lord, look at their threats and allow your servants to speak your word with all confidence,


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by stretching out your hand for healing, and signs and miracles taking place through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”


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And when they had implored him, the place where they were gathered shook, and all of them were filled with holy spirit and they spoke the word of God with confidence.


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And the heart and soul of the multitude of the believers was one, and not a single one said any of their possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.


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And the apostles gave a testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, and they were all greatly esteemed.


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For no-one among them was in need, for all who were the owners of land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the items sold,


text:
and laid them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to whatever anyone needed.


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And Joses who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which when translated is “Son of Consolation,” a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,


text:
and put some of the proceeds aside for himself, his wife also knowing about it, and brought a certain part and placed it at the feet of the apostles.


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But Peter said, “Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart, so that you lied to the holy spirit, and you put some of the proceeds of the land aside?”


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Something has definitely been kept back for yourself, hasn't it, and now that it has been sold, is it not under your control? How did you come up with this course of action in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.


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When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and expired, and a great fear came on all those who heard these things.


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And it came to pass that after an interval of about three hours, that his wife came in, not knowing what had taken place.


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And Peter said to her, “Tell me did you sell the land for this price?” And she said, “Yes, for this price.”


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Then Peter said to her, “How come you agreed to put the spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will also carry you out.”


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And immediately she fell at his feet and expired. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her out and buried her with her husband.


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And many signs and miracles were taking place among the people by the apostles, and all were of one mind in Solomon's Portico.


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and as a result they brought out the sick onto the various streets and put them on beds and stretchers, in order that when Peter came, even just his shadow might be cast on one of them.


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And the population of the cities round about also flocked to Jerusalem carrying the ill and those troubled by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


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Then the high priest and all those with him rose up – this being the sect of the Sadducees – and they were full of envy,


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When they had heard this they went at about dawn into the temple and gave teaching. Now when the high priest arrived, and those with him, they convened the Sanhedrin council, and the whole council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent to the prison for them to be brought.


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But when the attendants arrived, they did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported back,


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and said, “We found the prison closed under all security, and the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no-one inside.”


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And when the priest and the head guard of the temple and the senior priests heard these words, they were at a loss concerning them as to what this might turn into.


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Then someone arrived and reported back to them as follows, “We have seen how the men whom you had put in prison are standing in the temple teaching the people.”


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Then the head guard went away with the attendants and brought them, not with force, for they feared the people, so as not to be stoned.


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When they had brought them, they set them in front of the Sanhedrin council. And the high priest questioned them,


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and said, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And you have gone and filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring the blood of this man on us.”


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God has exalted this man as a ruler and saviour at his right hand so as to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.


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And we are his witnesses of these words, as is the holy spirit which God has given to those who obey him.”


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But a certain person in the Sanhedrin council, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, gave orders to put the apostles outside for a little while.


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For before these times Theudas stood up, saying he was someone, to whom a number of men were called – about four hundred – and he was killed, and all who trusted in him were disbanded and came to nothing.


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After this man, Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and he caused a considerable number of people to revolt, rallying behind him, yet that man perished, and all those who trusted him were scattered.


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And as for the present matters, I say to you: do not get involved with these men, and leave them alone, for if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be dissolved,


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but if it is of God, you cannot dissolve it, otherwise you for your part might be found to be opposing God.”


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Then they were persuaded by him, and they called the apostles and flogged them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.


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So they went away from the encounter with the Sanhedrin council rejoicing because they had been deemed worthy to suffer ignominy for the sake of the name of Jesus.


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And they did not cease teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus the Christ in the temple and from house to house every day.


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And in those days as the disciples increased in number, a complaint came from the Greek speakers against the Hebrew speakers, that their widows had been overlooked in the daily ministering to their needs.


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And when the twelve had called the company of disciples, they said, “It is not appropriate that we should abandon the word of God and serve at tables.


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So, brothers, select seven well-attested men from your company, full of holy spirit and wisdom, for us to appoint in this matter.


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And the proposition found favour in the sight of the whole company, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and holy spirit, and Philip and Prochorus and Nicanor and Timon and Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.


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And the word of God grew and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large contingent of the priests were obedient to the faith.


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But some of those of the synagogue of the so-called Libertines rose up, as did the Cyrenians and Alexandrians and those from Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.


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Then they incited some men who said, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”


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And together they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they accosted him and seized him and led him to the Sanhedrin council.


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And they set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words against the holy place and the law.


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For we have heard him saying, ‘This Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses handed down to us.’ ”


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And all those sitting in the Sanhedrin council looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.


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At this he said, “Men, brothers, and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he lived in Haran.


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And he said to him, ‘Go out of your country and away from your wider family and come to the land which I will show you.’


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Then he went out of the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran, and after his father had died, he moved him from there to this country in which you now live.


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And he did not give him an inheritance in it, not even a footstep, but he promised to give it him as a possession, and to his seed after him, while he still had no child.


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And God spoke as follows, that his seed would be foreigners in another country, and they would enslave them and treat them badly for four hundred years.


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‘And the nation which they will serve I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve me in this place.’


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And he gave him the covenant of circumcision, and so he begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac begot and did likewise with Jacob, and Jacob begot and did likewise with the twelve patriarchs.


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and delivered him from all his tribulations, and gave him grace and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his household.


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Then a famine came over the whole land of Egypt and Canaan, and great tribulation, and our fathers did not find food.


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And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's race became apparent to Pharaoh.


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And they were transferred to Shechem, and were put in the tomb which Abraham had bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem.


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And as the time of the promise which God had sworn to Abraham drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,


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This man, contriving to outwit our race, treated our fathers badly by having their babies put out in the open so that they would not survive.


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Now in this period Moses was born, and he was extremely handsome, and he was brought up for three months in his father's house.


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But when he had been put out in the open, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.


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But when he was coming up to forty years old, the thought occurred to him to attend to his brothers, the sons of Israel.


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And when he saw someone being unjustly treated, he defended and avenged the man who was being harshly dealt with by striking the Egyptian,


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for he thought that his brothers would understand that God, through his action, was giving them deliverance, but they did not understand.


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And on the next day, he appeared to them while they were fighting, and he urged them to make peace together, and said, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’


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But the one who was doing wrong to his neighbour pushed him away from himself and said, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us?


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But at these words Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he begot two sons.


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And when forty years had passed, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai in the flame of the bush on fire.


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And Moses saw it and wondered at the vision. And as he approached to investigate, the voice of the Lord came to him and said,


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‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ But Moses was trembling and did not dare investigate further.


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But the Lord said to him, ‘Unfasten the sandals on your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.


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I have clearly seen the ill-treatment of my people in Egypt and I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. So come on now, I am going to send you to Egypt.’


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This Moses, whom they repudiated, saying, ‘Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?’ is whom God sent as a ruler and deliverer by the agency of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.


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It is he who led them out, having performed miracles and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the desert for forty years.


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This is Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet to you from among your brothers like me.’


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This is he who was in the assembly in the desert with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and was with our fathers, and he received a living word to give to us,


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but our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but pushed him aside, and their affections were turned back to Egypt,


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as they said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods which will go before us. For as for this Moses – who led us out of Egypt – we do not know what has become of him.’


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And they made a calf in those days and offered a sacrifice to the idol, and they rejoiced in the works of their hands.


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And God turned away and gave them up to do service to the array of the sky, as it stands written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you really offer me slaughtered animals and sacrifices for forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?’


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And you took up the tent of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan – images which you made in order to worship them – so I will remove you to beyond Babylon.


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Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the desert, as he who spoke to Moses commanded, to make it according to the blueprint which he had seen.


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And our fathers with Joshua also received it in turn, and brought it in, when they took possession of the country of the nations which God drove out at the advance of our fathers, up to the days of David,


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‘Heaven is my throne, but the earth is a footstool for my feet. What kind of a house will you build for me?’ says the Lord, ‘or what is my resting place?


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You stiff-necked and uncircumcised of heart and ears, you always resist the holy spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.


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Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced the coming of the righteous one beforehand, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers –


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But as they heard these things, they were cut to the quick in their hearts and gnashed their teeth against him.


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But he was full of holy spirit, and looking intently towards heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,


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and they threw him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid the clothes down at the feet of a young man called Saul.


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And he kneeled, and shouted out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge.” And having said this, he fell asleep.


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And Saul was consentient to his execution. And it came to pass on that day that there was a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered among the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.


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But Saul ravaged the church, going into one house after another, and dragging men and women out he delivered them into prison.


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And the crowds paid unanimous attention to the words spoken by Philip when they heard them and saw the signs which he performed.


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For the unclean spirits of many who were possessed by them came out, shouting with a loud voice, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed.


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But a certain man by the name of Simon was long established in the city using magic arts, and astounding the people of Samaria, while saying that he was someone great,


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But when they had believed Philip, who was preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.


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And Simon himself also believed, and was baptized, and continued resolutely with Philip, and when he saw deeds of power and signs take place, he was astounded.


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And when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,


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for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.


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But when Simon observed that the holy spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,


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and said, “Give me this authority too, so that whoever I lay my hands on should receive holy spirit.”


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But Peter said to him, “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money.


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So repent from this wickedness of yours, and entreat God and see whether then the scheming of your heart will be forgiven you.


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Then Simon answered and said, “You entreat the Lord for me that nothing of what you have said should come upon me.”


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So then, after they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.


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And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, “Arise and go southwards on the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. It is desolate.”


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So he arose and went. And he came across an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, an official of Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, and he was in charge of all her treasure and had come to worship at Jerusalem.


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And Philip ran up to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you actually know what you are reading?”


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And he said, “Well how can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up in and sit with him.


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Now the passage of scripture which he was reading was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb dumb before its shearer, so he did not open his mouth.


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While he was in his lowly state, his justice was denied him. But who can describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”


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Then the eunuch answered and said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about? About himself, or about someone else?”


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And as they went along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there's some water. What is preventing me from being baptized?”


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And he ordered the chariot to stop, and they both went down to the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.


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And when they came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord took hold of Philip, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, but he went his way rejoicing.


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And Philip was found at Azotus, and as he passed through, he preached the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.


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But Saul was still breathing threats and murder towards the Lord's disciples, and he went to the high priest,


text:
and asked him for letters to take to Damascus, addressed to the synagogues, authorizing that if he should find anyone of “the way”, both men and women, he should bring them bound to Jerusalem.


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And as he went, it came to pass that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly light flashed around him from heaven.


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And he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”


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But the men who were travelling with him stood dumbfounded, hearing the voice, but not seeing anyone.


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Then Saul arose from the ground and although his eyes were opened, he saw no-one, and they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.


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Now there was a certain disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he said, “Here I am, Lord.”


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And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the lane called ‘Straight’ and seek in Judas's house Saul by name, a Tarsan, for look, he is praying.


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And he has seen in a vision a man by the name of Ananias coming to him and putting his hand on him, so that he may recover his sight.”


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And Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard about this man from many people, how many bad things he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.


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But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to bear my name in the presence of the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.


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So Ananias departed and went into the house and put his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me – who appeared to you on the road by which you came – so that you may recover your sight and be filled with holy spirit.”


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And straightaway it was as if scales fell from his eyes, and he recovered his sight and he rose up and was baptized,


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And all of those hearing it were amazed, and said, “Is this not the man who devastated those who call on this name in Jerusalem, and who has come here for the very purpose of bringing them bound to the senior priests?”


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But Saul was strengthened further and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, demonstrating that this was the Christ.


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But their plot became known to Saul. Meanwhile they were guarding the gates closely, by both day and night, so as to eliminate him.


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Then when Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join up with the disciples, but they all feared him, not believing that he was a disciple.


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But Barnabas took hold of him and led him to the apostles, and he explained to them how on the road he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken freely in the name of Jesus.


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So the churches throughout the whole of Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and were filled with the comforting of the holy spirit.


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And it came to pass that Peter, in the course of his travels all around, also went down to the saints who lived at Lydda.


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And he found there a certain man by the name of Aeneas, who had lain on a bed for eight years, who was paralysed.


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And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed for yourself.” And immediately he got up.


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Now there was a certain disciple in Joppa by the name of Tabitha, which when translated is “Dorkas”. She was full of good works and alms which she gave.


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And it came to pass in those days that she fell ill and died. Then they washed her and put her in an upper room.


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With Lydda being near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was in that place, they sent word to him, pleading with him not to hesitate in coming across to them.


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So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, all the widows led him up to the upper room, and stood by him weeping and showing him all the tunics and clothes which Dorkas used to make when she with them.


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Then Peter sent them all out and knelt and prayed, and turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes and saw Peter and sat up.


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And giving her his hand, he stood her up, and called the saints and the widows, and presented her alive.


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Now there was a certain man in Caesarea by the name of Cornelius, a centurion from the so-called Italian cohort,


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who was devout and god-fearing, along with all his household, who gave many alms to the people, and was continually beseeching God.


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He saw clearly in a vision, at about the ninth hour of the day, the angel of God who came to him, and said to him, “Cornelius.”


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And he looked at him intently and became fearful and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial in the presence of God.


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And when the angel who was speaking to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier from among those who continued resolutely with him,


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Then on the next day those men made their way and as they approached the city, Peter went up onto the roof to pray, at about the sixth hour.


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And he became very hungry, and wanted a taste of food. And as they made their preparations a trance came over him.


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And he saw heaven opened, and a certain object descending on him, like a large sheet, tied at the four corners and being lowered down to the earth,


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And the voice came to him again, a second time, and said, “Don't you call profane what God has declared clean.”


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Now while Peter was at a loss in himself as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, along came the men who had been sent from Cornelius and had asked for Simon's house, and they stood at the gateway,


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And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the spirit said to him, “Look, some men are looking for you.


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So Peter went down to the men and said, “Look, I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you are here?”


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And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and god-fearing man, respected by the whole nation of the Jews, was oracularly instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and for him to hear words from you.”


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So he invited them inside and put them up. Then on the next day Peter went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.


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Then on the next day they went to Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.


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And he said to them, “You understand that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or approach someone of a different race. But God has shown me not to say that any man is common or unclean.


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That is why I came without arguing against it when I was sent for. So I enquire now for what reason you have sent for me.”


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And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood opposite me in shining clothing,


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and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered in the presence of God.


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So send men to Joppa and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea, and when he has arrived, he will speak with you.’


text:
So I immediately sent men to you, and you have done well in coming. So now all of us are present in God's sight to hear all the things that have been commanded you by God.”


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Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality,


text:
You know the word which he sent to the sons of Israel, as he preached peace through Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all –


text:
you know the course of events which took place throughout all Judaea, beginning with Galilee after the baptism which John preached


text:
– Jesus from Nazareth – how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, who went about doing good works and healing all those who were being overpowered by the devil, because God was with him.


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And we are witnesses of everything he did in the Jews' country area and in Jerusalem, whom they also killed by hanging him on wood.


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not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.


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And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one who has been designated by God as judge of the living and the dead.


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All the prophets testify to him, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”


text:
While Peter was still speaking these words, the holy spirit fell on all of those who heard the word.


text:
And those believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the holy spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles.


text:
“Surely no-one can refuse water, so preventing these people from being baptized – those who have received the holy spirit, as we for our part have.”


text:
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.


text:
And the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.


text:
“I was in the city of Joppa, praying. And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain object descending, like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me,


text:
and I looked at it intently and took careful note and saw the quadrupeds of the earth and wild animals and reptiles and birds of the sky.


text:
Then the voice answered me a second time from heaven: ‘Don't you call profane what God has declared clean.’


