# verses

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There are therefore, in all, fourteen generations from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Removal to Babylon; and fourteen from the Removal to Babylon to the Messiah.


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The circumstances of the birth of Jesus the Messiah were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.


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But Joseph her husband, being a kind-hearted man and unwilling publicly to disgrace her, had determined to release her privately from the betrothal.


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But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, »Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.


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She will give birth to a Son, and you are to call His name JESUS for He it is who will save His People from their sins.«


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<J>»Mark! The maiden will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call His name Immanuel«</J> –a word which signifies <J>`God with us'</J>.


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Now after the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judaea in the reign of King Herod, excitement was produced in Jerusalem by the arrival of certain Magi from the east,


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inquiring, »Where is the newly born king of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the east, and have come here to do him homage.«


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Reports of this soon reached the king, and greatly agitated not only him but all the people of Jerusalem.


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So he assembled all the High Priests and Scribes of the people, and anxiously asked them where the Messiah was to be born.


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<J>»`And you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, by no means the least honorable are you among the rulers of Judah! For from you shall come a ruler–one who shall be the Shepherd of My People Israel.'«</J>


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Thereupon Herod sent privately for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the star's appearing.


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He then directed them to go to Bethlehem, adding, »Go and make careful inquiry about the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and do him homage.«


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After hearing what the king said, they went to Bethlehem, while, strange to say, the star they had seen in the east led them on until it came and stood over the place where the babe was.


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So they entered the house; and when they saw the babe with His mother Mary, they prostrated themselves and did Him homage, and opening their treasure-chests offered gifts to Him–gold, frankincense, and myrrh.


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But being forbidden by God in a dream to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by a different route.


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When they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, »Rise: take the babe and His mother and escape to Egypt, and remain there till I bring you word. For Herod is about to make search for the child in order to destroy Him.«


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There he remained till Herod's death, that what the Lord had said through the Prophet might be fulfilled, <J>»Out of Egypt I called My Son.«</J>


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Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.


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<J>»A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and bitter lamentation: It was Rachel bewailing her children, and she refused to be comforted because there were no more.«</J>


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But after Herod's death an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said to him,


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»Rise from sleep, and take the child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.«


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But hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod on the throne of Judaea, he was afraid to go there; and being instructed by God in a dream he withdrew into Galilee,


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and went and settled in a town called Nazareth, in order that these words spoken through the Prophets might be fulfilled, <J>»He shall be called a Nazarene.«</J>


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He it is who was spoken of through the Prophet Isaiah when he said, <J>»The voice of one crying aloud, `In the desert prepare you a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.'«</J>


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This man John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a loincloth of leather; and he lived upon locusts and wild honey.


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Then large numbers of people went out to him –people from Jerusalem and from all Judaea, and from the whole of the Jordan valley–


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But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he exclaimed, `O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


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and do not imagine that you can say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.


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And already the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which does not produce good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire.


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I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.


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His winnowing-shovel is in His hand, and He will make a thorough clearance of His threshing-floor, gathering His wheat into the storehouse, but burning up the chaff in unquenchable fire.«


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Just at that time Jesus, coming from Galilee to the Jordan, presents Himself to John to be baptized by him.


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»Let it be so on this occasion,« Jesus replied; »for so we ought to fulfill all righteousness.« Then he consented;


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and Jesus was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,


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So the Tempter came and said, »If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into loaves.«


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»It is written,« replied Jesus, <J>»`It is not on bread alone that a man shall live, but on whatsoever God shall appoint.'«</J>


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and said, »If you are God's Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, <J>»`To His angels He will give orders concerning you, and on their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any moment you should strike your foot against a stone.'«</J>


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Then the Devil took Him to the top of an exceedingly lofty mountain, from which he caused Him to see all the Kingdoms of the world and their splendour,


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»Begone, Satan!« Jesus replied; »for it is written, <J>`To the Lord your God you shall do homage, and to Him alone shall you render worship.'«</J>


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and leaving Nazareth He went and settled at Capernaum, a town by the Lake on the frontiers of Zebulun and Naphtali,


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<J>»Zebulun's land and Naphtali's land; the road by the Lake; the country beyond the Jordan; Galilee of the Nations!</J>


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<J>The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned.«</J>


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From that time Jesus began to preach. »Repent,« He said, »for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand.«


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And walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee He saw two brothers –Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew– throwing a drag-net into the Lake; for they were fishers.


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He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zabdai and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zabdai mending their nets; and He called them.


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Then Jesus travelled through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.


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Thus His fame spread through all Syria; and they brought all the sick to Him, the people who were suffering from various diseases and pains–demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He cured them.


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And great crowds followed Him, coming from Galilee, from the Ten Towns, from Jerusalem, and from beyond the district on the other side of the Jordan.


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Seeing the multitude of people, Jesus went up the Hill. There He seated Himself, and when His disciples came to Him,


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


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»Blessed are those who have borne persecution in the cause of Righteousness, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens.«


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»Blessed are you when they have insulted and persecuted you, and have said every cruel thing about you falsely for my sake.


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Be joyful and triumphant, because your reward is great in the Heavens; for so were the Prophets before you persecuted.«


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<i>You</i> are the salt of the earth; but if salt has become tasteless, in what way can it regain its saltness? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown away and trodden on by the passers by.


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Nor is a lamp lighted to be put under a bushel, but on the lampstand; and then it gives light to all in the house.


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Just so let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.


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»Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion.«


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Solemnly I tell you that until Heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or smallest detail will pass away from the Law until all has taken place.


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Whoever therefore breaks one of these least commandments and teaches others to break them, will be called the least in the Kingdom of the Heavens; but whoever practises them and teaches them, he will be acknowledged as great in the Kingdom of the Heavens.


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For I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will certainly not find entrance into the Kingdom of the Heavens.


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»You have heard that it was said to the ancients, <J>`You shall not commit murder',</J> and whoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate.«


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But I say to you that every one who becomes angry with his brother shall be answerable to the magistrate; that whoever says to his brother `Raca,' shall be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and that whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the Gehenna of Fire.


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


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leave your gift there before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother first, and then return and proceed to offer your gift.


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Come to terms without delay with your opponent while you are yet with him on the way to the court; for fear he should obtain judgement from the magistrate against you, and the magistrate should give you in custody to the officer and you be thrown into prison.


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I solemnly tell you that you will certainly not be released till you have paid the very last farthing.


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But I tell you that whoever looks at a woman and cherishes lustful thoughts has already in his heart become guilty with regard to her.


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If therefore your eye, even the right eye, is a snare to you, tear it out and away with it; <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> it is better for you that one member should be destroyed rather than that your whole body should be thrown into Gehenna.


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And if your right hand is a snare to you, cut it off and away with it; <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> it is better for you that one member should be destroyed rather than that your whole body should go into Gehenna.


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»It was also said, <J>`If any man puts away his wife, let him give her a written notice of divorce.'</J>«


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But I tell you that every man who puts away his wife except on the ground of unfaithfulness causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries her when so divorced commits adultery.


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»Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, <J>`You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your vows to the Lord.'</J>«


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nor by the earth, for it is the footstool under His feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the City of the Great King.


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But let your language be, `Yes, yes,' or `No, no.' Anything in excess of this comes from the Evil one.


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But I tell you not to resist a wicked man, but if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.


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If any one wishes to go to law with you and to deprive you of your under garment, let him take your outer one also.


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that so you may become true sons of your Father in Heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the wicked as well as the good, and sends rain upon those who do right and those who do wrong.


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For if you love only those who love you, what reward have you earned? Do not even the tax-gatherers do that?


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And if you salute only your near relatives, what praise is due to you? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?


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»But beware of doing your good actions in the sight of men, in order to attract their gaze; if you do, there is no reward for you with your Father who is in Heaven.«


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`When you give in charity, never blow a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets in order that their praises may be sung by men. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.


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that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father –He who sees in secret– will recompense you.


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»And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.«


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But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father –He who sees in secret– will recompense you.


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»And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words.«


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and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;


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»When any of you fast, never assume gloomy looks as the hypocrites do; for they disfigure their faces in order that it may be evident to men that they are fasting. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.«


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that it may not be apparent to men that you are fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father –He who sees in secret– will recompense you.


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»Do not lay up stores of wealth for yourselves on earth, where the moth and wear-and-tear destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.«


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But amass wealth for yourselves in Heaven, where neither the moth nor wear-and-tear destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal.


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»The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eyesight is good, your whole body will be well lighted;«


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but if your eyesight is bad, your whole body will be dark. If however the very light within you is darkness, how dense must the darkness be!


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»No man can be the bondservant of two masters; for either he will dislike one and like the other, or he will attach himself to one and think slightingly of the other. You cannot be the bondservants both of God and of gold.«


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For this reason I charge you not to be over-anxious about your lives, inquiring what you are to eat or what you are to drink, nor yet about your bodies, inquiring what clothes you are to put on. Is not the life more precious than its food, and the body than its clothing?


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Look at the birds which fly in the air: they do not sow or reap or store up in barns, but your Heavenly Father feeds them: are not you of much greater value than they?


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And why be anxious about clothing? Learn a lesson from the wild lilies. Watch their growth. They neither toil nor spin,


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and yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his magnificence could array himself like one of these.


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And if God so clothes the wild herbage which today flourishes and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, is it not much more certain that He will clothe you, you men of little faith?


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Do not be over-anxious, therefore, asking `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'


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For all these are questions that Gentiles are always asking; but your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things–all of them.


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But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.


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Do not be over-anxious, therefore, about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own cares. Enough for each day are its own troubles.


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And why do you look at the splinter in your brother's eye, and not notice the beam which is in your own eye?


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Or how say to your brother, `Allow me to take the splinter out of your eye,' while the beam is in your own eye?


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Hypocrite, first take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly how to remove the splinter from your brother's eye.


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»Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls to the swine; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and then turn and attack you.«


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»Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.«


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For it is always he who asks that receives, he who seeks that finds, and he who knocks that has the door opened to him.


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If you then, imperfect as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask Him!


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Everything, therefore, be it what it may, that you would have men do to you, do you also the same to them; for in this the Law and the Prophets are summed up.


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»Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the road which leads to ruin, and many there are who enter by it;«


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because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which leads to Life, and few are those who find it.


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»Beware of the false teachers–men who come to you in sheep's fleeces, but beneath that disguise they are ravenous wolves.«


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By their fruits you will easily recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorns or figs from brambles?


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»Not every one who says to me, `Master, Master,' will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.«


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Many will say to me on that day, »`Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name expelled demons, and in Your name performed many mighty works?'


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»Every one who hears these my teachings and acts upon them will be found to resemble a wise man who builds his house upon rock;«


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and the heavy rain falls, the swollen torrents come, and the winds blow and beat against the house; yet it does not fall, for its foundation is on rock.


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And every one who hears these my teachings and does not act upon them will be found to resemble a fool who builds his house upon sand.


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The heavy rain descends, the swollen torrents come, and the winds blow and burst upon the house, and it falls; and disastrous is the fall.«


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And a leper came to Him, and throwing himself at His feet, said, »Sir, if only you are willing you are able to cleanse me.«


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So Jesus put out His hand and touched him, and said, »I am willing: be cleansed.« Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy;


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and Jesus said to him, »Be careful to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses appointed as evidence for them.«


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»Sir,« replied the Captain, »I am not a fit person to receive you under my roof: merely say the word, and my servant will be cured.


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For I myself am also under authority, and have soldiers under me. To one I say `Go,' and he goes, to another `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave `Do this or that,' and he does it.«


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Jesus listened to this reply, and was astonished, and said to the people following Him, »I solemnly tell you that in no Israelite have I found faith as great as this.


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And I tell you that many will come from the east and from the west and will recline at table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of the Heavens,


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while the natural heirs of the Kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside: there will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth.«


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And Jesus said to the Captain, »Go, and just as you have believed, so be it for you.« And the servant recovered precisely at that time.


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In the evening many demoniacs were brought to Him, and with a word He expelled the demons; and He cured all the sick,


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in order that this prediction of the Prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, <J>»He took on Him our weaknesses, and bore the burden of our diseases.«</J>


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»Foxes have holes,« replied Jesus, »and birds have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.«


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But suddenly there arose a great storm on the Lake, so that the waves threatened to engulf the boat; but He was asleep.


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»Why are you so easily frightened,« He replied, »you men of little faith?« Then He rose and reproved the winds and the waves, and there was a perfect calm;


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and the men, filled with amazement, exclaimed, »What kind of man is this? for the very winds and waves obey him!«


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On His arrival at the other side, in the country of the Gadarenes, there met Him two men possessed by demons, coming from among the tombs: they were so dangerously fierce that no one was able to pass that way.


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They cried aloud, »What have You to do with us, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?«


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»Go,« He replied. Then they came out from the men and went into the swine, whereupon the entire herd instantly rushed down the cliff into the Lake and perished in the water.


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The swineherds fled, and went and told the whole story in the town, including what had happened to the demoniacs.


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So at once the whole population came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they besought Him to leave their country.


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Here they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, »Take courage, my child; your sins are pardoned.«


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But, to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins« –He then says to the paralytic, »Rise, and take up your bed and go home.«


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And the crowds were awe-struck when they saw it, and ascribed the glory to God who had entrusted such power to a man.


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Passing on thence Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, »Follow me.« And he arose, and followed Him.


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And while He was reclining at table, a large number of tax-gathers and notorious sinners were of the party with Jesus and His disciples.


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The Pharisees noticed this, and they inquired of His disciples, »Why does your Teacher eat with the tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?«


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He heard the question and replied, »It is not men in good health who require a doctor, but the sick.


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But go and learn what this means, <J>`It is mercy that I desire, not sacrifice';</J> for I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners.«


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At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, »Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?«


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»Can the bridegroom's party mourn,« He replied, »as long as the bridegroom is with them? But other days will come (when the Bridegroom has been taken from them) and then they will fast.


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No one ever mends an old cloak with a patch of newly woven cloth. Otherwise, the patch put on would tear away some of the old, and a worse hole would be made.


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Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the skins would split, the wine would escape, and the skins be destroyed. But they put new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved.«


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While He was thus speaking, a Ruler came up and profoundly bowing said, »My daughter is just dead; but come and put your hand upon her and she will return to life.«


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But a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with haemorrhage came behind Him and touched the tassel of His cloak;


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And Jesus turned and saw her, and said, »Take courage, daughter; your faith has cured you.« And the woman was restored to health from that moment.


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and He said, »Go out of the room; the little girl is not dead, but asleep.« And they laughed at Him.


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When however the place was cleared of the crowd, Jesus went in, and on His taking the little girl by the hand, she rose up.


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And when He had gone indoors, they came to Him. »Do you believe that I can do this?« He asked them. »Yes, Sir,« they replied.


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Then their eyes were opened. And assuming a stern tone Jesus said to them, »Be careful to let no one know.«


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When the demon was expelled, the mute man could speak. And the crowds exclaimed in astonishment, »Never was such a thing seen in Israel.«


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But the Pharisees maintained, »It is by the power of the Prince of the demons that he drives out the demons.«


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And Jesus continued His circuits through all the towns and the villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity.


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And when He saw the crowds He was touched with pity for them, because they were distressed and were fainting on the ground like sheep which have no shepherd.


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Then He called to Him His twelve disciples and gave them authority over foul spirits, to drive them out; and to cure every kind of disease and infirmity.


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Now the names of the twelve Apostles were these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zabdai, and his brother John;


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Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer, James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;


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These twelve Jesus sent on a mission, after giving them their instructions:»Go not,« He said, »among the Gentiles, and enter no Samaritan town;


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Cure the sick, raise the dead to life, cleanse lepers, drive out demons: you have received without payment, give without payment.


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no bag for your journey, nor change of linen, nor shoes, nor stick; for the labourer deserves his food.


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»Whatever town or village you enter, inquire for some good man; and make his house your home till you leave the place.«


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and if the house deserves it, the peace you invoke shall come upon it. If not, your peace shall return to you.


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And whoever refuses to receive you or even to listen to your Message, as you leave that house or town, shake off the very dust from your feet.


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I solemnly tell you that it will be more endurable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of Judgement than for that town.


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»Remember it is I who am sending you out, as sheep into the midst of wolves; prove yourselves as sagacious as serpents, and as innocent as doves.«


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But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to appear before Sanhedrins, and will flog you in their synagogues;


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and you will even be put on trial before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles.


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But when they have delivered you up, have no anxiety as to how you shall speak or what you shall say; for at that very time it shall be given you what to say;


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Brother will betray brother to death, and father, child; and children will rise against their own parents and will put them to death.


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And you will be objects of universal hatred because you are called by my name; but he who holds out to the End–he will be saved.


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Whenever they persecute you in one town, escape to the next; for I solemnly tell you that you will not have gone the round of all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.


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Enough for the learner to be on a level with his teacher, and for the servant to be on a level with his master. If they have called the master of the house Baal-zebul, how much more will they slander his servants?


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Fear them not, however; there is nothing veiled which will not be uncovered, nor secret which will not become known.


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What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what is whispered into your ear, proclaim upon the roofs of the houses.


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»And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.«


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Do not two sparrows sell for a halfpenny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave.


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»Every man who acknowledges me before men I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven.«


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»Do not suppose that I came to bring peace to the earth: I did not come to bring peace but a sword.«


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For I came to set a man against his father, <J>a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;</J>


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Any one who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and any one who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;


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Every one who receives a prophet, because he is a prophet, will receive a prophet's reward, and every one who receives a righteous man, because he is a righteous man, will receive a righteous man's reward.


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And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink because he is a disciple, I solemnly tell you that he will not lose his reward.«


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When Jesus had concluded His instructions to His twelve disciples, He left in order to teach and to proclaim His Message in the neighbouring towns.


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Now John had heard in prison about the Messiah's doings, and he sent some of his disciples to inquire:


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»blind eyes receive sight, and cripples walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf ears hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them;«


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When the messengers had taken their leave, Jesus proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, »What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?


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But what did you go out to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in kings' palaces.


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This is he of whom it is written, <J>»`See I am sending My messenger before Your face, and he will make Your road ready before You.'</J>«


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»I solemnly tell you that among all of woman born no greater has ever been raised up than John the Baptist; yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of the Heavens is greater than he.«


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But from the time of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of the Heavens has been suffering violent assault, and the violent have been seizing it by force.


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»But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates.«


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»`We have played the flute to you,' they say, `and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not beaten your breasts.'«


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The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they exclaim, `See this man! –given to gluttony and tippling, and a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!' And yet Wisdom is vindicated by her actions.«


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Then began He to upbraid the towns where most of His mighty works had been done–because they had not repented.


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»Alas for you, Chorazin!« He cried. »Alas for you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty works been done in Tyre and Sidon which have been done in both of you, they would long ere now have repented, covered with sackcloth and ashes.


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Only I tell you that it will be more endurable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of Judgement than for you.


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And you, Capernaum, shall you be exalted even to Heaven? Even to Hades shall you descend. For had the mighty works been done in Sodom which have been done in you, it would have remained until now.


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Only I tell you all, that it will be more endurable for the land of Sodom on the day of Judgement than for you.«


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About that time Jesus exclaimed, »I heartily praise You, Father, Lord of Heaven and of earth, that You have hidden these things from sages and men of discernment, and have unveiled them to babes.


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»All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one fully knows the Son except the Father, nor does any one fully know the Father except the Son and all to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.«


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


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About that time Jesus passed on the Sabbath through the wheatfields; and His disciples became hungry, and began to gather ears of wheat and eat them.


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But the Pharisees saw it and said to Him, »Look! your disciples are doing what the Law forbids them to do on the Sabbath.«


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how he entered the House of God and ate the Presented Loaves, which it was not lawful for him or his men to eat, nor for any except the priests?


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And have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath without incurring guilt?


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And if you knew what this means, <J>`It is mercy I desire, not sacrifice'</J>, you would not have condemned those who are without guilt.


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where there was a man with a shrivelled arm. And they questioned Him, »Is it right to cure people on the Sabbath?« Their intention was to bring a charge against Him.


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»Which of you is there,« He replied, »who, if he has but a single sheep and it falls into a hole on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?


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Then He said to the man, »Stretch out your arm.« And he stretched it out, and it was restored quite sound like the other.


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But the Pharisees after leaving the synagogue consulted together against Him, how they might destroy Him.


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Aware of this, Jesus departed elsewhere; and a great number of people followed Him, all of whom He cured.


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<J>»This is My servant whom I have chosen, My dearly loved One in whom My soul takes pleasure. I will put My spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the nations.</J>


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<J>A crushed reed He will not utterly break, nor will He quench the still smouldering wick, until He has led on Justice to victory.</J>


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At that time a demoniac was brought to Him, blind and mute; and He cured him, so that the mute man could speak and see.


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The Pharisees heard it and said, »This man only expels demons by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of demons.«


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Knowing their thoughts He said to them, »Every kingdom in which civil war has raged suffers desolation; and every city or house in which there is internal strife will be brought low.


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And if Satan is expelling Satan, he has begun to make war on himself: how therefore shall his kingdom last?


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And if it is by Baal-zebul's power that I expel the demons, by whose power do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.


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But if it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I expel the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.


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Again, how can any one enter the house of a strong man and carry off his goods, unless first of all he masters and secures the strong man: then he will ransack his house.


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»The man who is not with me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering abroad.


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This is why I tell you that men may find forgiveness for every other sin and impious word, but that for impious speaking against the Holy Spirit they shall find no forgiveness.


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And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness.«


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»Either grant the tree to be wholesome and its fruit wholesome, or the tree poisonous and its fruit poisonous; for the tree is known by its fruit.


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O vipers' brood, how can you speak what is good when you are evil? For it is from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.


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A good man from his good store produces good things, and a bad man from his bad store produces bad things.


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But I tell you that for every careless word that men shall speak they will be held accountable on the day of Judgement.


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Then He was accosted by some of the Scribes and of the Pharisees who said, »Teacher, we wish to see a sign given by you.«


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»Wicked and faithless generation!« He replied, »they clamour for a sign, but none shall be given to them except the sign of the Prophet Jonah.


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For just as <J>Jonah was three days in the sea-monster's belly,</J> so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.


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There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and mark! there is One greater than Jonah here.


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The Queen of the south will awake at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and mark! there is One greater than Solomon here.


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»No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.


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Then he says, `I will return to my house that I left;' and he comes and finds it unoccupied, swept clean, and in good order.


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Then he goes and brings back with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come in and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first. So will it be also with the present wicked generation.«


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While He was still addressing the people His mother and His brothers were standing on the edge of the crowd desiring to speak to Him.


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So some one told Him, »Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and desire to speak to you.«


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when a vast multitude of people crowded round Him. He therefore went on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore.


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Some falls on rocky ground, where it has but scanty soil. It quickly shows itself above ground, because it has no depth of earth;


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But a portion falls upon good ground, and gives a return, some a hundred for one, some sixty, some thirty.


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»Because,« He replied, »while to you it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of the Heavens, to them it is not.


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


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I speak to them in figurative language for this reason, that while looking they do not see, and while hearing they neither hear nor understand.


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And in regard to them the prophecy of Isaiah is receiving signal fulfillment: <J>»`You will hear and hear and by no means understand, and you will look and look and by no means see.</J>


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<J>For this people's mind is stupefied, their hearing has become dull, and their eyes they have closed; to prevent their ever seeing with their eyes, or hearing with their ears, or understanding with their minds, and turning back, so that I might heal them.'</J>«


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For I solemnly tell you that many Prophets and holy men have longed to see the sights you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the words you hear, and have not heard them.


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When a man hears the Message concerning the Kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil one comes and catches away what has been sown in his heart. This is he who has received the seed by the road-side.


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He who has received the seed on the rocky ground is the man who hears the Message and immediately receives it with joy.


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It has struck no root, however, within him. He continues for a time, but when suffering comes, or persecution, because of the Message, he at once stumbles and falls.


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He who has received the seed among the thorns is the man who hears the Message, but the cares of the present age and the delusions of riches quite stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful.


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But he who has received the seed on good ground is he who hears and understands. Such hearers give a return, and yield one a hundred for one, another sixty, another thirty.


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Another parable He put before them. »The Kingdom of the Heavens,« He said, »may be compared to a man who has sown good seed in his field,


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but during the night his enemy comes, and over the first seed he sows darnel among the wheat, and goes away.


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So the farmer's men come and ask him, »`Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed on your land? Where then does the darnel come from?'


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»`No,' he replied, `for fear that while collecting the darnel you should at the same time root up the wheat with it.


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Leave both to grow together until the harvest, and at harvest-time I will direct the reapers, Collect the darnel first, and make it up into bundles to burn it, but bring all the wheat into my barn.'«


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Another parable He put before them. »The Kingdom of the Heavens,« He said, »is like a mustard-seed, which a man takes and sows in his ground.


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It is the smallest of all seeds, and yet when full-grown it is larger than any herb and forms a tree, so that the birds come and build in its branches.«


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Another parable He spoke to them. »The Kingdom of the Heavens,« He said, »is like yeast which a woman takes and buries in a bushel of flour, for it to work there till the whole mass has risen.«


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All this Jesus spoke to the people in figurative language, and except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them,


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in fulfillment of the saying of the Prophet, <J>»I will open my mouth in figurative language, I will utter things kept hidden since the creation of all things.«</J>


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When He had dismissed the people and had returned to the house, His disciples came to Him with the request, »Explain to us the parable of the darnel sown in the field.«


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the field is the world; the good seed–these are the sons of the Kingdom; the darnel, the sons of the Evil one.


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The enemy who sows the darnel is <i>the Devil</i>; the harvest is the Close of the Age; the reapers are the angels.


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As then the darnel is collected together and burnt up with fire, so will it be at the Close of the Age.


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The Son of Man will commission His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all causes of sin and all who violate His laws;


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and these they will throw into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth.


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Then will the righteous shine out like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Listen, every one who has ears!


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»The Kingdom of the Heavens is like treasure buried in the open country, which a man finds, but buries again, and, in his joy about it, goes and sells all he has and buys that piece of ground.«


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»Again the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a draw-net let down into the sea, which encloses fish of all sorts.«


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When full, they haul it up on the beach, and sit down and collect the good fish in baskets, while the worthless they throw away.


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So will it be at the Close of the Age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from among the righteous,


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and will throw them into the fiery furnace. There will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth.«


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»Therefore,« He said, »remember that every Scribe well trained for the Kingdom of the Heavens is like a householder who brings out of his storehouse new things and old.«


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And He came into His own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue, so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, »Where did he obtain such wisdom, and these wondrous powers?


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Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers, James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?


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So they turned angrily away from Him. But Jesus said to them, »There is no prophet left without honour except in his own country and among his own family.«


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and he said to his courtiers, »This is John the Baptist: he has come back to life–and that is why these miraculous Powers are working in him.«


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For Herod had arrested John, and had put him in chains, and imprisoned him, for the sake of Herodias his brother Philip's wife,


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And he would have liked to put him to death, but was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a Prophet.


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But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before all the company, and so pleased Herod


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The king was deeply vexed, yet because of his repeated oath and of the guests at his table he ordered it to be given her,


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Upon receiving these tidings, Jesus went away by boat to an uninhabited and secluded district; but the people heard of it and followed Him in crowds from the towns by land.


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So Jesus went out and saw an immense multitude, and felt compassion for them, and cured those of them who were out of health.


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But when evening was come, the disciples came to Him and said, »This is an uninhabited place, and the best of the day is now gone; send the people away to go into the villages and buy something to eat.«


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and He told all the people to sit down on the grass. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and after looking up to heaven and blessing them, He broke up the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples distributed them to the people.


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So all ate, and were fully satisfied. The broken portions that remained over they gathered up, filling twelve baskets.


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Immediately afterwards He made the disciples go on board the boat and cross to the opposite shore, leaving Him to dismiss the people.


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When He had done this, He climbed the hill to pray in solitude. Night came on, and he was there alone.


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Meanwhile the boat was far out on the Lake, buffeted and tossed by the waves, the wind being adverse.


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When the disciples saw Him walking on the waves, they were greatly alarmed. »It is a spirit,« they exclaimed, and they cried out with terror.


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But when he felt the wind he grew frightened, and beginning to sink he cried out, »Master, save me.«


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Instantly Jesus stretched out His hand and caught hold of him, saying to him, »O little faith, why did you doubt?«


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and the men of the place, recognizing Him, sent word into all the country round. So they brought all the sick to Him,


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and they entreated Him that they might but touch the tassel of His outer garment; and all who did so were restored to perfect health.


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»Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the Elders by not washing their hands before meals?«


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For God said, <J>`Honour your father and your mother';</J> and <J>`Let him who reviles father or mother be certainly put to death';</J>


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but you –this is what you say: `If a man says to his father or mother, That is consecrated, whatever it is, which otherwise you should have received from me–


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he shall be absolved from honouring his father'; and so you have abrogated God's Word for the sake of your tradition.


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<J>but it is in vain they worship Me, while they lay down precepts which are mere human rules.'«</J>


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It is not what goes into a man's mouth that defiles him; but it is what comes out of his mouth–<i>that</i> defiles a man.«


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Then His disciples came and said to Him, »Do you know that the Pharisees were greatly shocked when they heard those words?«


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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 into some pit.«


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Do you not understand that whatever enters the mouth passes into the stomach and is afterwards ejected from the body?


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But the things that come out of the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile the man.


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For out of the heart proceed wicked thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, perjury, impiety of speech.


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Here a Canaanitish woman of the district came out and persistently cried out, »Sir, Son of David, pity me; my daughter is cruelly harassed by a demon.«


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But He answered her not a word. Then the disciples interposed, and begged Him, saying, »Send her away because she keeps crying behind us.«


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»Be it so, Sir,« she said, »for even the dogs eat the scraps which fall from their masters' tables.«


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»O woman,« replied Jesus, »great is your faith: be it done to you as you desire.« And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.


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Again, moving thence, Jesus went along by the Lake of Galilee; and ascending the hill, He sat down there.


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Soon great crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were crippled in feet or hands, blind or mute, and many besides, and they hastened to lay them at His feet. And He cured them,


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so that the people were amazed to see the mute speaking, the maimed with their hands perfect, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they gave the glory to the God of Israel.


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But Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, »My heart yearns over this mass of people, for it is now the third day that they have been with me and they have nothing to eat. I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they should faint on the road.«


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»Where can we,« asked the disciples, »get bread enough in this remote place to satisfy so vast a multitude?«


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and He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks He broke them up and then distributed them to the disciples, and they to the people.


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And they all ate and were satisfied. The broken portions that remained over they took up–seven full hampers.


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Here the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Him; and, to make trial of Him, they asked Him to show them a sign in the sky.


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and in the morning, `It will be rough weather today, for the sky is red and murky.' You learn how to distinguish the aspect of the heavens, but the signs of the times you cannot.


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A wicked and faithless generation are eager for a sign; but none shall be given to them except the sign of Jonah.« and He left them and went away.


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When the disciples arrived at the other side of the Lake, they found that they had forgotten to bring any bread;


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Jesus perceived this and said, »Why are you reasoning among yourselves, you men of little faith, because you have no bread?


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Do you not yet understand? nor even remember the 5,000 and the five loaves, and how many basketfuls you carried away,


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How is it you do not understand that it was not about bread that I spoke to you? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.«


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Then they perceived that He had not warned them against bread-yeast, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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When He arrived in the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples. »Who do people say that the Son of Man is?« He asked.


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»Blessed are you, Simon Bar-jonah,« said Jesus; »for mere human nature has not revealed this to you, but my Father in Heaven.


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And I declare to you that you are Peter, and that upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the might of Hades shall not triumph over it.


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I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens; and whatever you bind on earth shall remain bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall remain loosed in Heaven.«


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From this time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer much cruelty from the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again.


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Then Peter took Him aside and began taking Him to task. »Master,« he said, »God forbid; this will not be your lot.«


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But He turned and said to Peter, »Get behind me, Adversary; you are a hindrance to me, because your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's.«


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Then Jesus said to His disciples, »If any one desires to follow me, let him renounce self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.


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For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.


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Why, what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give to buy back his life?


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For the Son of Man is soon to come in the glory of the Father with His angels, and then will He requite every man according to his actions.


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I solemnly tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.«


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Six day later, Jesus took with Him Peter and the brothers James and John, and brought them up a high mountain to a solitary place.


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There in their presence His form underwent a change; His face shone like the sun, and His raiment became as white as the light.


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Then Peter said to Jesus, »Master, we are thankful to you that we are here. If you approve, I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.«


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He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them; and a voice was heard from within the cloud, which said, »This is My Son dearly beloved, in whom is My delight. Listen to Him.«


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As they were descending the mountain, Jesus laid a command upon them. »Tell no one,« He said, »of the sight you have seen till the Son of Man has risen from among the dead.«


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But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way.«


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When they had returned to the people, there came to Him a man who fell on his knees before Him and besought Him.


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»Sir,« he said, »have pity on my son, for he is an epileptic and is very ill. Often he falls into the fire and often into the water.


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»O unbelieving and perverse generation!« replied Jesus; »how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him to me.«


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Then Jesus reprimanded the demon, and it came out and left him; and the boy was cured from that moment.


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»Because your faith is so small,« He replied; »for I solemnly declare to you that if you have faith like a mustard-seed, you shall say to this mountain, `Remove from this place to that,' and it will remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.


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As they were travelling about in Galilee, Jesus said to them, »The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men;


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they will put Him to death, but on the third day He will be raised to life again.« And they were exceedingly distressed.


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After their arrival at Capernaum the collectors of the half-shekel came and asked Peter, »Does not your Teacher pay the half-shekel?«


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»Yes,« he replied, and then went into the house. But before he spoke a word Jesus said, »What think you, Simon? From whom do this world's kings receive customs or capitation tax? from their own children, or from others?«


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»However, lest we cause them to sin, go and throw a hook into the Lake, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth, you will find a shekel in it: bring that coin and give it to them for yourself and me.«


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Just then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, »Who ranks higher than others in the Kingdom of the Heavens?«


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said, »In solemn truth I tell you that unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no case be admitted into the Kingdom of the Heavens.


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Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this young child, he it is who is superior to others in the Kingdom of the Heavens.


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But whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung round his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.


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»Alas for the world because of causes of falling! They cannot but come, but alas for each man through whom they come!«


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If your hand or your foot is causing you to fall into sin, cut it off and away with it. <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> It is better for you to enter into Life crippled in hand or foot than to remain in possession of two sound hands or feet but be thrown into the eternal fire.


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And if your eye is causing you to fall into sin, tear it out and away with it; <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> it is better for you to enter into Life with only one eye, than to remain in possession of two eyes but be thrown into the Gehenna of fire.


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»Beware of ever despising one of these little ones, for I tell you that in Heaven their angels have continual access to my Father who is in Heaven.«


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What do you yourselves think? Suppose a man gets a hundred sheep and one of them strays away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go and look for the one that is straying?


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And if he succeeds in finding it, in solemn truth I tell you that he rejoices over it more than he does over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray.


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»If your brother acts wrongly towards you, go and point out his fault to him when only you and he are there. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.«


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But if he will not listen to you, go again, and ask one or two to go with you, that every word spoken may be attested by two or three witnesses.


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If he refuses to hear them, appeal to the Church; and if he refuses to hear even the Church, regard him just as you regard a Gentile or a tax-gatherer.


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I solemnly tell you that whatever you as a Church bind on earth will in Heaven be held as bound, and whatever you loose on earth will in Heaven be held to be loosed.


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I also solemnly tell you that if two of you here on earth agree together concerning anything whatever that they shall ask, the boon will come to them from my Father who is in Heaven.


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At this point Peter came to Him with the question, »Master, how often shall my brother act wrongly towards me and I forgive him? seven times?«


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»For this reason the Kingdom of the Heavens may be compared to a king who determined to have a settlement of accounts with his servants.«


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and was unable to pay. So his master ordered that he and his wife and children and everything that he had should be sold, and payment be made.


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The servant therefore falling down, prostrated himself at his feet and entreated him. »`Only give me time,' he said, `and I will pay you the whole.'


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But no sooner had that servant gone out, than he met with one of his fellow servants who owed him 100 shillings; and seizing him by the throat and nearly strangling him he exclaimed, `Pay me all you owe.'«


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His fellow servant therefore fell at his feet and entreated him, »`Only give me time,' he said, `and I will pay you.'


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His fellow servants, therefore, seeing what had happened, were exceedingly angry; and they came and told their master without reserve all that had happened.


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At once his master called him and said, »`Wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you entreated me:


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»So his master, greatly incensed, handed him over to the jailers until he should pay all he owed him.«


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»In the same way my Heavenly Father will deal with you, if you do not all of you forgive one another from your hearts.«


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When Jesus had finished these discourses, He removed from Galilee and came into that part of Judaea which lay beyond the Jordan.


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Then came some of the Pharisees to Him to put Him to the proof by the question, »Has a man a right to divorce his wife whenever he chooses?«


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»Have you not read,« He replied, »that He who made them <J>`made them'</J> from the beginning <J>`male and female,</J>


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<J>and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two shall be one'?</J>


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Thus they are no longer two, but `one'! What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.«


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»Why then,« said they, »did Moses command the husband to give her `a written notice of divorce,' and so put her away?«


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»Moses,« He replied, »in consideration of the hardness of your nature permitted you to put away your wives, but it has not been so from the beginning.


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And I tell you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except her unfaithfulness, and marries another woman, commits adultery.«


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»If this is the case with a man in relation to his wife,« said the disciples to Him, »it is better not to marry.«


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»It is not every man,« He replied, »who can receive this teaching, but only those on whom the grace has been bestowed.


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There are men who from their birth have been disabled from marriage, others who have been so disabled by men, and others who have disabled themselves for the sake of the Kingdom of the Heavens. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.«


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Then young children were brought to Him for Him to put His hands on them and pray; but the disciples interfered.


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Jesus however said, »Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of the Heavens belongs.«


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»Teacher,« said one man, coming up to Him, »what that is good shall I do in order to have eternal life?«


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»Why do you ask me,« He replied, »about what is good? There is only One who is truly good. But if you desire to enter into Life, keep the Commandments.«


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»Which Commandments?« he asked. Jesus answered, <J>»`You shall not kill;' `You shall not commit adultery;' `You shall not steal;' `You shall not lie in giving evidence;'</J>


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<J>`Honour your father and your mother'; and `You shall love your fellow man as much as thyself.'«</J>


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»If you desire to be perfect,« replied Jesus, »go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and come, follow me.«


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So Jesus said to His disciples, »I solemnly tell you that it is with difficulty that a rich man will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens.


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Yes, I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.«


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Then Peter said to Jesus, »See, <i>we</i> have forsaken everything and followed you; what then will be <i>our</i> reward?«


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»I solemnly tell you,« replied Jesus, »that in the New Creation, when the Son of Man has taken His seat on His glorious throne, all of you who have followed me shall also sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.


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And whoever has forsaken houses, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or children or lands, for my sake, shall receive many times as much and shall have as his inheritance eternal life.


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»For the Kingdom of the Heavens is like an employer who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard,«


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And going out about five o'clock he found others loitering, and he asked them, »`Why have you been standing here all day long, doing nothing?'


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When evening came, the master said to his steward, »`Call the men and pay them their wages. Begin with the last set and finish with the first.'


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»`These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.'«


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»`My friend,' he answered to one of them, `I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling?«


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Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous?'


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Jesus was now going up to Jerusalem, and He took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and on the way He said to them,


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»We are going up to Jerusalem, and there the Son of Man will be betrayed to the High Priests and Scribes. They will condemn Him to death,«


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and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life.«


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Then the mother of the sons of Zabdai came to Him with her sons, and knelt before Him to make a request of Him.


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»What is it you desire?« He asked. »Command,« she replied, »that these my two sons may sit one at your right hand and one at your left in your Kingdom.«


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»None of you know what you are asking for,« said Jesus; »can you drink out of the cup from which I am about to drink?«»We can,« they replied.


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»You shall drink out of my cup,« He said, »but a seat at my right hand or at my left it is not for me to allot, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.«


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But Jesus called them to Him, and said, »You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.


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just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as the redemption-price for many.«


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two blind men sitting by the roadside heard that it was Jesus who was passing by, and cried aloud, »Sir, Son of David, pity us.«


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The people angrily tried to silence them, but they cried all the louder. »O Sir, Son of David, pity us,« they said.


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Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.


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When they were come near Jerusalem and had arrived at Bethphage and the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of the disciples on in front,


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saying to them, »Go to the village you see facing you, and as you enter it you will find a she-donkey tied up and a foal with her. Untie her and bring them to me.


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<J>»Tell the Daughter of Zion, `See, your King is coming to you, gentle, and yet mounted on an donkey, even on a colt the foal of a beast of burden.'«</J>


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they brought the she-donkey and the foal, and threw their outer garments on them. So He sat on them;


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and most of the crowd kept spreading their garments along the road, while others cut branches from the trees and carpeted the road with them,


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and the multitudes –some of the people preceding Him and some following– sang aloud, <J>»God save the Son of David! Blessings on Him who comes in the Lord's name! God in the highest Heavens save Him!«</J>


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When He thus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was thrown into commotion, every one inquiring, »Who is this?«


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Entering the Temple, Jesus drove out all who were buying and selling there, and overturned the money-changers' tables and the seats of the pigeon-dealers.


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»It is written,« He said, <J>»`My House shall be called the House of Prayer',</J> but you are making it <J>a robbers' cave.«</J>


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But when the High Priests and the Scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done and the children who were crying aloud in the Temple, <J>»God save the Son of David,«</J> they were filled with indignation.


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»Do you hear,« they asked Him, »what these children are saying?«»Yes,« He replied; »have you never read, <J>`Out of the mouths of infants and of babes at the breast You have brought forth the praise which is due'?«</J>


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and seeing a fig-tree on the road-side He went up to it, but found nothing on it but leaves. »On you,« He said, »no fruit shall ever again grow.« And immediately the fig-tree withered away.


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When the disciples saw it they exclaimed in astonishment, »How instantaneously the fig-tree has withered away!«


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»I solemnly tell you,« said Jesus, »that if you have an unwavering faith, you shall not only perform such a miracle as this of the fig-tree, but that even if you say to this mountain, `Be you lifted up and hurled into the sea,' it shall be done;


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and everything, whatever it be, that you ask for in your prayers, if you have faith, you shall obtain.«


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He entered the Temple; and while He was teaching, the High Priests and the Elders of the people came to Him and asked Him, »By what authority are you doing these things? and who gave you this authority?«


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»And I also have a question to ask <i>you</i>,« replied Jesus, »and if you answer me, I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things.


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John's Baptism, whence was it? –had it a heavenly or a human origin?« So they debated the matter among themselves. »If we say `a heavenly origin,'« they argued, »he will say, `Why then did you not believe him?'


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and if we say `a human origin' we have the people to fear, for they all hold John to have been a Prophet.«


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So they answered Jesus, »We do not know.« »Nor do I tell you,« He replied, »by what authority I do these things.«


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»But give me your judgement. There was a man who had two sons. He came to the elder of them, and said,« `My son, go and work in the vineyard today.'


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He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, »`I will go, Sir.' «But he did not go.


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Which of the two did as his father desired?« »The first,« they said. `I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, «that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you.


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For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.


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»Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, made a fence round it, dug a wine-tank in it, and built a strong lodge; then let the place to vine-dressers, and went abroad.«


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When vintage-time approached, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes;


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but the vine-dressers seized the servants, and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones.


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Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first; and these they treated in the same manner.


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»But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another,« `Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'


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»He will put the wretches to a wretched death,« was the reply, »and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season.«


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»Have you never read in the Scriptures,« said Jesus, <J>»`The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone: this Cornerstone came from the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes'?</J>«


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»That, I tell you, is the reason why the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it.


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After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;


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but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him, they were afraid of the people, for by them He was regarded as a Prophet.


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»The Kingdom of the Heavens,« He said, »may be compared to a king who celebrated the marriage of his son,


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»Again he sent other servants with a message to those who were invited.« `My breakfast is now ready,' he said, `my bullocks and fat cattle are killed, and every preparation is made: come to the wedding.'


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So the king's anger was stirred, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burnt their city.


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Then he said to his servants, »`The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited were unworthy of it.


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»So they went out into the roads and gathered together all they could find, both bad and good, and the banqueting hall was filled with guests.«


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»Now the king came in to see the guests; and among them he discovered one who was not wearing a wedding-robe.«


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»The man stood speechless. Then the king said to the servants,« `Bind him hand and foot and fling him into the darkness outside: there will be the weeping aloud and the gnashing of teeth.'


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So they sent to Him their disciples together with the Herodians; who said, »Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you faithfully teach God's truth; and that no fear of man misleads you, for you are not biased by men's wealth or rank.


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»Caesar's,« they replied. »Pay therefore,« He rejoined, »what is Caesar's to Caesar; and what is God's to God.«


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On the same day a party of Sadducees came to Him, contending that there is no resurrection. And they put this case to Him.


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»Teacher,« they said, »Moses enjoined, <J>`If a man die childless, his brother shall marry his widow, and raise up a family for him.'</J>


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Now we had among us seven brothers. The eldest of them married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother.


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The reply of Jesus was, »You are in error, through ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God.


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For in the Resurrection, men neither marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in Heaven.


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<J>`I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?</J> He is not the God of dead, but of living men.«


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<J>»`You shall love the Lord your God,'«</J> He answered, <J>»`with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind.'</J>


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<J>»`The Lord said to my Lord, sit at My right hand until I have put your foes beneath your feet'?«</J>


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No one could say a word in reply, nor from that day did any one venture again to put a question to Him.


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Therefore do and observe everything that they command you; but do not imitate their lives, for though they tell others what to do, they do not do it themselves.


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Heavy and cumbrous burdens they bind together and load men's shoulders with them, while as for themselves, not with one finger do they choose to lift them.


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And everything they do they do with a view to being observed by men; for they widen their phylacteries and make the tassels large,


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»As for you, do not accept the title of `Rabbi,' for one alone is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.«


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»But alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you lock the door of the Kingdom of the Heavens against men; you yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow those to enter who are seeking to do so.«


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»Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you scour sea and land in order to win one convert–and when he is gained, you make him twice as much a son of Gehenna as yourselves.«


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»Alas for you, you blind guides, who say,« `Whoever swears by the Sanctuary it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the Sanctuary, is bound by the oath.'


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And you say, »`Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering lying on it is bound by the oath.'


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»Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay the tithe on mint, dill, and cumin, while you have neglected the weightier requirements of the Law–just judgement, mercy, and faithful dealing. These things you ought to have done, and yet you ought not to have left the others undone.«


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»Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you wash clean the outside of the cup or dish, while within they are full of greed and self-indulgence.«


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Blind Pharisee, first wash clean the inside of the cup or dish, and then the outside will be clean also.


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»Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are just like whitewashed sepulchres, the outside of which pleases the eye, though inside they are full of dead men's bones and of all that is unclean.«


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The same is true of you: outwardly you seem to the human eye to be good and honest men, but, within, you are full of insincerity and disregard of God's Law.


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»Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you repair the sepulchres of the Prophets and keep in order the tombs of the righteous,«


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and your boast is, »`If we had lived in the time of our forefathers, we should not have been implicated with them in the murder of the Prophets.'


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»So that you bear witness against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the Prophets.«


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»For this reason I am sending to you Prophets and wise men and Scribes. Some of them you will put to death–nay, crucify; some of them you will flog in your synagogues and chase from town to town;«


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that all the innocent blood shed upon earth may come on you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berechiah whom you murdered between the Sanctuary and the altar.


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»O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! you who murder the Prophets and stone those who have been sent to you! how often have I desired to gather your children to me, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not come!


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For I tell you that you will never see me again until you say, <J>`Blessed be He who comes in the name of the Lord.'«</J>


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Jesus had left the Temple and was going on His way, when His disciples came and called His attention to the Temple buildings.


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»You see all these?« He replied; »in solemn truth I tell you that there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be pulled down.«


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Afterwards He was on the Mount of Olives and was seated there when the disciples came to Him, apart from the others, and said, »Tell us when this will be; and what will be the sign of your Coming and of the Close of the Age?«


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And before long you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. Do not be alarmed, for such things must be; but the End is not yet.


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<J>For nation will rise in arms against nation, kingdom against kingdom,</J> and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places;


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»At that time they will deliver you up to punishment and will put you to death; and you will be objects of hatred to all the nations because you are called by my name.«


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And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed throughout the whole world to set the evidence before all the Gentiles; and then the End will come.


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»When you have seen (to use the language of the Prophet Daniel) the <J>`Abomination of Desolation',«</J> standing in the Holy Place« –let the reader observe those words–


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for it <J>will be</J> a time of great <J>suffering, such as never has been from the beginning of the world till now,</J> and assuredly never will be again.


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And if those days had not been cut short, no one would escape; but for the sake of God's own People those days will be cut short.


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»If at that time any one should say to you, `See, here is the Messiah!' or `Here!' give no credence to it.«


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For there will rise up false messiahs and false prophets, displaying wonderful signs and prodigies, so as to deceive, were it possible, even God's own People.


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If therefore they should say to you, `See, He is in the Desert!' do not go out there: or `See, He is indoors in the room!' do not believe it.


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For just as the lightning flashes in the east and is seen to the very west, so will be the Coming of the Son of Man.


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»But immediately after those times of distress <J>the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shed her light, the stars will fall from the firmament, and the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.</J>«


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Then will appear the Sign of the Son of Man in the sky; and <J>then will all the nations of the earth lament,</J> when they see the Son of Man <J>coming on the clouds of the sky</J> with great power and glory.


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And He will send out His angels <J>with a loud trumpet-blast,</J> and <J>they will bring together His own People to Him from north, south, east and west–from one extremity of the world to the other.</J>


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»Now learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branches have now become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you all know that summer is near.«


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


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»But as to that day and the exact time no one knows–not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.«


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At that time, before the Deluge, men were busy eating and drinking, taking wives or giving them, up to the very day when Noah entered the Ark,


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nor did they realise any danger till the Deluge came and swept them all away; so will it be at the Coming of the Son of Man.


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But of this be assured, that if the master of the house had known the hour at which the robber was coming, he would have kept awake, and not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.


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»Who therefore is the loyal and intelligent servant to whom his master has entrusted the control of his household to give them their rations at the appointed time?«


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the master of that servant will arrive on a day when he is not expecting him and at an hour of which he has not been informed;


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he will treat him with the utmost severity and assign him a place among the hypocrites: there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.


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»Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.«


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»`But perhaps,' replied the wise, `there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'«


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»So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.«


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»Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care.«


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To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one–to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home.


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Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more.


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The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, »`Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.'


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»`You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'«


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»The second, who had received the two talents, came and said,« `Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.'


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»`Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'«


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»But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said,« `Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed.


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»`You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, `did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?«


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Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest.


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(For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.)


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`But as for this worthless servant, put him out into the darkness outside: <i>there</i> will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'


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»When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne,


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and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;«


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»Then the King will say to those at His right,« `Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.


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For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome;


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when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'


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»`When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, `did we see You hungry, and feed You; or thirsty, and give You drink?«


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»But the King will answer them,« `In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'


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»Then will He say to those at His left,« `Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Eternal fire, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.


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when homeless, you gave me no welcome; ill-clad, you clothed me not; sick or in prison, you visited me not.'


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»Then will they also answer,« `Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve You?'


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»But he will reply,« `In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.'


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»You know that in two days' time the Passover comes. And the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.«


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Then the High Priests and Elders of the People assembled in the court of the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas,


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a woman came to Him with a jar of very costly, sweet-scented ointment, which she poured over His head as He reclined at table.


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But Jesus heard it, and said to them, »Why are you vexing her? For she has done a most gracious act towards me.


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In solemn truth I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News shall be proclaimed, this deed of hers shall be spoken of in memory of her.«


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and said, »What are you willing to give me if I betray him to you?« So they weighed out to him thirty shekels,


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On the first day of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus with the question, »Where shall we make preparations for you to eat the Passover?«


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»Go into the city,« He replied, »to a certain man, and tell him, `The Teacher says, My time is close at hand. It is at your house that I shall keep the Passover with my disciples.'«


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and the meal was proceeding, when Jesus said, »In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me.«


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»The one who has dipped his fingers in the bowl with me,« He answered, »is the man who will betray me.


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The Son of Man is indeed going as is written concerning Him; but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been a happy thing for that man if he had never been born.«


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Then Judas, the disciple who was betraying Him, asked, »Can it be I, Rabbi?« »It is you,« He replied.


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During the meal Jesus took a Passover biscuit, blessed it and broke it. He then gave it to the disciples, saying, »Take this and eat it: it is my body.«


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for this is my blood which is to be poured out for many for the remission of sins–the blood which ratifies the Covenant.


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I tell you that I will never again take the produce of the vine till that day when I shall drink the new wine with you in my Father's Kingdom.«


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Then said Jesus, »This night all of you will stumble and fail in your fidelity to me; for it is written, <J>`I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered in all directions.'</J>


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»In solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that this very night, before the rooster crows, you will three times disown me.«


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»Even if I must die with you,« declared Peter, »I will never disown you.« In like manner protested all the disciples.


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Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, »Sit down here, whilst I go yonder and there pray.«


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And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zabdai. Then He began to be full of anguish and distress,


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and He said to them, »My soul is crushed with anguish to the very point of death; wait here, and keep awake with me.«


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Going forward a short distance He fell on His face and prayed. »My Father,« He said, »if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You willest.«


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Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, »Alas, none of you could keep awake with me for even a single hour!


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Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail.«


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Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, »My Father, if it is impossible for this cup to pass without my drinking it, Your will be done.«


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Then He came to the disciples and said, »Sleep on and rest. See, the moment is close at hand when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men.


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He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came –one of the Twelve– accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.


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Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, »The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him.«


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»Friend,« said Jesus, »carry out your intention.« Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.


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But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.


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Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?


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Then said Jesus to the crowds, »Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.


text:
But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled.« At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.


text:
But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled.


text:
And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the palace of the High Priest, where he entered and sat down among the officers to see the issue.


text:
Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;


text:
who testified, »This man said, `I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'«


text:
Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, »Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?«


text:
Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. »In the name of the ever-living God,« he said, »I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.«


text:
»I am He,« replied Jesus. »But I tell you that, later on, you will see <J>the Son of Man sitting at the right hand</J> of Omnipotence, <J>and coming on the clouds of the sky.«</J>


text:
Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, »Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety.


text:
while they taunted Him, saying, »Messiah, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you.«


text:
Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when one of the maidservants came over to him and said, »You too were with Jesus the Galilaean.«


text:
Soon afterwards he went out and stood in the gateway, when another girl saw him, and said, addressing the people there, »This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.«


text:
A short time afterwards the people standing there came and said to Peter, »Certainly you too are one of them, for your brogue shows it.«


text:
and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, how He had said, »Before the rooster crows you will three times disown me.« And he went out and wept aloud, bitterly.


text:
When morning came all the High Priests and the Elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put Him to death;


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Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, smitten with remorse he brought back the thirty shekels to the High Priests and Elders


text:
and said, »I have sinned, in betraying to death one who is innocent.« »What does that matter to us?« they replied; »it is your business.«


text:
When the High Priests had gathered up the money they said, »It is illegal to put it into the Treasury, because it is the price of blood.«


text:
So after consulting together they spent the money in the purchase of the Potter's Field as a burial place for people not belonging to the city;


text:
for which reason that piece of ground received the name, which it still bears, of `the Field of Blood.'


text:
Then were fulfilled the words spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, <J>»And I took the thirty shekels, the price of the prized one on whom Israelites had set a price,</J>


text:
Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Governor, and the latter put the question, »Are you the King of the Jews?« »I am their King,« He answered.


text:
When however the High Priests and the Elders kept bringing their charges against Him, He said not a word in reply.


text:
»Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;


text:
So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them. »Whom shall I release to you,« he said, »Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Messiah?«


text:
While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. »Have nothing to do with that innocent man,« she said, »for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him.«


text:
The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.


text:
So when the Governor a second time asked them, »Which of the two shall I release to you?« –they cried, »Barabbas!«


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»What then,« said Pilate, »shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Messiah?« With one voice they shouted, »Let him be crucified!«


text:
»Why, what crime has he committed?« asked Pilate. But they kept on furiously shouting, »Let him be crucified!«


text:
So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, »I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it.«


text:
Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.


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Then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and called together the whole battalion to make sport of Him.


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They twisted a wreath of thorny twigs and put it on His head, and they put a sceptre of cane in His right hand, and kneeling to Him they shouted in mockery, »Long live the King of the Jews!«


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At last, having finished their sport, they took off the cloak, clothed Him again in His own garments, and led Him away for crucifixion.


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Here they gave Him a mixture of wine and gall to drink, but having tasted it He refused to drink it.


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Over His head they placed a written statement of the charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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At the same time two robbers were crucified with Him, one at His right hand and the other at His left.


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and said, »You who would pull down the Sanctuary and build a new one within three days, save yourself. If you are God's Son, come down from the cross.«


text:
»He saved others,« they said, »himself he cannot save! He is the King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.


text:
but about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, <J>»Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?«</J> that is to say, <J>»My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?«</J>


text:
One of them ran forthwith, and filling a sponge with sour wine put it on the end of a cane and offered it Him to drink;


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Immediately the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom: the earth quaked; the rocks split;


text:
And coming out of their tombs after the Messiah's resurrection they entered the holy city and showed themselves to many.


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As for the Captain and the soldiers who were with Him keeping guard over Jesus, when they witnessed the earthquake and the other occurrences they were filled with terror, and exclaimed, »Assuredly he was God's Son.«


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And there were a number of women there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, helping him;


text:
among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zabdai.


text:
Towards sunset there came a wealthy inhabitant of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself also had become a disciple of Jesus.


text:
He then laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn in the solid rock, and after rolling a great stone against the door of the tomb he went home.


text:
On the next day, the day after the Preparation, the High Priests and the Pharisees came in a body to Pilate.


text:
»Sir,« they said, »we recollect that during his lifetime that impostor pretended that after two days he was to rise to life again.


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So give orders for the sepulchre to be securely guarded till the third day, for fear his disciples should come by night and steal the body, and then tell the people that he has come back to life; and so the last imposture will be more serious than the first.«


text:
After the Sabbath, in the early dawn of the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre.


text:
But to their amazement there had been a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord had descended from Heaven, and had come and rolled back the stone, and was sitting upon it.


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But the angel said to the women, »As for you, dismiss your fears. I know that it is Jesus that you are looking for–the crucified One.


text:
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is going before you into Galilee: there you shall see Him. Remember, I have told you.«


text:
They quickly left the tomb and ran, still terrified but full of unspeakable joy, to carry the news to His disciples.


text:
And then suddenly they saw Jesus coming to meet them. »Peace be to you,« He said. And they came and clasped His feet, bowing to the ground before Him.


text:
Then He said, »Dismiss all fear! Go and take word to my brethren to go into Galilee, and there they shall see me.«


text:
While they went on this errand, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the High Priests every detail of what had happened.


text:
So the latter held a conference with the Elders, and after consultation with them they heavily bribed the soldiers,


text:
»And if this,« they added, »is reported to the Governor, we will satisfy him and screen you from punishment.«


text:
So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this story was noised about among the Jews, and is current to this day.


text:
As for the eleven disciples, they proceeded into Galilee, to the hill where Jesus had arranged to meet them.


text:
Jesus however came near and said to them, »All power in Heaven and over the earth has been given to me.


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


text:
and teach them to obey every command which I have given you. And remember, I am with you always, day by day, until the Close of the Age.«


text:
As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet, <J>»See, I am sending My messenger before You, Who will prepare Your way«;</J>


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<J>»The voice of one crying aloud: `In the Desert prepare a road for the Lord: Make His highways straight.'«</J>


text:
So John the Baptist came, and was in the Desert proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for forgiveness of sins.


text:
There went out to him people of all classes from Judaea, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem of all ranks, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, making open confession of their sins.


text:
As for John, his garment was of camel's hair, and he wore a loincloth of leather; and his food was locusts and wild honey.


text:
His announcement was, »There is One coming after me mightier than I–One whose sandal-strap I am unworthy to stoop down and unfasten.


text:
and immediately on His coming up out of the water He saw an opening in the sky, and the Spirit like a dove coming down to Him;


text:
where He remained for forty days, tempted by Satan; and He was among the wild beasts, but the angels waited upon Him.


text:
»The time has fully come,« He said, »and the Kingdom of God is close at hand: repent, and believe this Good News.


text:
One day, passing along the shore of the Lake of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, throwing their nets in the Lake; for they were fisherman.


text:
Going on a little further He saw James the son of Zabdai and his brother John: they also were in the boat mending the nets, and He immediately called them.


text:
The people listened with amazement to His teaching –for there was authority about it: it was very different from that of the Scribes–


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»What have you to do with us, Jesus the Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–God's Holy One.«


text:
And all were amazed and awe-struck, so they began to ask one another, »What does this mean? Here is a new sort of teaching–and a tone of authority! And even to foul spirits he issues orders and they obey him!«


text:
Then on leaving the synagogue they came at once, with James and John, to the house of Simon and Andrew.


text:
Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill in bed with a fever, and without delay they informed Him about her.


text:
So He went to her, and taking her hand He raised her to her feet: the fever left her, and she began to wait upon them.


text:
Then He cured numbers of people who were ill with various diseases, and He drove out many demons; not allowing the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.


text:
In the morning He rose early, while it was still quite dark, and leaving the house He went away to a solitary place and there prayed.


text:
»Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns,« He replied, »that I may proclaim my Message there also; because for that purpose I came from God.«


text:
One day there came a leper to Jesus entreating Him, and pleading on his knees. »If you are willing,« he said, »you are able to cleanse me.«


text:
and saying, »Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and for your purification present the offerings that Moses appointed as evidence for them.«


text:
But the man, when he went out, began to tell every one and to publish the matter abroad, so that it was no longer possible for Jesus to go openly into any town; but He had to remain outside in unfrequented places, where people came to Him from all parts.


text:
and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them,


text:
Finding themselves unable, however, to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they untiled the roof just over His head, and after clearing an opening they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.


text:
»Why does this man use such words?« they said; »he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One–that is, God?«


text:
At once perceiving by His spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, Jesus asked them, »Why do you thus argue in your minds?


text:
Which is easier?–to say to this paralytic, `Your sins are pardoned,' or to say, `Rise, take up your mat, and walk?'


text:
But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins« –He turned to the paralytic, and said,


text:
The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, »We never saw anything like this.«


text:
Again He went out to the shore of the Lake, and the whole multitude kept coming to Him, and He taught them.


text:
And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the Toll Office, and said to him, »Follow me.« So he rose and followed Him.


text:
When He was sitting at table in Levi's house, a large number of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners were at table with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many such who habitually followed Him.


text:
But when the Scribes of the Pharisee sect saw Him eating with the sinners and the tax-gatherers, they said to His disciples, »He is eating and drinking with the tax-gatherers and sinners!«


text:
Jesus heard the words, and He said, »It is not the healthy who require a doctor, but the sick: I did not come to appeal to the righteous, but to sinners.«


text:
(Now John's disciples and those of the Pharisees were keeping a fast.) And they came and asked Him, »How is it that John's disciples and those of the Pharisees are fasting, and yours are not?«


text:
»Can a wedding party fast while the bridegroom is among them?« replied Jesus. »So long as they have the bridegroom with them, fasting is impossible.


text:
No one mends an old garment with a piece of unshrunk cloth. Otherwise, the patch put on would tear away from it– the new from the old– and a worse hole would be made.


text:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine would burst the skins, and both wine and skins would be lost. New wine needs fresh skins!«


text:
One Sabbath He was walking through the wheatfields when His disciples began to pluck the ears of wheat as they went.


text:
»Have you never read,« Jesus replied, »what David did when the necessity arose and he and his men were hungry:


text:
how he entered the house of God in the High-priesthood of Abiathar, and ate the Presented Loaves –which none but the priests are allowed to eat– and gave some to his men also?«


text:
They closely watched Him to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath–so as to have a charge to bring against Him.


text:
Then He asked them, »Are we allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? to save a life, or to destroy one?« They remained silent.


text:
Grieved and indignant at the hardening of their hearts, He looked round on them with anger, and said to the man, »Stretch out your arm.« He stretched it out, and the arm was completely restored.


text:
But no sooner had the Pharisees left the synagogue than they held a consultation with the Herodians against Jesus, to devise some means of destroying Him.


text:
Accordingly Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the Lake, and a vast crowd of people from Galilee followed Him;


text:
and from Judaea and Jerusalem and Idumaea and from beyond the Jordan and from the district of Tyre and Sidon there came to Him a vast crowd, hearing of all that He was doing.


text:
So He gave directions to His disciples to keep a small boat in constant attendance on Him because of the throng–to prevent their crushing Him.


text:
For He had cured many of the people, so that all who had any ailments pressed upon Him, to touch Him.


text:
And the foul spirits, whenever they saw Him, threw themselves down at His feet, screaming out:»You are the Son of God.«


text:
He appointed twelve of them, that they might be with Him, and that He might also send them to proclaim His Message,


text:
James the son of Zabdai and John the brother of James (these two He surnamed Boanerges, that is `Sons of Thunder'),


text:
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean,


text:
And He went into a house. But again the crowd assembled, so that there was no opportunity for them even to snatch a meal.


text:
The Scribes, too, who had come down from Jerusalem said, »He has Baal-zebul in him; and it is by the power of the Prince of the demons that he expels the demons.«


text:
So He called them to Him, and using figurative language He appealed to them, saying, »How is it possible for Satan to expel Satan?


text:
Nay, no one can go into a strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house.


text:
In solemn truth I tell you that all their sins may be pardoned to the sons of men, and all their blasphemies, however they may have blasphemed;


text:
but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, he remains forever unabsolved: he is guilty of an eternal sin.«


text:
By this time His mother and His brothers arrive, and standing outside they send a message to Him to call Him.


text:
Now a crowd was sitting round Him; so they tell Him, »Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, inquiring for you.«


text:
»Here are my mother and my brothers. For wherever there is one who has been obedient to God, there is my brother –my sister– and my mother.«


text:
Once more He began to teach by the side of the Lake, and a vast multitude of people came together to listen to Him. He therefore went on board the boat and sat there, a little way from the land; and all the people were on the shore close to the water.


text:
Some falls on the rocky ground where it finds but little earth, and it shoots up quickly because it has no depth of soil;


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Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop.


text:
But some of the seed falls into good ground, and gives a return: it comes up and increases, and yields thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold.«


text:
When He was alone, the Twelve and the others who were about Him requested Him to explain His figurative language.


text:
»To you,« He replied, »has been entrusted the secret truth concerning the Kingdom of God; but to those others outside your number all this is spoken in figurative language;


text:
that <J>»`They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'«</J>


text:
»Do you all miss the meaning of this parable?« He added; »how then will you understand the rest of my parables?«


text:
Those who receive the seed by the way-side are those in whom the Message is sown, but, when they have heard it, Satan comes at once and carries away the Message sown in them.


text:
In the same way those who receive the seed on the rocky places are those who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully,


text:
but they have no root within them. They last for a time; then, when suffering or persecution comes because of the Message, they are immediately overthrown.


text:
but worldly cares and the deceitfulness of wealth and the excessive pursuit of other objects come in and stifle the Message, and it becomes unfruitful.


text:
Those, on the other hand, who have received the seed on the good ground, are all who hear the Message and welcome it, and yield a return of thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold.«


text:
He went on to say, »Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?


text:
Why, there is nothing hidden except with a view to its being ultimately disclosed, nor has anything been made a secret but that it may at last come to light.


text:
He also said to them, »Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.


text:
For those who have will have more given them; and from those who have not, even what they have will be taken away.«


text:
he spends days and nights, now awake, now asleep, while the seed sprouts and grows tall, he knows not how.


text:
Of itself the land produces the crop– first the blade, then the ear; afterwards the perfect grain is seen in the ear.


text:
Another saying of His was this: »How are we to picture the Kingdom of God? or by what figure of speech shall we represent it?


text:
It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the earth, is the smallest of all the seeds in the world;


text:
yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow.«


text:
With many such parables He used to speak the Message to them according to their capacity for receiving it.


text:
But except in figurative language He spoke nothing to them; while to His own disciples He expounded everything, in private.


text:
So they got away from the crowd, and took Him –as He was– in the boat; and other boats accompanied Him.


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But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.


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But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. »Rabbi,« they cried, »is it nothing to you that we are drowning?«


text:
So He roused Himself and rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, »Silence! Be still!« The wind sank, and a perfect calm set in.


text:
Then they were filled with terror, and began to say to one another, »Who is this, then? For even wind and sea obey Him.«


text:
for many a time he had been left securely bound in fetters and chains, but afterwards the chains lay torn link from link, and the fetters in fragments, and there was no one strong enough to master him.


text:
And constantly, day and night, he remained among the tombs or on the hills, shrieking, and mangling himself with sharp stones.


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crying out in a loud voice, »What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? In God's name I implore You not to torment me.«


text:
Jesus also questioned him. »What is your name?« He said. »Legion,« he replied, »for there are a host of us.«


text:
He gave them leave; and the foul spirits came out and entered into the swine, and the herd –about 2,000 in number– rushed headlong down the cliff into the Lake and were drowned in the Lake.


text:
The swineherds fled, and spread the news in town and country. So the people came to see what it was that had happened;


text:
and when they came to Jesus, they beheld the demoniac quietly seated, clothed and of sane mind– the man who had had the legion; and they were awe-stricken.


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And those who had seen it told them the particulars of what had happened to the demoniac, and all about the swine.


text:
But He would not allow it. »Go home to your family,« He said, »and report to them all that the Lord has done for you, and the mercy He has shown you.«


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So the man departed, and related publicly everywhere in the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and all were astonished.


text:
When Jesus had re-crossed in the boat to the other side, a vast multitude came crowding to Him; and He was on the shore of the Lake,


text:
when there came one of the rulers of the Synagogue –he was called Jair– who, on beholding Him, threw himself at His feet,


text:
and besought Him with many entreaties. »My little daughter,« he said, »is at the point of death: I pray you come and lay your hands upon her, that she may recover and live.«


text:
and had undergone many different treatments under a number of doctors and had spent all she had without receiving benefit but on the contrary growing worse,


text:
Immediately Jesus, well knowing that healing power had gone from within Him, turned round in the crowd and asked, »Who touched my clothes?«


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»You see the multitude pressing you on all sides,« His disciples exclaimed, »and yet you ask, `Who touched me?'«


text:
until the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself at His feet, and told Him all the truth.


text:
While He is yet speaking, men come from the synagogue rulers house, and say, »Your daughter is dead: why trouble the Rabbi further?«


text:
So they came to the synagogue ruler’s house. Here He gazes on a scene of uproar, with people weeping aloud and wailing.


text:
To this their reply is a scornful laugh. He, however, puts them all out, takes the child's father and mother and those He has brought with Him, and enters the room where the child lies.


text:
Then, taking her by the hand, He says to her, »Talitha, koum;« that is to say, »Little girl, I command you to wake!«


text:
Instantly the little girl rises to her feet and begins to walk (for she was twelve years old). They were at once beside themselves with utter astonishment;


text:
but He gave strict injunctions that the matter should not be made known, and directed them to give her something to eat.


text:
On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. »Where did he acquire all this?« they asked. »What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?


text:
Is not this the carpenter, Mary's son, the brother of James and Joses, Judas and Simon? And do not his sisters live here among us?« So they turned angrily away.


text:
But Jesus said to them, »There is no Prophet without honour except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own home.«


text:
And He could not do any miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few who were out of health and cured them; and


text:
Then summoning the Twelve to Him, He proceeded to send them out by twos, and gave them authority over the foul spirits.


text:
He charged them to take nothing for the journey except a stick; no bread, no bag, and not a penny in their pockets,


text:
But wherever they will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave shake off the very dust from under your feet to bear witness concerning them.«


text:
King Herod heard of all this (for the name of Jesus had become widely known), and he kept saying, »John the Baptist has come back to life, and that is why these miraculous Powers are working in him.«


text:
Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, »He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets.«


text:
For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.


text:
for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.


text:
At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,


text:
at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, »Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you.«


text:
She at once went out and said to her mother:»What shall I ask for?«»The head of John the Baptist,« she replied.


text:
The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. »My desire is,« she said, »that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.«


text:
Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her.


text:
He at once sent a soldier of his guard with orders to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in the prison,


text:
When the Apostles had re-assembled round Jesus, they reported to Him all they had done and all they had taught.


text:
Then He said to them, »Come away, all of you, to a quiet place, and rest awhile.« For there were many coming and going, so that they had no time even for meals.


text:
But the people saw them going, and many knew them; and coming by land they ran together there from all the neighbouring towns, and arrived before them.


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So when Jesus landed, He saw a vast multitude; and His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were like sheep which have no shepherd, and He proceeded to teach them many things.


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By this time it was late; so His disciples came to Him, and said, »This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late:


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send them away that they may go to the farms and villages near here and buy themselves something to eat.«


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»Give them food yourselves,« He replied. »Are we,« they asked, `to go and buy two hundred shillings' worth of bread and give them food?«


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»How many loaves have you?« He inquired; »go and see.« So they found out, and said, »Five; and a couple of fish.«


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Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and lifting His eyes to Heaven He blessed the food. Then He broke the loaves into portions which He went on handing to the disciples to distribute; giving pieces also of the two fish to them all.


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Immediately afterwards He made His disciples go on board the boat and cross over to Bethsaida, leaving Him behind to dismiss the crowd.


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But when He saw them distressed with rowing (for the wind was against them), towards morning He came towards them walking on the Lake, as if intending to pass them.


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for they all saw Him and were terrified. He, however, immediately spoke to them. »There is no danger,« He said; »it is I; be not alarmed.«


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Then He went up to them on board the boat, and the wind lulled; and they were beside themselves with silent amazement.


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Then they scoured the whole district, and began to bring Him the sick on their mats wherever they heard He was.


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And enter wherever He might –village or town or hamlet– they laid their sick in the open places, and entreated Him to let them touch were it but the tassel of His robe; and all, whoever touched Him, were restored to health.


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They had noticed that some of His disciples were eating their food with `unclean' (that is to say, unwashed) hands.


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(For the Pharisees and all the Jews– being, as they are, zealous for the traditions of the Elders– never eat without first carefully washing their hands,


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and when they come from market they will not eat without bathing first; and they have a good many other customs which they have received traditionally and cling to, such as the rinsing of cups and pots and of bronze utensils, and the washing of beds.)


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So the Pharisees and Scribes put the question to Him:»Why do your disciples transgress the traditions of the Elders, and eat their food with unclean hands?«


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»Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites,« He replied; »as it is written,« <J>`This People honour Me with their lips, while their hearts are far away from Me:</J>


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»Praiseworthy indeed!« He added, »to set at nought God's Commandment in order to observe your own traditions!


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For Moses said, <J>`Honour your father and your mother'</J> and again, <J>`He who curses father or mother, let him die the death.'</J>


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But <i>you</i> say, `If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God), whatever it is, which otherwise you would have received from me–'


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thus nullifying God's precept by your tradition which you have handed down. And many things of that kind you do.«


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There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man that make him unclean.«


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After He had left the crowd and gone indoors, His disciples began to ask Him about this figure of speech.


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»Have <i>you</i> also so little understanding?« He replied; »do you not understand that anything whatever that enters a man from outside cannot make him unclean,


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because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and passes away ejected from him, cleansing all the food? 


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For from within, out of men's hearts, their evil purposes proceed–fornication, theft, murder, adultery,


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Then He rose and left that place and went into the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. Here He entered a house and wished no one to know it, but He could not escape observation.


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Forthwith a woman whose little daughter was possessed by a foul spirit heard of Him, and came and flung herself at His feet.


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She was a Gentile woman, a Syro-phoenician by nation: and again and again she begged Him to expel the demon from her daughter.


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»Let the children first eat all they want,« He said; »it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.«


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Returning from the neighbourhood of Tyre, He came by way of Sidon to the Lake of Galilee, passing through the district of the Ten Towns.


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So Jesus taking him aside, apart from the crowd, put His fingers into his ears, and spat, and moistened his tongue;


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Then Jesus charged them to tell no one; but the more He charged them, all the more did they spread the news far and wide.


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The amazement was extreme. »He succeeds in everything he attempts,« they exclaimed; »he even makes deaf men hear and mute men speak!«


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About that time there was again an immense crowd, and they found themselves with nothing to eat. So He called His disciples to Him.


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»My heart yearns over the people,« He said; »for this is now the third day they have remained with me, and they have nothing to eat.


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If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance.«


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»Where can we possibly get bread here in this remote place to satisfy such a crowd?« answered His disciples.


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So He passed the word to the people to sit down on the ground. Then taking the seven loaves He blessed them, and broke them into portions and proceeded to give them to His disciples for them to distribute, and they distributed them to the people.


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They had also a few small fish. He blessed them, and He told His disciples to distribute these also.


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So the people ate an abundant meal; and what remained over they picked up and carried away–seven hampers of broken pieces.


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The Pharisees followed Him and began to dispute with Him, asking Him for a sign in the sky, to make trial of Him.


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Heaving a deep and troubled sigh, He said, »Why do the men of today ask for a sign? In solemn truth I tell you that no sign will be given to the men of today.«


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and when He admonished them, »See to it, be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod,«


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He perceived what they were saying, and He said to them, »What is this discussion of yours about having no bread? Do you not yet see and understand? Are your minds so dull of comprehension?


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When I broke up the five loaves for the 5,000 men, how many baskets did you carry away full of broken portions? »Twelve,« they said.


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»And when the seven for the 4,000, how many hampers full of portions did you take away?« »Seven,« they answered.


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And they came to Bethsaida. And a blind man was brought to Jesus and they entreated Him to touch him.


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So He took the blind man by the arm and brought him out of the village, and spitting into his eyes He put His hands on him and asked him, »Can you see anything?«


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Then for the second time He put His hands on the man's eyes, and the man, looking steadily, recovered his sight and saw everything distinctly.


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From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, »Who do people say that I am?«


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»John the Baptist,« they replied, »but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets.«


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Then He asked them pointedly, »But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?«»You are the Messiah,« answered Peter.


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And now for the first time He told them, »The Son of Man must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the Elders and the High Priests and the Scribes, and be put to death, and after two days rise to life.«


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But turning round and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter. »Get behind me, Adversary,« He said, »for your thoughts are not God's thoughts, but men's.«


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Then calling to Him the crowd and also His disciples, He said to them, »If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross, and so be my follower.


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For whoever is bent on securing his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, will secure it.


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Every one, however, who has been ashamed of me and of my teachings in this faithless and sinful age, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels.«


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He went on to say, »In solemn truth I tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God already come in power.«


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Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them alone, apart from the rest, up a high mountain; and in their presence His appearance underwent a change.


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His garments also became dazzling with brilliant whiteness–such whiteness as no bleaching on earth could give.


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Moreover there appeared to them Elijah accompanied by Moses; and the two were conversing with Jesus,


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when Peter said to Jesus, »Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents–one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.«


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Then there came a cloud spreading over them, and a voice issued from the cloud, »This is my Son, dearly loved: listen to Him.«


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As they were coming down from the mountain, He very strictly forbad them to tell any one what they had seen »until after the Son of Man has risen from among the dead.«


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So they kept the matter to themselves, although frequently asking one another what was meant by the rising from the dead.


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»Elijah,« He replied, »does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt?


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Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him.«


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As they came to rejoin the disciples, they saw an immense crowd surrounding them and a party of Scribes disputing with them.


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Immediately the whole multitude on beholding Him were astonished and awe-struck, and yet they ran forward and greeted Him.


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and wherever it comes upon him, it dashes him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I begged your disciples to expel it, but they had not the power.«


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»O unbelieving generation!« replied Jesus; »how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me.«


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So they brought him to Jesus. And the spirit, when he saw Jesus, immediately threw the youth into convulsions, so that he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.


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»and often it has thrown him into the fire or into pools of water to destroy him. But, if you possibly can, have pity on us and help us.«


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Then Jesus, seeing that an increasing crowd was running towards Him, rebuked the foul spirit, and said to it, »Dumb and deaf spirit, <i>I</i> command you, come out of him and never enter into him again.«


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So with a loud cry he threw the boy into fit after fit, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, so that most of them said he was dead;


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After the return of Jesus to the house His disciples asked Him privately, »How is it that we could not expel the spirit?«


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for He was teaching His disciples, and telling them, »The Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will put Him to death; and after being put to death, in three days He will rise to life again.«


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So they came to Capernaum; and when in the house He asked them, »What were you arguing about on the way?«


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But they remained silent; for on the way they had debated with one another who was the chief of them.


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Then sitting down He called the Twelve, and said to them, »If any one wishes to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.«


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»Whoever for my sake receives one such young child as this, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not so much me as Him who sent me.«


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»Rabbi,« said John to Him, »we saw a man making use of your name to expel demons, and we tried to hinder him, on the ground that he did not follow us.«


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»You should not have tried to hinder him,« replied Jesus, »for there is no one who will use my name to perform a miracle and be able the next minute to speak evil of me.


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and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to the Messiah, I solemnly tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.


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»And whoever shall occasion the fall of one of these little ones who believe, he would be better off if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea.«


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If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.


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Or if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off: <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> it would be better for you to enter into Life crippled, than remain in possession of both your feet and be thrown into Gehenna.


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Or if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out. <n>note: idiom meaning to stop doing a sin</n> It would be better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God half-blind than remain in possession of two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna,


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Salt is a good thing, but if the salt should become tasteless, what will you use to give it saltness? Have salt within you and live at peace with one another.«


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Soon on His feet once more, He enters the district of Judaea and crosses the Jordan: again the people flock to Him, and ere long, as was usual with Him, He was teaching them once more.


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Presently a party of Pharisees come to Him with the question–seeking to entrap Him, »May a man divorce his wife?«


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»Moses,« they said, »permitted a man to draw up a written notice of divorce, and to send his wife away.«


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»It was in consideration of your stubborn hearts,« said Jesus, »that Moses enacted this law for you;


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He replied, »Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman, commits adultery against the first wife;


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One day people were bringing young children to Jesus for Him to touch them, but the disciples interfered.


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Jesus, however, on seeing this, was moved to indignation, and said to them, »Let the little children come to me: do not hinder them; for to those who are childlike the Kingdom of God belongs.


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In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any possibility enter it.«


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As He went out to resume His journey, there came a man running up to Him, who knelt at His feet and asked, »Good Rabbi, what am I to do in order to inherit eternal life?«


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»Why do you call me good?« asked Jesus in reply; »there is no one truly good except One–that is, God.


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You know the Commandments–<J>`Do not murder;' `Do not commit adultery;' `Do not steal;' `Do not lie in giving evidence;' `Do not defraud;' `Honour your father and your mother.'«</J>


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


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Then looking round on His disciples Jesus said, »With how hard a struggle will the possessors of riches enter the Kingdom of God!«


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


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


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Jesus looking on them said, »With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God.«


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


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but will receive a hundred times as much now in this present life –houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, lands– and persecution with them–and in the coming age eternal life.


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


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


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


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Then James and John, the sons of Zabdai, came up to Him and said, »Rabbi, we wish you would grant us whatever request we make of you.«


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»Allow us,« they replied, »to sit one at your right hand and the other at your left hand, in your glory.«


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


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


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


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


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


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


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Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, »Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.«


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


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


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»Go,« said Jesus, »your faith has cured you.« Instantly he regained his sight, and followed Him along the road.


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


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


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


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


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while those who led the way and those who followed kept shouting <J>»God save Him!« Blessed be He who comes in the Lord's name.</J>


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Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our forefather David! <J>God in the highest Heavens save Him!«</J>


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


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


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


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And He remonstrated with them. »Is it not written,« He said, <J>»`My House shall be called The House of Prayer for all the nations?'</J> But you have made it what it now is–<J>a robbers' cave.«</J>


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


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


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


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


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


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


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So they debated the matter with one another. »Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'« they argued, »he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'


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


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So they answered Jesus, »We do not know.«»Nor do I tell you,« said Jesus, »by what authority I do these things.«


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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»Have you not read even this passage,« He added, <J>»`The stone which the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone:</J>


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


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


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


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


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They brought one; and He asked them, »Whose is this likeness and this inscription?«»Caesar's,« they replied.


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»What is Caesar's,« replied Jesus, »pay to Caesar–and what is God's, pay to God.« And they wondered exceedingly at Him.


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


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»Rabbi,« they said, »Moses made it a law for us: <J>`If a man's brother should die and leave a wife, but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.'</J>


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»Is not this the cause of your error,« replied Jesus– your ignorance alike of the Scriptures and of the power of God?


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


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


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


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»The chief Commandment,« replied Jesus, »is this: <J>`Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord;</J>


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<J>and you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind, and your whole strength.'</J>


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The second is this: <J>`You shall love your fellow man as you lovest thyself.'</J> »Other Commandment greater than these there is none.«


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So the Scribe said to Him, »Rightly, in very truth, Rabbi, have you said that <J>He stands alone, and there is none but He;</J>


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and <J>To love Him with all one's heart, with all one's understanding, and with all one's strength, and to love one's fellow man no less than oneself,</J> is far better than all our <J>whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.«</J>


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


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But, while teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, »How is it the Scribes say that the Messiah is a son of David?


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David himself said, taught by the Holy Spirit, <J>»`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I have made your foes a footstool under your feet.'</J>


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


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


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


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


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


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for they have all contributed out of what they could well spare, but she out of her need has thrown in all she possessed–all she had to live on.«


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As He was leaving the Temple, one of His disciples exclaimed, »Look, Rabbi, what wonderful stones! what wonderful buildings!«


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»You see all these great buildings?« Jesus replied; »not one stone will be left here upon another–not thrown down.«


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


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»Tell us, When will these things be? and what will be the sign when all these predictions are on the point of being fulfilled?«


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


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


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


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


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»Brother will betray brother to be killed, and fathers will betray children; and <J>children will rise against their parents</J> and have them put to death.


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


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»As soon, however, as you see the <J>Abomination of Desolation</J> standing where he ought not« –let the reader observe these words– then let those in Judaea escape to the hills;


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For those will be times of <J>suffering the like of which has never been from the first creation of God's world until now,</J> and assuredly never will be again;«


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


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»At that time if any one says to you, `See, here is the Messiah!' or `See, He is there!' do not believe it.«


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For <J>there will rise up</J> false messiahs and false <J>prophets, displaying signs and prodigies</J> with a view to lead astray –if indeed that were possible– even God's own People.


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<J>»At that time,</J> however, after that <J>distress, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shed her light;</J>


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<J>the stars will be seen falling from the firmament, and the forces which are in the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.</J>


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


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


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»But as to that day or the exact time no one knows–not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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On the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread –the day for killing the Passover lamb– His disciples asked Him, »Where shall we go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?«


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


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


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


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


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And while they were at table Jesus said, »I solemnly tell you that one of you will betray me–one who is eating with me.«


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


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


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»This is my blood,« He said, »which is to be poured out on behalf of many–the blood which makes the Covenant sure.


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


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Then said Jesus to them, »All of you are about to stumble and fall, for it is written, <J>`I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered in all directions.'</J>


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»I solemnly tell you,« replied Jesus, »that today –this night– before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will three times disown me.«


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


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So they came to a place called Gethsemane. There He said to His disciples, »Sit down here till I have prayed.«


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


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


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and He said, »Abba! my Father! all things are possible for You: take this cup of suffering away from me: and yet not what I desire, but what You desirest.«


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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»Have you come out,« said Jesus, »with swords and cudgels to arrest me, as if you had to fight with a robber?


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


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


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


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


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


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»We have heard him say, `I will pull down this Sanctuary built by human hands, and three days afterwards I will erect another built without hands.'«


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


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But He remained silent, and gave no reply. A second time the High Priest questioned Him. »Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?« he said.


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


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


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


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and seeing Peter warming himself she looked at him and said, »You also were with Jesus, the Nazarene.«


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But he denied it, and said, »I don't know –I don't understand– What do you mean?« And then he went out into the outer court. Just then a rooster crowed.


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Again the maidservant saw him, and again began to say to the people standing by, »He is one of them.«


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


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But he broke out into curses and oaths, declaring, »I know nothing of the man you are talking about.«


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


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


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Pilate again and again asked Him, »Do you make no reply? Listen to the many charges they are bringing against you.«


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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But at three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, <J>»Elohi, Elohi, lama sabachthani?«</J> which means, »My God, My God, <J>why have You forsaken me?«</J>


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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and they were saying to one another, `Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?«


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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They shall take up venomous snakes, and if they drink any deadly poison it shall do them no harm whatever. <n>note: see Wallace, Exegetical Syntax, 403–6, whether promise or prediction</n> They shall lay their hands on the sick, and the sick shall recover.«


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


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


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Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us


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on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,


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it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,


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There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.


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They were both of them upright before God, blamelessly obeying all the Lord's precepts and ordinances.


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Now while he was serving his duties as High Priest before God in the prescribed course of his class,


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it fell to his lot –according to the custom of the priesthood–to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;


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But the angel said to him, »Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.


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For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.


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and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the Lord.«


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»By what proof,« asked Zechariah, »shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years.«


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»I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God,« answered the angel, »and I have been sent to talk with you and tell you this good news.


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And now you will be mute and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words–words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time.«


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Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.


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When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued mute.


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»Thus has the Lord dealt with me,« she said, »now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men.«


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to a maiden betrothed to a man of the name of Joseph, a descendant of David. The maiden's name was Mary.


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So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, »Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you.«


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He will be great and He will be called `Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;


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The angel answered, »The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called `the Son of God.'


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And see, your relative Elizabeth–she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.


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»I am the Lord's maidservant,« Mary replied; »may it be with me in accordance with your words!« And then the angel left her.


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and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,


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and uttered a loud cry of joy. »Blest among women are you,« she said, »and the offspring of your body is blest!


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Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,


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He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.


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and her neighbours and relatives heard how the Lord had had great compassion on her; and they rejoiced with her.


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And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to call him Zechariah, after his father.


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And all who lived round about them were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judaea reports of all these things were spread abroad.


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All who heard the story treasured it in their memories. »What then will this child be?« they said. For the lord's hand was indeed with him.


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»Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,« he said, »Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,


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And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,


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Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death–To direct our feet into the path of peace.«


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And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel.


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So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,


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and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.


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Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night in the open fields,


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when suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round them; and they were filled with terror.


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But the angel said to them, »Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy–joy for all the People.


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And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.«


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Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, »Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.«


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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them.


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When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.


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And when the days for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord–


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as it is written in the Law of the Lord: <i>»Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord.«</i>


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And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, <J>»a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.«</J>


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Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Simeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.


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To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.


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Led by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to Him according to the custom of the Law,


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Simeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, »This child is appointed for the falling and the uprising of many in Israel and for a token to be spoken against;


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and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that the reasonings in many hearts may be revealed.«


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There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life,


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and then being a widow of eighty-four years. She was never absent from the Temple, but worshipped, by day and by night, with fasting and prayer.


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And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.


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Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.


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after staying the full number of days, when they started back home the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not discover this,


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but supposing Him to be in the travelling company, they proceeded a day's journey. Then they searched up and down for Him among their relatives and acquaintances;


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On the third day they found Him in the Temple sitting among the Rabbis, both listening to them and asking them questions,


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When they saw Him, they were smitten with amazement, and His mother said to Him, »My child, why have you behaved thus to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.«


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»Why is it that you have been searching for me?« He replied; »did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?«


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Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was always obedient to them; but His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.


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Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor of Judaea, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene,


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during the High-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, a message from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the Desert.


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John went into all the district about the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for the forgiveness of sins;


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as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah, <J>»The voice of one crying aloud! `In the Desert prepare you a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.</J>


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<J>Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill levelled down, the crooked places shall be turned into straight roads, and the rugged ways into smooth;</J>


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Accordingly John used to say to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, `O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


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Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.


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And even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which fails to yield good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire.«


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»Let the man who has two coats,« he answered, »give one to the man who has none; and let the man who has food share it with others.«


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There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, »Rabbi, what are we to do?«


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The soldiers also once and again inquired of him, »And we, what are we to do?« His answer was, »Neither intimidate any one nor lay false charges; and be content with your pay.«


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And while the people were in suspense and all were debating in their minds whether John might possibly be the Messiah,


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he answered the question by saying to them all, »As for me, I am baptizing you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose very sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten: He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.


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His winnowing-shovel is in His hand to clear out His threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into His storehouse; but the chaff He will burn up in fire unquenchable.«


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But Herod the Tetrarch, being repeatedly rebuked by him about Herodias his brother's wife, and about all the wicked deeds that he had done,


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Now when all the people had been baptized, and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the sky opened,


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and the Holy Spirit came down in bodily shape, like a dove, upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, »You are My Son, dearly loved: in You is My delight.«


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And Jesus himself was beginning to be about thirty years of age. He was the son (it was supposed) of Joseph, son of Eli,


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Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led about by the Spirit in the Desert for forty days,


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tempted all the while by the Devil. During those days He ate nothing, and at the close of them He suffered from hunger.


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And the Devil said to Him, »To you will I give all this authority and this splendour; for it has been handed over to me, and on whomsoever I will I bestow it.


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Jesus answered him, »It is written, <J>`To the Lord your God you shall do homage, and to Him alone shall you render worship.'«</J>


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Then he brought Him to Jerusalem and caused Him to stand on the roof of the Temple, and said to Him, »If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here; for it is written,


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and <J>`On their hands they shall bear you up, Lest at any moment you should strike your foot against a stone.'«</J>


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Then Jesus returned in the Spirit's power to Galilee; and His fame spread through all the adjacent districts.


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He came to Nazareth also, where He had been brought up; and, as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.


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And there was handed to Him the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah, and, opening the scroll, He found the place where it was written,


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<J>»The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed,</J>


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And rolling up the scroll, He returned it to the attendant, and sat down–to speak. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.


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And they all spoke well of Him, wondering at the sweet words of kindness which fell from His lips, while they asked one another, »Is not this Joseph's son?«


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»Doubtless,« said He, »you will quote to me the proverb, `Physician, cure yourself: all that we hear that you have done at Capernaum, do here also in your native place.'«


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But I tell you in truth that there was many a widow in Israel in the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three years and six months and there came a severe famine over all the land;


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and yet to not one of them was Elijah sent: he was only sent to a widow at Zarephath in the Sidonian country.


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And there was also many a leper in Israel in the time of the Prophet Elisha, and yet not one of them was cleansed, but Naaman the Syrian was.«


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They rose, hurried Him outside the town, and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, to throw Him down the cliff;


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So He came down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, where He frequently taught the people on the Sabbath days.


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But in the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of a foul demon. In a loud voice he cried out,


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But Jesus rebuked the demon. »Silence!« He exclaimed; »come out of him.« Upon this, the demon hurled the man into the midst of them, and came out of him without doing him any harm.


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All were astonished and awe-struck; and they asked one another, »What sort of language is this? For with authority and real power He gives orders to the foul spirits and they come out.«


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Now when He rose and left the synagogue He went to Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from an acute attack of fever; and they consulted Him about her.


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Then standing over her He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she at once rose and waited on them.


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At sunset all who had friends suffering from any illness brought them to Him, and He laid His hands on them all, one by one, and cured them.


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Demons also came out of many, loudly calling out, »You are the Son of God.« But He rebuked them and forbad them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Messiah.


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Next morning, at daybreak, He left the town and went away to a solitary place; but the people flocked out to find Him, and, coming to the place where He was, they endeavoured to detain Him that He might not leave them.


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But He said to them, »I have to tell the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because for this purpose I was sent.«


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On one occasion the crowd was pressing on Him and listening to God's Message, while He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.


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He, however, saw two fishing-boats drawn up on the beach (for the men had gone away from them and were washing the nets),


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and going on board one of them, which was Simon's He asked him to push out a little from land. Then He sat down and taught the crowd of people from the boat.


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When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, »Push out into deep water, and let down your nets for a haul.«


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»Rabbi,« replied Peter, »all night long we have worked hard and caught nothing; but at your command I will let down the nets.«


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So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came, and they filled both the boats so that they almost sank.


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When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at the knees of Jesus, and exclaimed, »Master, leave my boat, for I am a sinful man.«


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(For he was astonished and terrified –he and all his companions– at the haul of fish which they had taken;


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and so were Simon's partners James and John, the sons of Zabdai.) But Jesus replied to Simon, »Fear not: from this time you shall be a catcher of men.«


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On another occasion, when He was in one of the towns, there was a man there covered with leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, threw himself at His feet and implored Him, saying, »Sir, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean.«


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Reaching out His hand and touching him, Jesus said, »I am willing; be cleansed!« And instantly the leprosy left him.


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He ordered him to tell no one. »But go,« He said, »show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your purification which Moses appointed, as evidence for them.«


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But all the more the report about Him spread abroad, and great multitudes crowded to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;


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One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people.


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And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.


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But when they could find no way of doing so because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiling –bed and all– into the midst, in front of Jesus.


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Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, »Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?«


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Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, »What is this that you are debating in your hearts?


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But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins« –Turning to the paralytic He said, »I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home.«


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Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God.


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Amazement seized them all. »Glory to God!« was the abiding feeling. Yet fear flashed through their minds and they said, »We have seen strange things today.«


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After this He went out and noticed a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the Toll office; and He said to him, »Follow me.«


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Levi also gave a great entertainment at his house in honour of Jesus, and there was a large party of tax-gatherers and others at table with them.


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This led the Pharisees and Scribes of their party to expostulate with His disciples and ask, »Why are you eating and drinking with these tax-gatherers and notorious sinners?«


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Again they said to Him, »John's disciples fast often and pray, as do also those of the pharisees; but yours eat and drink.«


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»Can you compel the bridal party to fast,« replied Jesus, »so long as they have the bridegroom among them?


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But a time for this will come, when the Bridegroom has been taken away from them: then, at that time, they will fast.«


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He also spoke in figurative language to them. »No one,« He said, »tears a piece from a new garment to mend an old one. Otherwise he would not only spoil the new, but the patch from the new would not match the old.


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Nor does any one pour new wine into old wine-skins. Otherwise the new wine would burst the skins, the wine itself would be spilt, and the skins be destroyed.


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Now on the second-first Sabbath while He was passing through the wheatfields, His disciples were plucking the ears and rubbing them with their hands to eat the grain.


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»Have you never read so much as this,« answered Jesus– »what David did when he and his followers were hungry;


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how he entered the house of God and took and ate the Presented Loaves and gave some to his followers–loaves which none but the Priests are allowed to eat?«


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On another Sabbath He had gone to the synagogue and was teaching there; and in the Church was a man whose right arm was withered.


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The Scribes and the Pharisees were on the watch to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath that they might be able to bring an accusation against Him.


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He knew their thoughts, and said to the man with the withered arm, »Rise, and stand there in the middle.« And he rose and stood there.


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Then Jesus said to them, »I put it to you all whether we are allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil; to save a life, or to destroy it.«


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And looking round upon them all He said to the man, »Stretch out your arm.« He did so, and the arm was restored.


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But they were filled with madness, and began to discuss with one another what they should do to Jesus.


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About that time He went out on one occasion into the hill country to pray; and He remained all night in prayer to God.


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When it was day, He called His disciples; and He selected from among them twelve, whom He also named Apostles.


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These were Simon, to whom also He had given the name of Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;


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With these He came down till He reached a level place, where there was a great crowd of His disciples, and a multitude of people from every part of Judaea, from Jerusalem, and from the sea-side district of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;


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Then fixing His eyes upon His disciples, Jesus said to them, »Blessed are you poor, because the Kingdom of God is yours.


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»Blessed are you who hunger now, because your hunger shall be satisfied.« Blessed are you who now weep aloud, because you shall laugh.


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»Blessed are you when men shall hate you and exclude you from their society and insult you, and spurn your very names as evil things, for the Son of Man's sake.«


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»Be glad at such a time, and dance for joy; for your reward is great in Heaven; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the Prophets!«


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»Alas for you who now have plenty to eat, because you will be hungry!« Alas for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep aloud!


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»Alas for you when men shall all have spoken well of you; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the false Prophets!«


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»But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you;«


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To him who gives you a blow on one side of the face offer the other side also; and to him who is robbing you of your outer garment refuse not the under one also.


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»If you love those who love you, what credit is it to you? Why, even bad men love those who love them.«


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And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is it to you? Even bad men lend to their fellows so as to receive back an equal amount.


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Nevertheless love your enemies, be beneficent; and lend without hoping for any repayment. Then your recompense shall be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.


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»Judge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; pardon, and you shall be pardoned;«


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give, and gifts shall be bestowed on you. Full measure, pressed, shaken down, and running over, shall they pour into your laps; for with the same measure that you use they shall measure to you in return.«


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He also spoke to them in figurative language. »Can a blind man lead a blind man?« He asked; »would not both fall into the ditch?


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There is no disciple who is superior to his teacher; but every one whose instruction is complete will be like his teacher.


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»And why look at the splinter in your brother's eye instead of giving careful attention to the beam in your own?«


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How can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when all the while you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? Vain pretender! take the beam out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.


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»There is no good tree that yields unsound fruit, nor again any unsound tree that yields good fruit.«


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Every tree is known by its own fruit. It is not from thorns that men gather figs, nor from the bramble that they can get a bunch of grapes.


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A good man from the good stored up in his heart brings out what is good; and an evil man from the evil stored up brings out what is evil; for from the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.


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Every one who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them in practice, I will show you whom he is like.


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He is like a man building a house, who digs and goes deep, and lays the foundation on the rock; and when a flood comes, the torrent bursts upon that house, but is unable to shake it, because it is securely built.


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But he who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately it collapses, and terrible is the wreck and ruin of that house.«


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After He had finished teaching all these things in the hearing of the people, He went into Capernaum.


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and the Captain, hearing about Jesus, sent to Him some of the Jewish Elders, begging Him to come and restore his servant to health.


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And they, when they came to Jesus, earnestly entreated Him, pleading, »He deserves to have this favour granted him,


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Then Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the Captain sent friends to Him with the message: »Sir, do not trouble to come. I am not worthy of having you come under my roof;


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and therefore I did not deem myself worthy to come to you. Only speak the word, and let my young man be cured.


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For I too am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes; to another, `Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, `Do this or that,' and he does it.«


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Jesus listened to the Captain's message and was astonished at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, »I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that.«


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Shortly afterwards He went to a town called Nain, attended by His disciples and a great crowd of people.


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And just as He reached the gate of the town, they happened to be bringing out for burial a dead man who was his mother's only son; and she was a widow; and a great number of the townspeople were with her.


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Then He went close and touched the bier, and the bearers halted. »Young man,« He said, »I command you, wake!«


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All were awe-struck, and they gave glory to God–some saying, »A Prophet, a great Prophet, has risen up among us.« Others said, »God has not forgotten His People.«


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And the report of what Jesus had done spread through the whole of Judaea and in all the surrounding districts.


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so John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord. »Are you the Coming One?« he asked, »or is there another that we are to expect?«


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The men came to Jesus and said, »John the Baptist has sent us to you with this question: `Are you the Coming One, or is there another that we are to expect?'«


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He immediately cured many of diseases, severe pain, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave the gift of sight.


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Then He answered the messengers, »Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. Blind men receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are purified, deaf persons hear, the dead are raised to life, the poor have the Good News proclaimed to them.


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When John's messengers were gone, He proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, »What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?


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But what did you go out to see? A man wearing luxurious clothes? People who are gorgeously dressed and live in luxury are found in palaces.


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John is the man about whom it is written, <J>`See, I am sending My messenger before your face, and he shall make ready your way before you.'</J>


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»I tell you that among all of women born there is not one greater than John. Yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.«


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And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism.


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But the Pharisees and expounders of the Law have frustrated God's purpose as to their own lives, by refusing to be baptized.


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They are like children sitting in the public square and calling out to one another, `We have played the flute to you, and you have not danced: we have sung dirges, and you have not shown sorrow.'


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The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, `Look, there is a man who is overfond of eating and drinking–he is a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!'


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Now one of the Pharisees repeatedly invited Him to a meal at his house; so He entered the house and reclined at the table.


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And there was a woman in the town who was a notorious sinner. Having learnt that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house she brought a flask of perfume,


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and, standing behind close to His feet, weeping, began to wet His feet with her tears; and with her hair she wiped the tears away again, while she lovingly kissed His feet and poured the perfume over them.


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Noticing this, the Pharisee, His host, said to himself, »This man, if he were really a Prophet, would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him–and would know that she is an immoral woman.«


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In answer to his thoughts Jesus said to him, »Simon, I have a word to say to you.« »Rabbi, say on,« he replied.


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»There were once two men in debt to one money-lender,« said Jesus; »one owed him five hundred shillings and the other fifty.


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But neither of them could pay anything; so he freely forgave them both. Tell me, then, which of them will love him most?«


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»I suppose,« replied Simon, »the one to whom he forgave most.«»You have judged rightly,« Jesus rejoined.


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Then turning towards the woman He said to Simon, »Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you gave me no water for my feet; but she has made my feet wet with her tears, and then wiped the tears away with her hair.


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No kiss did you give me; but she from the moment I came in has not left off tenderly kissing my feet.


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This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven–because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.«


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Shortly after this He visited town after town, and village after village, proclaiming His Message and telling the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,


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and certain women whom He had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases–Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons had come,


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and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many other women, all of whom contributed to the support of Jesus and His Apostles.


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And when a great crowd was assembling, and was receiving additions from one town after another, He spoke a parable to them.


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»The sower,« He said, »goes out to sow his seed; and as he sows, some of the seed falls by the way-side, and is trodden upon, or the birds of the air come and peck it up.


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But some of the seed falls into good ground, and grows up and yields a return of a hundred for one.« While thus speaking, He cried aloud and said, »Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!«


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»To you,« He replied, »it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but all others are taught by parables, in order that they may see and yet not see, and may hear and yet not understand.


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Those by the way-side are those who have heard, and then the Devil comes and carries away the Message from their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.


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Those on the rock are the people who on hearing the Message receive it joyfully; but they have no root: for a time they believe, but when trial comes they fall away.


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That which fell among the thorns means those who have heard, but as they go on their way, the Message is stifled by the anxieties, wealth and gaieties of time, and they yield nothing in perfection.


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But as for that in the good ground, it means those who, having listened to the Message with open minds and in a right spirit, hold it fast, and patiently yield a return.


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»When any one lights a lamp, he does not cover it with a vessel or hide it under a couch; he puts it on a lampstand, that people who enter the room may see the light.«


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There is nothing hidden, which shall not be openly seen; nor anything secret, which shall not be known and come into the light of day.


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Be careful, therefore, how you hear; for whoever has anything, to him more shall be given, and whoever has nothing, even that which he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.«


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But He was told, »Your mother and brothers are standing on the edge of the crowd, and want to see you.«


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One day He went on board a boat–both He and 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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During the passage He fell asleep, and there came down a squall of wind on the Lake, so that the boat began to fill and they were in deadly peril.


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So they came and woke Him, crying, »Rabbi, Rabbi, we are drowning.« Then He roused Himself and rebuked the wind and the surging of the water, and they ceased and there was a calm.


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»Where is your faith?« He asked them. But they were filled with terror and amazement, and said to one another, »Who then is this? for He gives orders both to wind and waves, and they obey Him.«


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Here, on landing, He was met by one of the townsmen who was possessed by demons–for a long time he had not put on any garment, nor did he live in a house, but in the tombs.


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When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, »What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? Do not torment me, I beseech you.«


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For already He had been commanding the foul spirit to come out of the man. For many a time it had seized and held him, and they had repeatedly put him in chains and fetters and kept guard over him, but he used to break the chains to pieces, and, impelled by the demon, to escape into the Desert.


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»What is your name?« Jesus asked him. »Legion,« he replied–because a great number of demons had entered into him;


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Now there was a great herd of swine there feeding on the hill-side; and the demons begged Him to give them leave to go into them, and He gave them leave.


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The demons came out of the man and left him, and entered into the swine; and the herd rushed violently over the cliff into the Lake and were drowned.


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whereupon the people came out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and they found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were terrified.


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Then the whole population of the Gerasenes and of the adjacent districts begged Him to depart from them; for their terror was great. So He went on board and returned.


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But the man from whom the demons had gone out earnestly asked permission to go with Him; but He sent him away.


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»Return home,« He said, »and tell there all that God has done for you.« So he went and published through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.


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Now when Jesus was returning, the people gave Him a warm welcome; for they had all been looking out for Him.


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Just then there came a man named Jair, a ruler of the Synagogue, who threw himself at the feet of Jesus, and entreated Him to come to his house;


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for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. And as He went, the dense throng crowded on Him.


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And a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with haemorrhage –and had spent on doctors all she had, but none of them had been able to cure her–


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»Who is it touched me?« Jesus asked. And when all denied having done so, Peter and the rest said, »Rabbi, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing on you.«


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Then the woman, perceiving that she had not escaped notice, came trembling, and throwing herself down at His feet she stated before all the people the reason why she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.


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While He was still speaking, some one came to the ruler of the Synagogue from his house and said, »Your daughter is dead; trouble the Rabbi no further.«


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Jesus heard the words and said to him, »Have no fear. Only believe, and she shall be restored to life.«


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So He came to the house, but allowed no one to go in with Him but Peter and John and James and the girl's father and mother.


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The people were all weeping aloud and beating their breasts for her; but He said, »Leave off wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep.«


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Then calling the Twelve together He conferred on them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases;


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And He commanded them, »Take nothing for your journey; neither stick nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have an extra under garment.


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Wherever they refuse to receive you, as you leave that town shake off the very dust from your feet as a protest against them.«


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So they departed and visited village after village, spreading the Good News and performing cures everywhere.


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Now Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was going on; and he was bewildered because of its being said by some that John had come back to life,


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by others that Elijah had appeared, and by others that some one of the ancient Prophets had come back to life.


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And Herod said, »John I have beheaded; but who is this, of whom I hear such reports?« And he sought for an opportunity of seeing Jesus.


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The Apostles, on their return, related to Jesus all they had done. Then He took them and withdrew to a quiet retreat, to a town called Bethsaida.


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But the immense crowd, aware of this, followed Him; and receiving them kindly He proceeded to speak to them of the Kingdom of God, and those who needed to be restored to health, He cured.


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Now when the day began to decline, the Twelve came to Him and said, »Send the people away, that they may go to the villages and farms round about and find lodging and a supply of food; because here we are in an uninhabited district.«


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»You yourselves,« He said, »must give them food.«»We have nothing,« they replied, »but five loaves and a couple of fish, unless indeed we were to go and buy provisions for all this host of people.«


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(For there were about 5,000 adult men.) But He said to His disciples, »Make them sit down in parties of about fifty each.«


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Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed them and broke them into portions which He gave to the disciples to distribute to the people.


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So they ate and were fully satisfied, all of them; and what they had remaining over was gathered up, twelve baskets of fragments.


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One day when He was praying by Himself the disciples were present; and He asked them, »Who do the people say that I am?«


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»John the Baptist,« they replied; »but others say Elijah; and others that some one of the ancient Prophets has come back to life.«


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and He said, »The Son of Man must suffer much cruelty, be rejected by the Elders and High Priests and Scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised to life again.«


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And He said to all, »If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross day by day, and so be my follower.


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For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake shall save it.


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Why, what benefit is it to a man to have gained the whole world, but to have lost or forfeited his own self.


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For whoever shall have been ashamed of me and my teachings, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own and the Father's glory and in that of the holy angels.


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I tell you truly that there are some of those who stand here who will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God.«


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It was about eight days after this that Jesus, taking with Him Peter, John, and James, went up the mountain to pray.


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And while He was praying the appearance of His face underwent a change, and His clothing became white and radiant.


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They came in glory, and kept speaking about His death, which He was so soon to undergo in Jerusalem.


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Now Peter and the others were weighed down with sleep; but, keeping themselves awake all through, they saw His glory, and the two men standing with Him.


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And when they were preparing to depart from Him, Peter said to Jesus, »Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents–one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.« He did not know what he was saying.


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But while he was thus speaking, there came a cloud which spread over them; and they were awe-struck when they had entered into the cloud.


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After this voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept it to themselves, and said not a word to any one at that time about what they had seen.


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At times a spirit seizes him and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him, and makes him foam at the mouth, and does not leave him till it has well-nigh covered him with bruises.


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»O unbelieving and perverse generation!« replied Jesus; »how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here to me.«


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Now while the youth was coming, the spirit dashed him to the ground and cruelly convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and cured the youth and gave him back to his father.


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And all were awe-struck at the mighty power of God. And while every one was expressing wonder at all that He was doing, He said to his disciples,


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»As for you, store these my sayings in your memory; for, before long, the Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men.«


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But they did not understand His meaning: it was veiled from them that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.


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And Jesus, knowing the reasoning that was in their hearts, took a young child and made him stand by His side


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and said to them, »Whoever for my sake receives this little child, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives Him who sent me. For the lowliest among you all–he is the greatest.«


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»Rabbi,« replied John, »we have seen a man making use of your name to expel demons; and we forbad him, because he does not come with us.«


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Now when the time drew near for Him to be received up again into Heaven, He proceeded with fixed purpose towards Jerusalem, and sent messengers before Him.


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When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, »Master, do you wish us to order fire to come down from Heaven and consume them?«


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And, as they proceeded on their way, a man came to Him and said, »I will follow you wherever you go.«


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»The foxes have holes,« said Jesus, »and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.«


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»Follow me,« He said to another. »Master,« the man replied, »allow me first to go and bury my father.«


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»Leave the dead,« Jesus rejoined, »to bury their own dead; but you must go and announce far and wide the coming of the Kingdom of God.«


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»Master,« said yet another, »I will follow you; but allow me first to go and say good-bye to my friends at home.«


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Jesus answered him, »No one who has put his hand to the plough, and then looks behind him, is fit for the Kingdom of God.


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After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them before Him, by twos, to go to every town or place which He Himself intended to visit.


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And He addressed them thus: »The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few: therefore entreat the Owner of the harvest to send out more reapers into His fields. And now go.


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And if there is a lover of peace there, your peace shall rest upon it; otherwise come back upon you.


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And in that same house stay, eating and drinking at their table; for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not move from one house to another.


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»But whatever town you come to and they will not receive you, go out into the broader streets and say,«


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»`The very dust of your town that hangs about us we wipe off as a protest. Only be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.'«


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»Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For had the miracles been performed in Tyre and Sidon which have been performed in you, long ere now they would have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.«


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»He who listens to you listens to me; and he who disregards you disregards me, and he who disregards me disregards Him who sent me.«


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When the Seventy returned, they exclaimed joyfully, »Master, even the demons submit to us when we utter your name.«


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»I have given you power to tread serpents and scorpions underfoot, and to trample on all the power of the Enemy; and in no case shall anything do you harm.


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Nevertheless rejoice not at this, that the spirits submit to you; but rejoice that your names are registered in Heaven.«


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On that same occasion Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with rapturous joy. »I give You fervent thanks,« He exclaimed, »O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from sages and men of understanding, and have revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been Your gracious will.


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All things are delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is but the Father, nor who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son may choose to reveal Him.«


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And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, »Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!


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For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them.«


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Then an expounder of the Law stood up to test Him with a question. »Rabbi,« he asked, »what shall I do to inherit eternal life?«


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<J>»`You shall love the Lord your God,'«</J> he replied, <J>»`with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole strength, and your whole mind; and your fellow man as much as thyself.'«</J>


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Jesus replied, »A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell among robbers, who after both stripping and beating him went away, leaving him half dead.


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He went to him, and dressed his wounds with oil and wine and bound them up. Then placing him on his own mule he brought him to an inn, where he bestowed every care on him.


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The next day he took out two shillings and gave them to the innkeeper. »`Take care of him,' he said, `and whatever further expense you are put to, I will repay it you at my next visit.'


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»Which of those three seems to you to have acted like a fellow man to him who fell among the robbers?«


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As they pursued their journey He came to a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed Him to her house.


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Martha meanwhile was busy and distracted in waiting at table, and she came and said, »Master, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do all the waiting? Tell her to assist me.«


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and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it.«


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At one place where He was praying, when He rose from His knees one of His disciples said to Him, »Master, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.«


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and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive every one who fails in his duty to us; and bring us not into temptation.'«


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And He said to them, »Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say, «`Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;


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»And he from indoors shall answer,« `Do not pester me. The door is now barred, and I am here in bed with my children. I cannot get up and give you bread.'


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»I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.«


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»So I say to you, `Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.'«


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For every one who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened.


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And what father is there among you, who, if his son asks for a slice of bread, will offer him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish offer him a snake?


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If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!«


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On once occasion He was expelling a mute demon; and when the demon was gone out the mute man could speak, and the people were astonished.


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But some among them said, »It is by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of the demons, that he expels the demons.«


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And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, »Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.


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And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?–because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.


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And if it is by the power of Baal-zebul that I expel the demons, by whom do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.


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But if it is by the power of God that I drive out the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.


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»Whenever a strong man, fully armed and equipped, is guarding his own castle, he enjoys peaceful possession of his property;«


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but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.


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»When a foul spirit has left a man, it roams about in the Desert, seeking a resting-place; but, unable to find any, it says, `I will return to the house I have left;«


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Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more malignant than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first.


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As He thus spoke a woman in the crowd called out in a loud voice, »Blessed is the mother who carried you, and the breasts that you have sucked.«


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Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, »The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah.


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For just as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a token to the present generation.


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The Queen of the South will awake at the Judgement together with the men of the present generation, and will condemn them; because she came from the extremity of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; but mark! One greater than Solomon is here.


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There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and mark! One greater than Jonah is here.


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»When any one lights a lamp, he never puts it in the cellar or under the bushel, but on the lampstand, that people who come in may see the light.


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The lamp of the body is the eye. When your eyesight is good, your whole body also is lighted up; but when it is defective, your body is darkened.


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If, however, your whole body is penetrated with light, and has no part dark, it will be so lighted, all of it, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light.«


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When He had thus spoken, a Pharisee invited Him to breakfast at his house; so He entered and took His place at table.


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The Master however said to him, »Here we see how you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup or plate, while your secret hearts are full of greed and selfishness.


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»But alas for you Pharisees! for you pay tithes on your mint and rue and every kind of garden vegetable, and are indifferent to justice and the love of God. These are the things you ought to have attended to, while not neglecting the others.


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Alas for you Pharisees! for you love the best seats in the synagogues, and you like to be bowed to in places of public resort.


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Alas for you! for you are like the tombs which lie hidden, and the people who walk over them are not aware of their existence.«


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Hereupon one of the expounders of the Law exclaimed, »Rabbi, in saying such things you reproach us also.«


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»Alas too for you expounders of the Law!« replied Jesus, »for you load men with cumbrous burdens which you yourselves will not touch with one of your fingers.


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It follows that you bear testimony to the actions of your forefathers and that you fully approve thereof. They slew, you build.


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»For this reason also the Wisdom of God has said, `I will send Prophets and Apostles to them, of whom they will kill some and persecute others,'«


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so that the blood of all the Prophets, that is being shed from the creation of the world onwards, may be required from the present generation.


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Yes, I tell you that, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the House, it shall all be required from the present generation.


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»Alas for you expounders of the Law! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you yourselves have not entered, and those who wanted to enter you have hindered.«


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After He had left the house, the Scribes and Pharisees commenced a vehement attempt to entangle Him and make Him give off-hand answers on numerous points,


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Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, »Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.


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There is nothing that is covered up which will not be uncovered, nor hidden which will not become known.


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Whatever therefore you have said in the dark, will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered within closed doors will be proclaimed from the house-tops.


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»But to you who are my friends I say,« `Be not afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further.


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I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him.


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Are not five sparrows sold for a penny? and yet not one of them is a thing forgotten in God's sight.


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But the very hairs on your heads are all counted. Away with fear: you are more precious than a multitude of sparrows.'


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»And I tell you that every man who shall have acknowledged me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.«


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»Moreover every one who shall speak against the Son of Man, may obtain forgiveness; but he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never obtain forgiveness.«


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And when they are bringing you before synagogues and magistrates and governors, do not anxiously ponder the manner or matter of your defence, nor what you are to say;


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Just then a man in the crowd appealed to Him. »Rabbi,« he said, »tell my brother to give me a share of the inheritance.«


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And to the people He said, »Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions.«


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and he debated within himself, saying, »`What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'


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»And he said to himself,« `This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store up all my harvest and my wealth;


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and I will say to my life, »`Life, you have ample possessions laid up for many years to come: take your ease, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.'


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»But God said to him,« `Foolish man, this night your life is demanded from you; and these preparations–for whom shall they be?'


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Then turning to His disciples He said, »For this reason I say to you, `Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'


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Observe the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, and have neither store-chamber nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How far more precious are you than the birds!


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Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was as beautifully dressed as one of these.


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But if God so clothes the vegetation in the fields, that blooms today and tomorrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more certainly will He clothe you, you men of feeble faith!


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»Therefore, do not be asking what you are to eat nor what you are to drink; and do not waver between hope and fear.«


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For though the nations of the world pursue these things, as for you, your Father knows that you need them.


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Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, a treasure inexhaustible in Heaven, where no thief can come nor moth consume.


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and be yourselves like men waiting for their master –on the look-out till he shall return from the wedding feast– that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door instantly.


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Blessed are those servants, whom their Master when He comes shall find on the watch. I tell you in solemn truth, that He will tie an apron round Him, and will bid them recline at table while He comes and waits on them.


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And whether it be in the second watch or in the third that He comes and finds them so, blessed are they.


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Of this be sure, that if the master of the house had known what time the robber was coming, he would have kept awake and not have allowed his house to be broken into.


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»Who, then,« replied the Lord, »is the faithful and intelligent steward whom his Master will put in charge of His household to serve out their rations at the proper times?


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But if that servant should say in his heart, `My Master is a long time in coming,' and should begin to beat the menservants and the maids, and to eat and drink, drinking even to excess;


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that servant's Master will come on a day when he is not expecting Him and at an hour that he knows not of, and will punish him severely, and make him share the lot of the unfaithful.


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And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.


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But he who had not been told it and yet did what deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.


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For from this time there will be in one house five persons split into parties. Three will form a party against two and two will form a party against three;


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father against son and son against father; mother attacking daughter and daughter her mother, mother-in-law her daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law her mother-in-law.«


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Then He said to the people also, »When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `There is to be a shower;' and it comes to pass.


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Vain pretenders! You know how to read the aspect of earth and sky. How is it you cannot read this present time?


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For when, with your opponent, you are going before the magistrate, on the way take pains to get out of his power; for fear that, if he should drag you before the judge, the judge may hand you over to the officer of the court, and the officer lodge you in prison.


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Just at that time people came to tell Him about the Galilaeans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.


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»Do you suppose,« He asked in reply, »that those Galilaeans were worse sinners than the mass of the Galilaeans, because this happened to them?


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I tell you, certainly not. On the contrary, if you are not penitent you will all perish as they did.


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Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell, do you suppose they had failed in their duty more than all the rest of the people who live in Jerusalem?


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I tell you, certainly not. On the contrary, if you do not repent you will all perish just as they did.«


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And He gave them the following parable. »A man,« He said, »who had a fig-tree growing in his garden came to look for fruit on it and could find none.


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So he said to the gardener, »`See, this is the third year I have come to look for fruit on this fig-tree and cannot find any. Cut it down. Why should so much ground be actually wasted?'


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»But the gardener pleaded,« `Leave it, Sir, this year also, till I have dug round it and manured it.


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where a woman was present who for eighteen years had been a confirmed invalid: she was bent double, and was unable to lift herself to her full height.


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Then the ruler of the Synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured her on a Sabbath, said to the crowd, »There are six days in the week on which people ought to work. On those days therefore come and get yourselves cured, and not on the Sabbath day.«


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But the Lord's reply to him was, »Hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his bullock or his donkey from the stall and lead him to water?


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And this woman, daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan had bound for no less than eighteen years, was she not to be loosed from this chain because it is the Sabbath day?«


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When He had said this, all His opponents were ashamed, while the whole multitude was delighted at the many glorious things continually done by Him.


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It is like a mustard seed which a man drops into the soil in his garden, and it grows and becomes a tree in whose branches the birds roost.«


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It is like yeast which a woman takes and buries in a bushel of flour, to work there till the whole is leavened.«


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He was passing through town after town and village after village, steadily proceeding towards Jerusalem,


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»Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow gate,« He answered; »for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour to find a way in and will not succeed.


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As soon as the Master of the house shall have risen and shut the door, and you have begun to stand outside and knock at the door and say, »`Sir, open the door for us' –«`I do not know you,' He answers; `you are no friends of mine.'


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»Then you will plead,« `We have eaten and drunk in your company and you have taught in our streets.'


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»But He will reply,« `I tell you that you are no friends of mine. Begone from me, all of you, wrongdoers that you are.'


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»There will be the weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being driven far away.


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They will come from east and west, from north and south, and will sit down at the banquet in the Kingdom of God.


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Just at that time there came some Pharisees who warned Him, saying, »Leave this place and continue your journey; Herod means to kill you.«


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»Go,« He replied, »and take this message to that fox: «`See, today and tomorrow I am driving out demons and effecting cures, and on the third day I finish my course.'


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»Yet I must continue my journey today and tomorrow and the day following; for it is not conceivable that a Prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.


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O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who murderest the Prophets and stonest those who have been sent to you, how often have I desired to gather your children just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come!


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See, your house is left to you. But I tell you that you will never see me again until you say, <J>`Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'«</J>


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One day –it was a Sabbath– He was taking a meal at the house of one of the Rulers of the Pharisee party, while they were closely watching Him.


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Then He turned to them and said, »Which of you shall have a child or an ox fall into a well on the Sabbath day, and will not immediately lift him out?«


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Then, when He noticed that the invited guests chose the best seats, He used this as an illustration and said to them,


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»When any one invites you to a wedding banquet, do not take the best seat, lest perhaps some more honoured guest than you may have been asked,


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and the man who invited you both will come and will say to you, `Make room for this guest,' and then you, ashamed, will move to the lowest place.«


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On the contrary, when you are invited go and take the lowest place, that when your host comes round he may say to you, `My friend, come up higher.' This will be doing you honour in the presence of all the other guests.


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Also to His host, who had invited Him, He said, »When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbours, lest perhaps they should invite you in return and a requital be made you.


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and you will be blessed, because they have no means of requiting you, but there will be requital for you at the Resurrection of the righteous.«


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After listening to this teaching, one of His fellow guests said to Him, »Blessed is he who shall feast in God's Kingdom.«


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At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, »`Come, for things are now ready.'


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»But they all without exception began to excuse themselves. The first told him,« `I have purchased a piece of land, and must of necessity go and look at it. Pray hold me excused.'


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»A second pleaded,« `I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am on my way to try them. Pray hold me excused.'


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»So the servant came and brought these answers to his master, and they stirred his anger.« `Go out quickly,' he said, `into the streets of the city–the wide ones and the narrow. You will see poor men, and crippled, blind, lame: fetch them all in here.'


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»Soon the servant reported the result, saying,« `Sir, what you ordered is done, and there is room still.'


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»`Go out,' replied the master, `to the high roads and hedge-rows, and compel the people to come in, so that my house may be filled.


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»If any one is coming to me who does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and his own life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine.«


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»Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not sit down first and calculate the cost, asking if he has the means to finish it?« –


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lest perhaps, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to finish, all who see it shall begin to jeer at him,


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Or what king, marching to encounter another king in war, does not first sit down and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand men to meet the one who is advancing against him with twenty thousand?


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Just as no one of you who does not detach himself from all that belongs to him can be a disciple of mine.


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Neither for land nor dunghill is it of any use; they throw it away. Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!«


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Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;


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and this led the Pharisees and the Scribes indignantly to complain, saying, »He gives a welcome to notorious sinners, and joins them at their meals!«


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»Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?«


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Then coming home he calls his friends and neighbours together, and says, `Congratulate me, for I have found my sheep–the one I had lost.'


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I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner–more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.


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»Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?«


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And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, »`Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'


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»I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner.«


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The younger of them said to his father, »`Father, give me the share of the property that comes to me.' «So he divided his wealth between them.


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No long time afterwards the younger son got all together and travelled to a distant country, where he wasted his money in debauchery and excess.


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At last, when he had spent everything, there came a terrible famine throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch of want.


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So he went and hired himself to one of the inhabitants of that country, who sent him on to his farm to tend swine;


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»But on coming to himself he said,« `How many of my father's hired men have more bread than they want, while I here am dying of hunger!


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I will rise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you:


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»So he rose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and pitied him, and ran and threw his arms round his neck and kissed him tenderly.«


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»`Father,' cried the son, `I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'«


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»But the father said to his servants,« `Fetch a good coat quickly –the best one– and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.


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for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' »And they began to be merry.


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»Now his elder son was out on the farm; and when he returned and came near home, he heard music and dancing.«


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»`Your brother has come,' he replied; `and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'«


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»`All these years,' replied the son, `I have been slaving for you, and I have never at any time disobeyed any of your orders, and yet you have never given me so much as a kid, for me to enjoy myself with my friends;«


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but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'


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We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'«


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He said also to His disciples: »There was a rich man who had a steward, about whom a report was brought to him, that he was wasting his property.


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He called him and said, »`What is this I hear about you? Render an account of your stewardship, for I cannot let you hold it any longer.'


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»Then the steward said within himself,« `What am I to do? For my master is taking away the stewardship from me. I am not strong enough for field labour: to beg, I should be ashamed.


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I see what to do, in order that when I am discharged from the stewardship they may give me a home in their own houses.'


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»So he called all his master's debtors, one by one, and asked the first, `How much are you in debt to my master?'«


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»`A hundred firkins of oil,' he replied.« `Here is your account,' said the steward: `sit down quickly and change it into fifty firkins.'


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»To a second he said,« `And how much do you owe?' »`A hundred quarters of wheat,' was the answer.« »`Here is your account,' said he: `change it into eighty quarters.'«


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»And the master praised the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for, in relation to their own contemporaries, the men of this age are shrewder than the sons of Light.«


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»But I charge you, so to use the wealth which is ever tempting to dishonesty as to win friends who, when it fails, shall welcome you to the tents that never perish.«


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The man who is honest in a very small matter is honest in a great one also; and he who is dishonest in a very small matter is dishonest in a great one also.


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If therefore you have not proved yourselves faithful in dealing with the wealth that is tainted with fraud, who will entrust to you the true good?


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And if you have not been faithful in dealing with that which is not your own, who will give you that which is your own?


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»No servant can be in bondage to two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will cling fast to one and scorn the other. You cannot be bondservants both of God and of gold.«


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»You are they,« He said to them, »who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.


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The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.


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But it is easier for earth and sky to pass away than for one smallest detail of the Law to fall to the ground.


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Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery.


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»There was once a rich man who habitually arrayed himself in purple and fine linen, and enjoyed a splendid banquet every day,


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covered with sores and longing to make a full meal off the scraps flung on the floor from the rich man's table. Nay, the dogs, too, used to come and lick his sores.«


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»But in course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and had a funeral.«


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And in Hades, being in torment, he looked and saw Abraham in the far distance, and Lazarus resting in his arms.


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So he cried aloud, and said, »`Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'


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»`Remember, my child,' said Abraham, `that you had all your good things during your lifetime, and that Lazarus in like manner had his bad things. But, now and here, he is receiving consolation and you are in agony.«


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And, besides all this, a vast chasm is immovably fixed between us and you, put there in order that those who desire to cross from this side to you may not be able, nor any be able to cross over from your side to us.'


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For I have five brothers. Let him earnestly warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'


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»`If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, `they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'«


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Jesus said to His disciples, »It is inevitable that causes of stumbling should come; but alas for him through whom they come!


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It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones to fall.


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and if seven times in a day he acts wrongly towards you, and seven times turns again to you and says, `I am sorry,' you must forgive him.«


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»If your faith,« replied the Lord, »is like a mustard seed, you might command this black-mulberry-tree, `Tear up your roots and plant yourself in the sea,' and instantly it would obey you.


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But which of you who has a servant ploughing, or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the farm, `Come at once and take your place at table,'


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and will not rather say to him, `Get my dinner ready, make yourself tidy, and wait upon me till I have finished my dinner, and then you shall have yours'?


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So you also, when you have obeyed all the orders given you, must say, »`There is no merit in our service: what we have done is only what we were in duty bound to do.'«


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Perceiving this, He said to them, »Go and show yourselves to the Priests.« And while on their way to do this they were made clean.


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Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered, »The Kingdom of God does not so come that you can stealthily watch for it.


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Then, turning to His disciples, He said, »There will come a time when you will wish you could see a single one of the days of the Son of Man, but will not see one.


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For just as the lightning, when it flashes, shines from one part of the horizon to the opposite part, so will the Son of Man be on His day.


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Men were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving wives, up to the very day on which Noah entered the Ark, and the Deluge came and destroyed them all.


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The same was true in the time of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building;


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but on the day that Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from the sky and destroyed them all.


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»On that day, if a man is on the roof and his property indoors, let him not go down to fetch it; and, in the same way, he who is in the field, let him not turn back.«


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Any man who makes it his object to keep his own life safe, will lose it; but whoever loses his life will preserve it.


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On that night, I tell you, there will be two men in one bed: one will be taken away and the other left behind.


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There will be two women turning the mill together: one will be taken away and the other left behind.«


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»Where, Master?« they inquired. »Where the dead body is,« He replied, »there also will the vultures flock together.«


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And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, »`Give me justice and stop my oppressor.'


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»For a time he would not, but afterwards he said to himself,« `Though I have neither reverence for God nor respect for man,


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yet because she annoys me I will give her justice, to prevent her from constantly coming to pester me.'«


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And will not God avenge the wrongs of His own People who cry aloud to Him day and night, although He seems slow in taking action on their behalf?


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Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?«


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And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable.


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»Two men went up to the Temple to pray,« He said; »one being a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.


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The Pharisee, standing erect, prayed as follows by himself: »`O God, I thank You that I am not like other people–I am not a thief nor a cheat nor an adulterer, nor do I even resemble this tax-gatherer.


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»But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying,« `O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'


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»I tell you that this man went home more thoroughly absolved from guilt than the other; for every one who uplifts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be uplifted.«


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On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.


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Jesus however called the infants to Him. »Let the little children come to me,« He said; »do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.


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I tell you in solemn truth that, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will certainly not enter it.«


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You know the Commandments: <J>`Do not commit adultery;' `Do not murder;' `Do not steal;' `Do not lie in giving evidence;' `Honour your father and your mother.'«</J>


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On receiving this answer Jesus said to him, »There is still one thing wanting in you. Sell everything you possess and give the money to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; and then come, follow me.«


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Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, »With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!


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Why, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.«


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»I solemnly tell you,« replied Jesus, »that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,


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who shall not certainly receive many times as much in this life, and in the age that is coming eternal life.«


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Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, »See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled.


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Nothing of this did they understand. The words were a mystery to them, nor could they see what He meant.


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Those in front reproved him and tried to silence him; but he continued shouting, louder than ever, »Son of David, take pity on me.«


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At length Jesus stopped and desired them to bring the man to Him; and when he had come close to Him He asked him,


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No sooner were the words spoken than the man regained his sight and followed Jesus, giving glory to God; and all the people, seeing it, gave praise to God.


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He was anxious to see what sort of man Jesus was; but he could not because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.


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As soon as Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, »Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must stay at your house today.«


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When they all saw this, they began to complain with indignation. »He has gone in to be the guest of a notorious sinner!« they said.


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Zacchaeus however stood up, and addressing the Lord said, »Here and now, Master, I give half my property to the poor, and if I have unjustly exacted money from any man, I pledge myself to repay to him four times the amount.«


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Turning towards him, Jesus replied, »Today salvation has come to this house, seeing that he too is a son of Abraham.


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As they were listening to His words, He went on to teach them by a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.


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So He said to them, »A man of noble family travelled to a distant country to obtain the rank of king, and to return.


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And he called ten of his servants and gave each of them a pound, instructing them to trade with the money during his absence.


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»Now his countrymen hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, `We are not willing that he should become our king.'«


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And upon his return, after he had obtained the sovereignty, he ordered those servants to whom he had given the money to be summoned before him, that he might learn their success in trading.


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»`Well done, good servant,' he replied; `because you have been faithful in a very small matter, be in authority over ten towns.'«


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For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'


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»`By your own words,' he replied, `I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:«


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why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?


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»And he said to those who stood by,« `Take the pound from him and give it to him who has the ten pounds.'


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»`I tell you that to every one who has anything, more shall be given; and from him who has not anything, even what he has shall be taken away.


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But as for those enemies of mine who were unwilling that I should become their king, bring them here, and cut them to pieces in my presence.'«


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And when he was come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount called the Oliveyard, He sent two of the disciples on in front,


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saying to them, »Go into the village facing you. On entering it you will find an donkey's foal tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here.


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Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their outer garments on the colt they placed Jesus on it.


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And when He was now getting near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began in their joy to praise God in loud voices for all the mighty deeds they had witnessed.


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<J>»Blessed is</J> the King,« they cried, <J>»who comes in the name of the Lord:</J> in Heaven peace, and glory in the highest realms.«


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Thereupon some of the Pharisees in the crowd appealed to Him, saying, »Rabbi, reprove your disciples.«


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»O that at this time you had known –yes even you– what makes peace possible! But now it is hid from your eyes.


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For the time is coming upon you when your foes will throw up around you earthworks and a wall, investing you and hemming you in on every side.


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And they will dash you to the ground and your children within you, and will not leave one stone upon another within you; because you have not recognized the time of your visitation.«


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»It is written,« He said, <J>»`And My house shall be the House of Prayer,'</J> but you have made it <J>a robbers' cave.«</J>


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And day after day He taught in the Temple, while the High Priests and the Scribes were devising some means of destroying Him, as were also the leading men of the people.


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On one of those days while He was teaching the people in the Temple and proclaiming the Good News, the High Priests came upon Him, and the Scribes,


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together with the Elders, and they asked Him, »Tell us, By what authority are you doing these things? And who is it that gave you this authority?«


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So they debated the matter with one another. »If we say `Heavenly,'« they argued, »he will say, `Why did you not believe him?'


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And if we say, `human,' the people will all stone us; for they are thoroughly convinced that John was a Prophet.«


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Then He proceeded to speak a parable to the people. »There was a man,« He said, »who planted a vineyard, let it out to vine-dressers, and went abroad for a considerable time.


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At vintage-time he sent a servant to the vine-dressers, for them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dressers beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.


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Then the owner of the vineyard said, »`What am I to do? I will send my son–my dearly-loved son: they will probably respect him.'


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»But when the vine-dressers saw him, they discussed the matter with one another, and said,« `This is the heir: let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'


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»So they turned him out of the vineyard and murdered him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?«


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He will come and put these vine-dressers to death, and give the vineyard to others.« »God forbid!« exclaimed the hearers.


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He looked at them and said, »What then does that mean which is written, <J>»`The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone'?</J>


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Every one who falls on that stone will be severely hurt, but on whomsoever it falls, he will be utterly crushed.«


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At this the Scribes and the High Priests wanted to lay hands on Him, then and there; only they were afraid of the people. For they saw that in this parable He had referred to them.


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So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority.


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So they put a question to Him. »Rabbi,« they said, »we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.


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There was nothing here that they could lay hold of before the people, and marvelling at His answer they said no more.


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Next some of the Sadducees came forward (who deny that there is a Resurrection), and they asked Him,


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»Rabbi, Moses made it a law for us that if a man's brother should die, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.«


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But as for those who shall have been deemed worthy to find a place in that other age and in the Resurrection from among the dead, the men do not marry and the women are not given in marriage.


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For indeed they cannot die again; they are like angels, and are sons of God through being sons of the Resurrection.


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But that the dead rise to life even Moses clearly implies in the passage about the Bush, where he calls the Lord <J>`The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'</J>


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Why, David himself says in the Book of Psalms, <J>»`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand</J>


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»Beware of the Scribes, who like to walk about in long robes, and love to be bowed to in places of public resort and to occupy the best seats in the synagogues or at a dinner party;


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who swallow up the property of widows and mask their wickedness by making long prayers. They will be punished far more severely than others.«


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For from what they could well spare they have all of them contributed to the offerings, but she in her need has thrown in all she had to live on.«


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When some were remarking about the Temple, how it was embellished with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said,


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»As to these things which you now admire, the time is coming when there will not be one stone left here upon another which will not be pulled down.«


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»Rabbi, when will this be?« they asked Him, »and what will be the token given when these things are about to take place?«


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»See to it,« He replied, »that you are not misled; for many will come assuming my name and professing, `I am He,' or saying, `The time is close at hand.' Do not go and follow them.


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But when you hear of wars and turmoils, be not afraid; for these things must happen first, but the end does not come immediately.«


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And there will be great earthquakes, and in places famines and pestilence; and there will be terrible sights and wonderful tokens from Heaven.


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»But before all these things happen they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you up to synagogues and to prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my sake.«


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for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to withstand or reply to.«


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You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, friends; and some of you they will put to death.


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»But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand.«


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Then let those who shall be in Judaea escape to the hills; let those who are in the city leave it, and those who are in the country not enter in.


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»Alas for the women who at that time are with child or who have infants; for there will be great distress in the land, and anger towards this People.«


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They will fall by the sword, or be carried off into slavery among all the Gentiles. And Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, till the appointed times of the Gentiles have expired.


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»There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on earth anguish among the nations in their bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and its billows;«


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while men's hearts are fainting for fear, and for anxious expectation of what is coming on the world. For <J>the forces which control the heavens will be disordered and disturbed.</J>


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But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near.«


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»But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap;


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But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.«


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His habit at this time was to teach in the Temple by day, but to go out and spend the night on the Mount called the Oliveyard.


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and the High Priests and the Scribes were contriving how to destroy Him. But they feared the people.


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He went and conferred with the High Priests and Commanders as to how he should deliver Him up to them.


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He accepted their offer, and then looked out for an opportunity to betray Him when the people were not there.


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Jesus sent Peter and John with instructions. »Go,« He said, »and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.«


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»You will no sooner have entered the city,« He replied, »than you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him into the house to which he goes,


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and say to the master of the house, »`The Rabbi asks you, Where is the room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?'


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for I tell you that I certainly shall not eat one again till its full meaning has been brought out in the Kingdom of God.«


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for I tell you that from this time I will never drink the produce of the vine till the Kingdom of God has come.«


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Then, taking a Passover biscuit, He gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, »This is my body which is being given on your behalf: this do in remembrance of me.«


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He gave them the cup in like manner, when the meal was over. »This cup,« He said, »is the new Covenant ratified by my blood which is to be poured out on your behalf.


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For indeed the Son of Man goes on His way–His pre-destined way; yet alas for that man who is betraying Him!«


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Thereupon they began to discuss with one another which of them it could possibly be who was about to do this.


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But He said to them, »The kings of the Gentiles are their masters, and those who exercise authority over them are called Benefactors.


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With you it is not so; but let the greatest among you be as the younger, and the leader be like him who serves.


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For which is the greater–he who sits at table, or he who waits on him? Is it not he who sits at table? But my position among you is that of one who waits on others.


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so that you shall eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and sit on thrones as judges over the twelve tribes of Israel.


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»Simon, Simon, I tell you that Satan has obtained permission to have all of you to sift as wheat is sifted.


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But <i>I</i> have prayed for <i>you</i> that your faith may not fail, and you, when at last you have come back to your true self, must strengthen your brethren.«


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»I tell you, Peter,« said Jesus, »that the rooster will not crow today till you have three times denied that you know me.«


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Then He asked them, »When I sent you out without purse or bag or shoes, was there anything you needed?«»No, nothing,« they replied.


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»But now,« said He, »let the one who has a purse take it, and he who has a bag must do the same. And let him who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one.


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For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfillment in me: <J>`And He was reckoned among the lawless';</J> for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment.«


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But He Himself withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed repeatedly, saying,


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while He –an agony of distress having come upon Him– prayed all the more with intense earnestness, and His sweat became like clots of blood dropping on the ground.


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While He was still speaking there came a crowd with Judas, already mentioned as one of the Twelve, at their head. He went up to Jesus to kiss Him.


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Those who were about Him, seeing what was likely to happen, asked Him, »Master, shall we strike with the sword?«


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Then Jesus said to the High Priests and Commanders of the Temple and Elders, who had come to arrest Him, »Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and cudgels?


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While day after day I was with you in the Temple, you did not lay hands upon me; but to you belongs this hour–and the power of darkness.«


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And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the house of the High Priest, while Peter followed a good way behind.


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And when they had lighted a fire in the middle of the court and had seated themselves in a group round it, Peter was sitting among them,


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when a maidservant saw him sitting by the fire, and, looking fixedly at him, she said, »This man also was with him.«


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Shortly afterwards a man saw him and said, »You, too, are one of them.«»No, man, I am not,« said Peter.


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After an interval of about an hour some one else stoutly maintained:»Certainly this fellow also was with him, for in fact he is a Galilaean.«


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The Master turned and looked on Peter; and Peter recollected the Master's words, how He had said to him, »This very day, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.«


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or blindfolded Him, and then challenged Him. »Prove to us,« they said, »that you are a prophet, by telling us who it was that struck you.«


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As soon as it was day, the whole body of the Elders, both High Priests and Scribes, assembled. Then He was brought into their Sanhedrin, and they asked Him,


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Thereupon they cried out with one voice, »You, then, are the Son of God?«»It is as you say,« He answered; »I am He.«


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»What need have we of further evidence?« they said; »for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips.«


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»We have found this man,« they said, »an agitator among our nation, forbidding the payment of tribute to Caesar, and claiming that he himself is the Messiah, a king.«


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But they violently insisted. »He stirs up the people,« they said, »throughout all Judaea with His teaching–even from Galilee (where He first started) to this city.«


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And learning that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod, for he too was in Jerusalem at that time.


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To Herod the sight of Jesus was a great gratification, for, for a long time, he had been wanting to see Him, because he had heard so much about Him. He hoped also to see some miracle performed by Him.


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Then, laughing to scorn the claims of Jesus, Herod (and his soldiers with him) made sport of Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous costume, and sent Him back to Pilate.


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And on that very day Herod and Pilate became friends again, for they had been for some time at enmity.


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»You have brought this man to me on a charge of corrupting the loyalty of the people. But, you see, I have examined him in your presence and have discovered in the man no ground for the accusations which you bring against him.


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No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death.


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Then the whole multitude burst out into a shout. »Away with this man,« they said, »and release Barabbas to us«


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–Barabbas! who had been lodged in jail for some time in connexion with a riot which had occurred in the city, and for murder.


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A third time he appealed to them: »Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him.«


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But they urgently insisted, demanding with frantic outcries that He should be crucified; and their clamour prevailed.


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The man who was lying in prison charged with riot and murder and for whom they clamoured he set free, but Jesus he gave up to be dealt with as they desired.


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As soon as they led Him away, they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenaean, who was coming in from the country, and on his shoulders they put the cross, for him to carry it behind Jesus.


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A vast crowd of the people also followed Him, and of women who were beating their breasts and wailing for Him.


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But Jesus turned towards them and said, »Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.


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For a time is coming when they will say, `Blessed are the women who never bore children, and the breasts which have never given nourishment.'


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For if they are doing these things in the case of the green tree, what will be done in that of the dry?«


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When they reached the place called `The Skull,' there they nailed Him to the cross, and the criminals also, one at His right hand and one at His left.


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Jesus prayed, »Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.« And they divided His garments among them, drawing lots for them;


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and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. »This fellow,« they said, »saved others: let him save himself, if he is God's Messiah, the Chosen One.«


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Now one of the criminals who had been crucified insulted Him, saying, »Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.«


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But the other, answering, reproved him. »Do you also not fear God,« he said, »when you are actually suffering the same punishment?


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And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving due requital for what we have done. But He has done nothing amiss.«


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It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon.


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and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and said, »Father, to Your hands I entrust my spirit.« And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit.


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The Captain, seeing what had happened, gave glory to God, saying, »Beyond question this man was innocent.«


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And all the crowds that had come together to this sight, after seeing all that had occurred, returned to the city beating their breasts.


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But all His acquaintances, and the women who had been His followers after leaving Galilee, continued standing at a distance and looking on.


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who came from the Jewish town of Arimathaea and was awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of God. He had not concurred in the design or action of the Council,


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Then, taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen sheet and laid it in a tomb in the rock, where no one else had yet been put.


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The women –those who had come with Jesus from Galilee– followed close behind, and saw the tomb and how His body was placed.


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Then they returned, and prepared spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested in obedience to the Commandment.


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And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.


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At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning.


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The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, »Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living?


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He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,


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when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.«


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The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and they and the rest of the women related all this to the Apostles.


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Peter, however, rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw nothing but the linen cloths: so he went away to his own home, wondering at what had happened.


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On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem,


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»What is the subject,« He asked them, »on which you are talking so earnestly, as you walk?« And they stood still, looking full of sorrow.


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Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered, »Are you a stranger lodging alone in Jerusalem, that you have known nothing of the things that have lately happened in the city?«


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»What things?« He asked. »The things about Jesus the Nazarene,« they said, »who was a Prophet powerful in work and word before God and all the people;


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But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel. Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened.


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and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.


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Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see.«


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And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself.


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But they pressed Him to remain with them. »Because,« said they, »it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over.« So He went in to stay with them.


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But as soon as He had sat down with them, and had taken the bread and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them,


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»Were not our hearts,« they said to one another, »burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?«


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So they rose and without an hour's delay returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and the rest met together, who said to them,


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Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.


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See my hands and my feet–it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have.«


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But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, »Have you any food here?«


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And He said to them, »This is what I told you while I was still with you–that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.«


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and He said, »Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead;


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and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.


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And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.«


text:
He came as a witness, in order that he might give testimony concerning the Light–so that all might believe through him.


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He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him.


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But all who have received Him, to them –that is, to those who trust in His name– He has given the privilege of becoming children of God;


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who were begotten as such not by human descent, nor through an impulse of their own nature, nor through the will of a human father, but from God.


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And the Word came in the flesh, and lived for a time in our midst, so that we saw His glory–the glory as of the Father's only Son, sent from His presence. He was full of grace and truth.


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John gave testimony concerning Him and cried aloud, saying, »This is He of whom I said, `He who is coming after me has been put before me,' for He was before me.«


text:
This also is John's testimony, when the Jewish leaders sent to him a deputation of Priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who he was.


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»What then?« they inquired; »are you Elijah?«»I am not,« he said. »Are you the Prophet?«»No,« he answered.


text:
So they pressed the question. »Who are you?« they said– »that we may take an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?«


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»I am <J>the voice,</J> he replied, <J>of one crying aloud, `Make straight the Lord's way in the Desert,'</J> fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah.«


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Again they questioned him. »Why then do you baptize,« they said, »if you are neither the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet?«


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The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and exclaimed, »Look, that is the Lamb of God who is to take away the sin of the world!


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This is He about whom I said, `After me is to come One who has been put before me, because He was before me.'


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I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water.«


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John also gave testimony by stating: »I have seen the Spirit coming down like a dove out of Heaven; and it remained upon Him.


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I did not yet know Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, »`The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down, and remaining, He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'


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Then Jesus turned round, and seeing them following He asked them, »What is your wish?« »Rabbi,« they replied- <J>`Rabbi' means `Teacher'</J> »where are you staying?«


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»Come and you shall see,« He said. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained and spent that day with Him. It was then about ten o'clock in the morning.


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He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, »We have found the Messiah!« –that is to say, the Anointed One.


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He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, »You are Simon, son of John: you shall be called Cephas« –that is to say, Peter (or `Rock').


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The next day, having decided to leave Bethany and go into Galilee, Jesus found Philip, and invited him to follow Him.


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Then Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, »We have found him about whom Moses in the Law wrote, as well as the Prophets–Jesus, the son of Joseph, a man of Nazareth.«


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Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, and said of him, »Look! here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceitfulness!«


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»How do you know me?« Nathanael asked. »Before Philip called you,« said Jesus, »when you were under the fig-tree I saw you.«


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»Because I said to you, `I saw you under the fig-tree,'« replied Jesus, »do you believe? You shall see greater things than that.«


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»I tell you all in most solemn truth,« He added, »that you shall see Heaven opened wide, and God's angels going up, and coming down to the Son of Man.«


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Now there were six stone jars standing there (in accordance with the Jewish regulations for purification), each large enough to hold twenty gallons or more.


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So they carried some to him. And no sooner had the President tasted the water now turned into wine, than –not knowing where it came from, though the attendants who had drawn the water knew– he called to the bridegroom


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and said to him, »It is usual to put on the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then that which is inferior. But you have kept the good wine till now.«


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This, the first of His miracles, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee, and thus displayed His glorious power; and His disciples believed in Him.


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Afterwards He went down to Capernaum–He, and His mother, and His brothers, and His disciples; and they made a short stay there.


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And He found in the Temple the dealers in cattle and sheep and in pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.


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So He plaited a whip of rushes, and drove all –both sheep and bullocks– out of the Temple. The small coin of the brokers He upset on the ground and overturned their tables.


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And to the pigeon-dealers He said, »Take these things away. Do not turn my Father's house into a market.«


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This recalled to His disciples the words of Scripture, <J>»My zeal for Your House will consume me.«</J>


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So the Jewish leaders asked Him, »What proof of your authority do you exhibit to us, seeing that you do these things?«


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»It has taken forty-six years,« replied the Jewish leaders, »to build this Sanctuary, and will you rebuild it in three days?«


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When however He had risen from among the dead, His disciples recollected that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture and the teaching which Jesus had given them.


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Now when He was in Jerusalem, at the Festival of the Passover, many became believers in Him through watching the miracles He performed.


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He came to Jesus by night and said, »Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher from God; for no one can do these miracles which you are doing, unless God is with him.


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« answered Jesus, »that unless a man is born anew he cannot see the Kingdom of God.«


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»How is it possible,« Nicodemus asked, »for a man to be born when he is old? Can he a second time enter his mother's womb and be born?«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.


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The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is it with every one who has been born of the Spirit.«


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In most solemn truth I tell you that we speak what we know, and give testimony of that of which we were eye-witnesses, and yet you all reject our testimony.


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If I have told you earthly things and none of you believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you of things in Heaven?


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There is no one who has gone up to Heaven, but there is One who has come down from Heaven, namely the Son of Man whose home is in Heaven.


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For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.


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For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.


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He who trusts in Him does not come up for judgement. He who does not trust has already received sentence, because he has not his trust resting on the name of God's only Son.


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And this is the test by which men are judged–the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than they loved the Light, because their deeds were wicked.


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For every wrongdoer hates the light, and does not come to the light, for fear his actions should be exposed and condemned.


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But he who does what is honest and right comes to the light, in order that his actions may be plainly shown to have been done in God.«


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After this Jesus and His disciples went into Judaea; and there He made a stay in company with them and baptized.


text:
And John too was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there were many pools of water there; and people came and received baptism.


text:
As the result, a discussion having arisen on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification,


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they came to John and reported to him, »Rabbi, he who was with you on the other side of the Jordan and to whom you bore testimony is now baptizing, and great numbers of people are resorting to him.«


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You yourselves can bear witness to my having said, `I am not the Messiah,' but `I am His appointed forerunner.'


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He who has the bride is the bridegroom; and the bridegroom's friend who stands by his side and listens to him, rejoices heartily on account of the bridegroom's happiness. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.


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He who comes from above is above all. He whose origin is from the earth is not only himself from the earth, his teaching also is from the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all.


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He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who disobeys the Son will not enter into Life, but God's anger remains upon him.


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Now as soon as the Master was aware that the Pharisees had heard it said, »Jesus is gaining and baptizing more disciples than John«–


text:
and so He came to Sychar, a town in Samaria near the piece of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.


text:
Jacob's Well was there: and accordingly Jesus, tired out with His journey, sat down by the well to rest. It was about six o'clock in the evening.


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»How is it,« replied the woman, »that a Jew like you asks me, who am a woman and a Samaritan, for water?« (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)


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»If you had known God's free gift,« replied Jesus, »and who it is that said to you, `Give me some water,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.«


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»Sir,« she said, »you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; so where can you get the living water from?


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Are you greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well, and himself drank from it, as did also his sons and his cattle?«


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but whoever drinks any of the water that I shall give him will never, never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become a fountain within him of water springing up for eternal life.«


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»Sir,« said the woman, »give me that water, that I may never be thirsty, nor continually come all the way here to draw from the well.«


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»for you have had five husbands, and the man you have at present is not your husband. You have spoken the truth in saying that.«


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Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.«


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»Believe me,« said Jesus, »the time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.


text:
You worship One of whom you know nothing. We worship One whom we know; for salvation comes from the Jews.


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But a time is coming –nay, has already come– when the true worshippers will worship the Father with true spiritual worship; for indeed the Father desires such worshippers.


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»I know,« replied the woman, »that the Messiah is coming–`the Anointed One,' as He is called. When He has come, He will tell us everything.«


text:
Just then His disciples came, and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. Yet not one of them asked Him, »What is your wish?« or »Why are you talking with her?«


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»Come,« she said, »and see a man who has told me everything I have ever done. Can this be the Messiah, do you think?«


text:
So the disciples began questioning one another. »Can it be,« they said, »that some one has brought Him something to eat?«


text:
Do you not say, `It wants four months yet to the harvest'? But look round, I tell you, and observe these plains– they are already ripe for the sickle.


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The reaper gets pay and gathers in a crop in preparation for eternal life, that so the sower and the reapers may rejoice together.


text:
For it is in this that you see the real meaning of the saying, `The sower is one person, and the reaper is another.'


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I sent you to reap a harvest which is not the result of your own labours. Others have laboured, and you are getting benefit from their labours.«


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Of the Samaritan population of that town a good many believed in Him because of the woman's statement when she declared, »He has told me all that I have ever done.«


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When however the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him on all sides to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.


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and they said to the woman, »We no longer believe in Him simply because of your statements; for we have now heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.«


text:
When however He reached Galilee, the Galilaeans welcomed Him eagerly, having been eye-witnesses of all that He had done in Jerusalem at the Festival; for they also had been to the Festival.


text:
So He came once more to Cana in Galilee, where He had made the water into wine. Now there was a certain officer of the King's court whose son was ill at Capernaum.


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Having heard that Jesus had come from Judaea to Galilee, he came to Him and begged Him to go down and cure his son; for he was at the point of death.


text:
»You may return home,« replied Jesus; »your son has recovered.« He believed the words of Jesus, and started back home;


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and he was already on his way down when his servants met him and told him that his son was alive and well.


text:
So he inquired of them at what hour he had shown improvement. »Yesterday, about seven o'clock,« they replied, »the fever left him.«


text:
Then the father recollected that that was the time at which Jesus had said to him, »Your son has recovered,« and he and his whole household became believers.


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Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, called in Hebrew `Bethesda.' It has five arcades.


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In these there used to lie a great number of sick persons, and of people who were blind or lame or paralyzed.


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Jesus saw him lying there, and knowing that he had been a long time in that condition, He asked him, »Do you wish to have health and strength?«


text:
»Sir,« replied the sufferer, »I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is moved; but while I am coming some one else steps down before me.«


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That day was a Sabbath. So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been cured, »It is the Sabbath: you must not carry your mat.«


text:
But the man who had been cured did not know who it was; for Jesus had passed out unnoticed, there being a crowd in the place.


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Afterwards Jesus found him in the Temple and said to him, »You are now restored to health. Do not sin any more, or a worse thing may befall you.«


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and on this account the Jewish leaders began to persecute Jesus–because He did these things on the Sabbath.


text:
On this account then the Jewish leaders were all the more eager to put Him to death–because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also spoke of God as being in a special sense His Father, thus putting Himself on a level with God.


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that the Son can do nothing of Himself–He can only do what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, that the Son does in like manner.


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For the Father loves the Son and reveals to Him all that He Himself is doing. And greater deeds than these will He reveal to Him, in order that you may wonder.


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For just as the Father awakens the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom He wills.


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that all may honour the Son even as they honour the Father. The man who withholds honour from the Son withholds honour from the Father who sent Him.


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»In most solemn truth I tell you that he who listens to my teaching and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed over out of death into Life.«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you that a time is coming –nay, has already come– when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live.«


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For just as the Father has life in Himself, so He has also given to the Son to have life in Himself.


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Wonder not at this. For a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice and will come forth–


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they who have done what is right to the resurrection of Life, and they whose actions have been evil to the resurrection of judgement.


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»I can of my own self do nothing. As I am bidden, so I judge; and mine is a just judgement, because it is not my own will that guides me, but the will of Him who sent me.«


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There is Another who gives testimony concerning me, and I know that the testimony is true which He offers concerning me.


text:
But the testimony on my behalf which I accept is not from man; though I say all this in order that you may be saved.


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He was the lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to be gladdened by his light.


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»But the testimony which I have is weightier than that of John; for the work the Father has assigned to me for me to bring it to completion –the very work which I am doing– affords testimony concerning me that the Father has sent me.«


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And the Father who sent me, <i>He</i> has given testimony concerning me. None of you have ever either heard His voice or seen what He is like.


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»You search the Scriptures, because you suppose that in them you will find eternal life; and it is those Scriptures that yield testimony concerning me;«


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I have come as my Father's representative, and you do not receive me. If some one else comes representing only himself, him you will receive.


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How is it possible for you to believe, while you receive glory from one another and have no desire for the glory that comes from the only God?


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»Do not suppose that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, namely Moses, on whom your hope rests.


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A vast multitude followed Him, because they witnessed the miracles on the sick which He was constantly performing.


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And when He looked round and saw an immense crowd coming towards Him, He said to Philip, »Where shall we buy bread for all these people to eat?«


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»Seven pounds' worth of bread,« replied Philip, »is not enough for them all to get even a scanty meal.«


text:
»Make the people sit down,« said Jesus. The ground was covered with thick grass; so they sat down, the adult men numbering about 5,000.


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Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were resting on the ground; and also the fish in like manner–as much as they desired.


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When all were fully satisfied, He said to His disciples, »Gather up the broken portions that remain over, so that nothing be lost.«


text:
Accordingly they gathered them up; and with the fragments of the five barley loaves –the broken portions that remained over after they had done eating– they filled twelve baskets.


text:
Thereupon the people, having seen the miracle He had performed, said, »This is indeed the Prophet who was to come into the world.«


text:
Perceiving, however, that they were about to come and carry Him off by force to make Him a king, Jesus withdrew again up the hill alone by Himself.


text:
There they got on board a boat, and pushed off to cross the Lake to Capernaum. By this time it had become dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.


text:
When, however, they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat.


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Then they were willing to take Him on board; and in a moment the boat reached the shore at the point to which they were going.


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Next morning the crowd who were still standing about on the other side of the Lake found that there had been but one small boat there, and they had seen that Jesus did not go on board with His disciples, but that His disciples went away without Him.


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Yet a number of small boats came from Tiberias to the neighbourhood of the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.


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When however the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they themselves also took boats and came to Capernaum to look for Jesus.


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So when they had crossed the Lake and had found Him, they asked Him, »Rabbi, when did you come here?«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that you are searching for me not because you have seen miracles, but because you ate the loaves and had a hearty meal.


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Bestow your work not on the food which perishes, but on the food that remains unto eternal life–that food which will be the Son of Man's gift to you; for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.«


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»This,« replied Jesus, »is above all the thing that God requires–that you should be believers in Him whom He has sent.«


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»What miracle then,« they asked, »do you perform for us to see and become believers in you? What do you <i>do</i>?


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Our forefathers ate the manna in the Desert, as it is written, <J>`He gave them bread out of Heaven to eat'.«</J>


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that Moses did not give you the bread out of Heaven, but my Father is giving you the bread –the true bread– out of Heaven.


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»I am the bread of Life,« replied Jesus; »he who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never, never thirst.


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Every one whom the Father gives me will come to me, and him who comes to me I will never on any account drive away.


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For I have left Heaven and have come down to earth not to seek my own pleasure, but to do the will of Him who sent me.


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And this is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it to life on the last day.


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For this is my Father's will, that every one who fixes his gaze on the Son of God and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day.«


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Now the Jews began to find fault about Him because of His claiming to be the bread which came down out of Heaven.


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They kept asking, »Is not this man Joseph's son? Is he not Jesus, whose father and mother we know? What does he mean by now saying, `I have come down out of Heaven'?«


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»no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; then I will raise him to life on the last day.«


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It stands written in the Prophets, <J>`And they shall all of them be taught by God'.</J> Every one who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me.


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I am the living bread come down out of Heaven. If a man eats this bread, he shall live forever. Moreover the bread which I will give is my flesh given for the life of the world.«


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This led to an angry debate among the Jews. »How can this man,« they argued, »give us his flesh to eat?«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« said Jesus, »that unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no Life in you.


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As the ever-living Father has sent me, and I live because of the Father, so also he who eats me will live because of me.


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This is the bread which came down out of Heaven; it is unlike that which your forefathers ate–for they ate and yet died. He who eats this bread shall live forever.«


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Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard it, said, »This is hard to accept. Who can listen to such teaching?«


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»Does this seem incredible to you? What then if you were to see the Son of Man ascending again where He was before?


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It is the spirit which gives Life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever. The words I have spoken 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 that did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.


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So He added, »That is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it be granted him by the Father.«


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He alluded to Judas, the son of Simon the Iscariot. For he it was who, though one of the Twelve, was afterwards to betray Him.


text:
After this Jesus moved from place to place in Galilee. He would not go about in Judaea, because the Jewish leaders were seeking an opportunity to kill Him.


text:
So His brothers said to Him, »Leave these parts and go into Judaea, that not only we but your disciples also may witness the miracles which you perform.


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For no one acts in secret, desiring all the while to be himself known publicly. Since you are doing these things, show yourself openly to the world.«


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It is impossible for the world to hate you; but me it does hate, because I give testimony concerning it that its conduct is evil.


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As for you, go up to the Festival. I do not now go up to this Festival, because my time is not yet fully come.«


text:
When however His brothers had gone up to the Festival, then He also went up, not openly, but as it were privately.


text:
Meanwhile the Jewish leaders at the Festival were looking for Him and were inquiring, »Where is he?«


text:
Among the mass of the people there was much muttered debate about Him. Some said, »He is a good man.« Others said, »Not so: he is imposing on the people.«


text:
The Jewish leaders were astonished. »How does this man know anything of books,« they said, »although he has never been at any of the schools?«


text:
Jesus answered their question by saying, »My teaching does not belong to me, but comes from Him who sent me.


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If any one is willing to do His will, he shall know about the teaching, whether it is from God or originates with me.


text:
The man whose teaching originates with himself aims at his own glory. He who aims at the glory of Him who sent him teaches the truth, and there is no deception in him.


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Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not a man of you obeys the Law. Why do you want to kill me?«


text:
Consider therefore. Moses gave you the rite of circumcision (not that it began with Moses, but with your earlier forefathers), and even on a Sabbath day you circumcise a child.


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If a child is circumcised even on a Sabbath day, are you bitter against me because I have restored a man to perfect health on a Sabbath day?


text:
But here he is, speaking openly and boldly, and they say nothing to him! Can the Rulers really have ascertained that this man is the Messiah?


text:
And yet we know this man, and we know where he is from; but as for the Messiah, when He comes, no one can tell where He is from.«


text:
Jesus therefore, while teaching in the Temple, cried aloud, and said, »Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. And yet I have not come of my own accord; but there is One who has sent me, an Authority indeed, of whom you have no knowledge.


text:
On hearing this they wanted to arrest Him; yet not a hand was laid on Him, because His time had not yet come.


text:
But from among the crowd a large number believed in Him. »When the Messiah comes,« they said, »will He perform more miracles than this teacher has performed?«


text:
The Pharisees heard the people thus expressing their various doubts about Him, and the High Priests and the Pharisees sent some officers to apprehend Him.


text:
The Jewish leaders therefore said to one another, »Where is he about to betake himself, so that we shall not find him? Will he betake himself to the Dispersion among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?


text:
What do those words of his mean, `You will look for me, but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come'?«


text:
On the last day of the Festival –the great day– Jesus stood up and cried aloud. »Whoever is thirsty,« He said, »let him come to me and drink.


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He who believes in me, from within him –as the Scripture has said– rivers of living water shall flow.«


text:
He referred to the Spirit which those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not bestowed as yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.


text:
After listening to these discourses, some of the crowd began to say, »This is beyond doubt the Prophet.«


text:
Others said, »He is the Messiah.« But others again, »Not so, for is the Messiah to come from Galilee?


text:
Has not the Scripture declared that the Messiah is to come of the family of David and from Bethlehem, David's village?«


text:
Meanwhile the officers returned to the High Priests and Pharisees, who asked them, »Why have you not brought him?«


text:
»Does our Law,« he asked, »judge a man without first hearing what he has to say and ascertaining what his conduct is?«


text:
»Do you also come from Galilee?« they asked in reply. »Search and see for yourself that no Prophet is of Galilaean origin.«


text:
At break of day however He returned to the Temple, and there the people came to Him in crowds. He seated Himself;


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and was teaching them when the Scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been found committing adultery. They made her stand in the centre of the court, and they put the case to Him.


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They asked this in order to put Him to the test, so that they might have some charge to bring against Him. But Jesus leant forward and began to write with His finger on the ground.


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When however they persisted with their question, He raised His head and said to them, »Let the sinless man among you be the first to throw a stone at her.«


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They listened to Him, and then, beginning with the eldest, took their departure, one by one, till all were gone. And Jesus was left behind alone–and the woman in the centre of the court.


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»No one, Sir,« she replied. »And <i>I</i> do not condemn you either,« said Jesus; »go, and from this time do not sin any more.«]


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Once more Jesus addressed them. »I am the Light of the world,« He said; »the man who follows me shall certainly not walk in the dark, but shall have the light of Life.«


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»Even if I am giving testimony about myself,« replied Jesus, »my testimony is true; for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you know neither of these two things.


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And even if I do judge, my judgement is just; for I am not alone, but the Father who sent me is with me.


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»Where is your Father?« they asked. »You know my Father as little as you know me.« He replied; »if you knew me, you would know my Father also.«


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These sayings He uttered in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple; yet no one arrested Him, because His time had not yet come.


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Again He said to them, »I am going away. Then you will try to find me, but you will die in your sins. Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come.«


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The Jewish leaders began to ask one another, »Is he going to kill himself, do you think, that he says, `Where I am going, it is impossible for you to come'?«


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»You,« He continued, »are from below, I am from above: you are of this present world, I am not of this present world.


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That is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for, unless you believe that I am He, that is what will happen.«


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»Many things I have to speak and to judge concerning you. But He who sent me is true, and the things which I have heard from Him are those which I have come into the world to speak.«


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So Jesus added, »When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He. Of myself I do nothing; but as the Father has taught me, so I speak.


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Jesus therefore said to those of the Jews who had now believed in Him, »As for you, if you hold fast to my teaching, then you are truly my disciples;


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»We are descendants of Abraham,« they answered, »and have never at any time been in slavery to any one. What do those words of yours mean, `You shall become free'?«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you,« replied Jesus, »that every one who commits sin is the slave of sin.


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You are descendants of Abraham, I know; but you want to kill me, because my teaching gains no ground within you.


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The words I speak are those I have learnt in the presence of the Father. Therefore you also should do what you have heard from your father.«


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»Our father is Abraham,« they said. »If you were Abraham's children,« replied Jesus, »it is Abraham's deeds that you would be doing.


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But, in fact, you are longing to kill me, a man who has spoken to you the truth which I have heard from God. Abraham did not do that.


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You are doing the deeds of your father. »We,« they replied, »are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God.«


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»If God were your Father,« said Jesus, »you would love me; for it is from God that I came and I am now here. I have not come of myself, but <i>He</i> sent me.


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How is it you do not understand me when I speak? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my words.


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The father whose sons you are is the Devil; and you desire to do what gives him pleasure. <i>He</i> was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth–for there is no truth in him. Whenever he utters his lie, he utters it out of his own store; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.


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He who is a child of God listens to God's words. You do not listen to them: and why? It is because you are not God's children.«


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»Are we not right,« answered the Jews, »in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?«


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»I am not possessed by a demon,« replied Jesus. »On the contrary I honour my Father, and you dishonour me.


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I, however, am not aiming at glory for myself: there is One who aims at glory for me–and who judges.


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In most solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall have obeyed my teaching he shall in no case ever see death.«


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»Now,« exclaimed the Jews, »we know that you are possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the Prophets, and yet <i>you</i> say, `If any one shall have obeyed my teaching, he shall in no case ever taste death.'


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Are you really greater than our forefather Abraham? For he died. And the prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?«


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»Were I to glorify myself,« answered Jesus, »I should have no real glory. There is One who glorifies me–namely my Father, who you say is your God.


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You do not know Him, but I know Him perfectly; and were I to deny my knowledge of Him, I should resemble you, and be a liar. On the contrary I do know Him, and I obey His commands.


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Thereupon they took up stones with which to stone Him, but He hid Himself and went away out of the Temple.


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»Neither he nor his parents sinned,« answered Jesus, »but he was born blind in order that God's mercy might be openly shown in him.


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We must do the works of Him who sent me while there is daylight. Night is coming on, when no one can work.


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After thus speaking, He spat on the ground, and then, kneading the dust and spittle into clay, He smeared the clay over the man's eyes and said to him,


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»Go and wash in the pool of Siloam« –the name means `Sent.' So he went and washed his eyes, and returned able to see.


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His neighbours, therefore, and the other people to whom he had been a familiar object because he was a beggar, began asking, »Is not this the man who used to sit and beg?«


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»Yes it is,« replied some of them. »No it is not,« said others, »but he is like him.« His own statement was, »I am the man.«


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»He whose name is Jesus,« he answered, »made clay and smeared my eyes with it, and then told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed and obtained sight.«


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So the Pharisees renewed their questioning as to how he had obtained his sight. »He put clay on my eyes,« he replied, »and I washed, and now I can see.«


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This led some of the Pharisees to say, »That man has not come from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.«»How is it possible for a bad man to do such miracles?« argued others.


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And there was a division among them. So again they asked the once blind man, »What is your account of him? –for he opened your eyes.«»He is a Prophet,« he replied.


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The Jewish leaders, however, did not believe the statement concerning him –that he had been blind and had obtained his sight– until they called his parents and asked them,


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but how it is that he can now see or who has opened his eyes we do not know. Ask him himself; he is of full age; he himself will give his own account of it.«


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Such was their answer, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders; for the Jewish leaders had already settled among themselves that if any one should acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, he should be excluded from the synagogue.


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A second time therefore they called the man who had been blind, and said, »Give God the praise: we know that that man is a sinner.«


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»Whether he is a sinner or not, I do not know,« he replied; »one thing I know–that I was once blind and that now I can see.«


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»I have told you already,« he replied, »and you did not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also mean to be disciples of his?«


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»Why, this is marvellous!« the man replied; »you do not know where he comes from, and yet he has opened my eyes!


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We know that God does not listen to bad people, but that if any one is a God-fearing man and obeys Him, to him He listens.


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From the beginning of the world such a thing was never heard of as that any one should open the eyes of a man blind from his birth.


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»You,« they replied, »were wholly begotten and born in sin, and do <i>you</i> teach <i>us</i>?« And they put him out of the synagogue.


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Jesus heard that they had done this. So having found him, He asked him, »Do you believe in the Son of God?«


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»I came into this world,« said Jesus, »to judge men, that those who do not see may see, and that those who do see may become blind.«


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These words were heard by those of the Pharisees who were present, and they asked Him, »Are <i>we</i> also blind?«


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»If you were blind,« answered Jesus, »you would have no sin; but as a matter of fact you boast that you see. So your sin remains!«


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»In most solemn truth I tell you that the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs over some other way, is a thief and a robber.


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To him the porter opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by their names and leads them out.


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When he has brought out his own sheep –all of them– he walks at the head of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.


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But a stranger they will by no means follow, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.«


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Again therefore Jesus said to them, »In most solemn truth I tell you that I am the Door of the sheep.


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I am the Door. If any one enters by me, he will find safety, and will go in and out and find pasture.


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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have Life, and may have it in abundance.


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The hired servant –one who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep– no sooner sees the wolf coming than he leaves the sheep and runs away; and the wolf worries and scatters them.


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I have also other sheep–which do not belong to this fold. Those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock under one Shepherd.


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For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again.


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No one is taking it away from me, but I myself am laying it down. I am authorized to lay it down, and I am authorized to receive it back again. This is the command I received from my Father.«


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when the Jewish leaders gathered round Him and kept asking Him, »How long do you mean to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us so plainly.«


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»I have told you,« answered Jesus, »and you do not believe. The deeds that I do in my Father's name–they give testimony about me.


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I give them eternal life, and they shall never, never perish, nor shall any one wrest them from my hand.


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What my Father has given me is more precious than all besides; and no one is able to wrest anything from my Father's hand.


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Jesus remonstrated with them. »Many good deeds,« He said, »have I shown you as coming from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?«


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»For no good deed,« the Jewish leaders replied, »are we going to stone you, but for blasphemy, and because you, who are only a man, are making yourself out to be God.«


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how is it that you say to one whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am God's Son'?


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But if they are, then even if you do not believe me, at least believe the deeds, that you may know and see clearly that the Father is in me, and that I am in the Father.«


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Then He went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John had been baptizing at first; and there He stayed.


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Large numbers of people also came to Him. Their report was, »John did not work any miracle, but all that John said about this Teacher was true.«


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Now a certain man, named Lazarus, of Bethany, was lying ill– Bethany being the village of Mary and her sister Martha.


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(It was the Mary who poured the perfume over the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.)


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Jesus received the message and said, »This illness is not to end in death, but is to promote the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified by it.«


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»Rabbi,« exclaimed the disciples, »the Jewish leaders have just been trying to stone you, and do you think of going back there again?«


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»Are there not twelve hours in the day?« replied Jesus. »If any one walks in the daytime, he does not stumble–because he sees the light of this world.


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He said this, and afterwards He added, »Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I will go and wake him.«


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Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought He referred to the rest taken in ordinary sleep.


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»Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad I was not there, in order that you may believe. But let us go to him.«


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and a considerable number of the Jews were with Martha and Mary, having come to express sympathy with them on the death of their brother.


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Martha, however, as soon as she heard the tidings, »Jesus is coming,« went to meet Him; but Mary remained sitting in the house.


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So Martha came and spoke to Jesus. »Master, if you had been here,« she said, »my brother would not have died.


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»I am the Resurrection and the Life,« said Jesus; »he who believes in me, even if he has died, he shall live;


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»Yes, Master,« she replied; »I thoroughly believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.«


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After saying this, she went and called her sister Mary privately, telling her, »The Rabbi is here and is asking for you.«


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So the Jews who were with Mary in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw that she had risen hastily and had gone out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep aloud there.


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Mary then, when she came to Jesus and saw Him, fell at His feet and exclaimed, »Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.«


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Seeing her weeping aloud, and the Jews in like manner weeping who had come with her, Jesus, curbing the strong emotion of His spirit,


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though deeply troubled, asked them, »Where have you laid him?«»Master, come and see,« was their reply.


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But others of them asked, »Was this man who opened the blind man's eyes unable to prevent this man from dying?«


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Jesus, however, again restraining His strong feeling, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone had been laid against the mouth of it.


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»Take away the stone,« said Jesus. Martha, the sister of the dead man, exclaimed, »Master, by this time there is a foul smell; for it is three days since he died.«


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So they removed the stone. Then Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, »Father, I thank You that You have heard me.


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I know that You always hearest me; but for the sake of the crowd standing round I have said this–that they may believe that You did send me.«


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The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in cloths, and his face wrapped round with a towel. »Untie him,« said Jesus, »and let him go free.«


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Thereupon a considerable number of the Jews– namely those who had come to Mary and had witnessed His deeds– became believers in Him;


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Therefore the High Priests and the Pharisees held a meeting of the Sanhedrin. »What steps are we taking?« they asked one another; »for this man is performing a great number of miracles.


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If we leave him alone in this way, everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and blot out both our city and our nation.«


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You do not reflect that it is to your interest that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation perish.«


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It was not as a mere man that he thus spoke. But being High Priest that year he was inspired to declare that Jesus was to die for the nation,


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and not for the nation only, but in order to unite into one body all the far-scattered children of God.


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Therefore Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but He left that neighbourhood and went into the district near the Desert, to a town called Ephraim, and remained there with the disciples.


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The Jewish Passover was coming near, and many from that district went up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.


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They therefore looked out for Jesus, and asked one another as they stood in the Temple, »What do you think? –will he come to the Festival at all?«


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Now the High Priests and the Pharisees had issued orders that if any one knew where He was, he should give information, so that they might arrest Him.


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Jesus, however, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany, where Lazarus was whom He had raised from the dead.


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So they gave a dinner there in honour of Jesus, at which Martha waited at table, but Lazarus was one of the guests who were with Him.


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Availing herself of the opportunity, Mary took a pound weight of pure spikenard, very costly, and poured it over His feet, and wiped His feet with her hair, so that the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.


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The reason he said this was not that he cared for the poor, but that he was a thief, and that being in charge of the money-box, he used to steal what was put into it.


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But Jesus interposed. »Do not blame her,« He said, »allow her to have kept it for the time of my preparation for burial.


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Now it became widely known among the Jews that Jesus was there; but they came not only on His account, but also in order to see Lazarus whom He had brought back to life.


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The next day a great crowd of those who had come to the Festival, hearing that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,


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took branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting as they went, »God save him! <J>Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord</J>–even on the King of Israel!«


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The meaning of this His disciples did not understand at the time; but after Jesus was glorified they recollected that this was written about Him, and that they had done this to Him.


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The large number of people, however, who had been present when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and brought him back to life, related what they had witnessed.


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This was also why the crowd came to meet Him, because they had heard of His having performed that miracle.


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The result was that the Pharisees said among themselves, »Observe how idle all your efforts are! The world is gone after him!«


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In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was–a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.


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He who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to eternal life.


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If a man wishes to be my servant, let him follow me; and where I am, there too shall my servant be. If a man wishes to be my servant, the Father will honour him.


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Now is my soul full of trouble; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose I have come to this hour.


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Father, glorify Your name.« Thereupon there came a voice from the sky, »I have glorified it and will also glorify it again.«


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The crowd that stood by and heard it, said that there had been thunder. Others said, »An angel spoke to him.«


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The crowd answered Him, »We have heard out of the Law that the Messiah remains forever. In what sense do you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is that Son of Man?«


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»Yet a little while,« He replied, »the light is among you. Be faithful to the light that you have, for fear darkness should overtake you; for a man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.


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In the degree that you have light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.« Jesus said this, and went away and hid Himself from them.


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in order that the words of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, <i>»Lord, who has believed our preaching? And the arm of the Lord–to whom has it been unveiled?«</i>


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<J>»He has blinded their eyes and made their minds callous, lest they should see with their eyes and perceive with their minds, and should turn, and I should heal them.«</J>


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Nevertheless even from among the Rulers many believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not avow their belief, for fear they should be shut out from the synagogue.


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I have come like light into the world, in order that no one who believes in me may remain in the dark.


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And if any one hears my teachings and regards them not, 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 sets me at naught and does not receive my teachings is not left without a judge: the Message which I have spoken will judge him on the last day.


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Because I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me, Himself gave me a command what to say and in what words to speak.


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And I know that His command is eternal life. What therefore I speak, I speak just as the Father has bidden me.«


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Now just before the Feast of the Passover this incident took place. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father; and having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.


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While supper was proceeding, the Devil having by this time suggested to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, the thought of betraying Him, Jesus,


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although He knew that the Father had put everything into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was now going to God,


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Then He poured water into a basin, and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel which He had put round Him.


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When He came to Simon Peter, Peter objected. »Master,« he said, »are <i>you</i> going to wash my feet?«


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»What I am doing,« answered Jesus, »for the present you do not know, but afterwards you shall know.«


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»Never, while the world lasts,« said Peter, »shall you wash my feet.«»If I do not wash you,« replied Jesus, »you have no share with me.«


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»Any one who has lately bathed,« said Jesus, »does not need to wash more than his feet, but is clean all over. And you my disciples are clean, and yet this is not true of all of you.«


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So after He had washed their feet, put on His garments again, and returned to the table, He said to them, »Do you understand what I have done to you?


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If I then, your Master and Rabbi, have washed your feet, it is also your duty to wash one another's feet.


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In most solemn truth I tell you that a servant is not superior to his master, nor is a messenger superior to him who sent him.


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I am not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but things are as they are in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled, which says, <J>`He who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.'</J>


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From this time forward I tell you things before they happen, in order that when they do happen you may believe that I am He.


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In most solemn truth I tell you that he who receives whoever I send receives me, and that he who receives me receives Him who sent me.«


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After speaking thus Jesus was troubled in spirit and said with deep earnestness, »In most solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me.«


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There was at table one of His disciples –the one Jesus loved– reclining with his head on Jesus's bosom.


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»It is the one,« answered Jesus, »for whom I shall dip this piece of bread and to whom I shall give it.« Accordingly He dipped the piece of bread, and took it and gave it to Judas, the son of the Iscariot Simon.


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Then, after Judas had received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. »Lose no time about it,« said Jesus to him.


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Some, however, supposed that because Judas had the money-box Jesus meant, »Buy what we require for the Festival,« or that he should give something to the poor.


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Dear children, I am still with you a little longer. You will seek me, but, as I said to the Jewish leaders, `Where I am going you cannot come,' so for the present I say to you.


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A new commandment I give you, to love one another; that as I have loved you, you also may love one another.


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»Master,« inquired Simon Peter, »where are you going?«»Where I am going,« replied Jesus, »you cannot be my follower now, but you shall be later.«


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»You say you will lay down your life on my behalf!« said Jesus; »in most solemn truth I tell you that the rooster will not crow before you have three times disowned me.«


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In my Father's house there are many resting-places. Were it otherwise, I would have told you; for I am going to make ready a place for you.


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And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me, that where I am you also may be.


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»I am the Way,« replied Jesus, »and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.


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If you –all of you– knew me, you would fully know my Father also. From this time forward you know Him and have seen Him.«


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»Have I been so long among you,« Jesus answered, »and yet you, Philip, do not know me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can <i>you</i> ask me, `Cause us to see the Father'?


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Do you not believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The things that I tell you all I do not speak on my own authority: but the Father dwelling within me carries on His own work.


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Believe me, all of you, that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me; or at any rate, believe me because of what I do.


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In most solemn truth I tell you that he who trusts in me–the things which I do he shall do also; and greater things than these he shall do, because I am going to the Father.


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And whatever any of you ask in my name, I will do, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son.


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And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be forever with you–the Spirit of truth.


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That Spirit the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him. You know Him, because He remains by your side and is in you.


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Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me: because I live, you also shall live.


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He who has my commandments and obeys them–he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will clearly reveal myself to him.«


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Judas (not the Iscariot) asked, »Master, how is it that you will reveal yourself clearly to us and not to the world?«


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»If any one loves me,« replied Jesus, »he will obey my teaching; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.


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He who has no love for me does not obey my teaching; and yet the teaching to which you are listening is not mine, but is the teaching of the Father who sent me.


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But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will teach you everything, and will bring to your memories all that I have said to you.


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Peace I leave with you: my own peace I give to you. It is not as the world gives its greetings that I give you peace. Let not your hearts be troubled or dismayed.


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»You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and yet I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I am.


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In future I shall not talk much with you, for the Prince of this world is coming. And yet in me he has nothing;


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but it is in order that the world may know that I love the Father, and that it is in obedience to the command which the Father gave me that I thus act. Rise, let us be going.«


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Every branch in me–if it bears no fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.


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Continue in me, and let me continue in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself –that is, if it does not continue in the vine– so neither can you if you do not continue in me.


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I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who continues in me and in whom I continue bears abundant fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.


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If any one does not continue in me, he is like the unfruitful branch which is at once thrown away and then withers up. Such branches they gather up and throw into the fire and they are burned.


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»If you continue in me and my sayings continue in you, ask what you will and it shall be done for you.«


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If you obey my commands, you will continue in my love, as I have obeyed my Father's commands and continue in His love.


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»These things I have spoken to you in order that I may have joy in you, and that your joy may become perfect.«


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No longer do I call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all that I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.


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It is not you who chose me, but it is I who chose you and appointed you that you might go and be fruitful and that your fruit might remain; so that whatever petition you present to the Father in my name He may give you.


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If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own property. But because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world–for that reason the world hates you.


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Bear in mind what I said to you, `A servant is not superior to his master.' If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.


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But they will inflict all this suffering upon you on account of your bearing 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 had no sin; but as the case stands they are without excuse for their sin.«


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If I had not done among them, as I have, such miracles as no one else ever did, they would have had no sin; but they have in fact seen and also hated both me and my Father.


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But this has been so, in order that the saying may be fulfilled which stands written in their Law, <J>`They have hated me without any reason.'</J>


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»When the Advocate is come whom I will send to you from the Father's presence –the Spirit of Truth who comes forth from the Father's presence– He will be a witness concerning me.«


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You will be excluded from the synagogues; nay more, the time is coming when any one who has murdered one of you will suppose he is offering service to God.


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And they will do these things because they have failed to recognize the Father and to discover who I am.


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But I have spoken these things to you in order that when the time for their accomplishment comes you may remember them, and may recollect that I told you. I did not, however, tell you all this at first, because I was still with you.


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»Yet it is the truth that I am telling you–it is to your advantage that I go away. For unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.«


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And He, when He comes, will convict the world in respect of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement; –


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But when He has come –the Spirit of Truth– He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak as Himself originating what He says, but all that He hears He will speak, and He will make known the future to you.


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Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said that the Spirit of Truth takes of what is mine and will make it known to you.


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Some of His disciples therefore said to one another, »What does this mean which He is telling us, `A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me,' and `Because I am going to the Father'?«


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So they asked one another repeatedly, »What can that `little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words.«


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Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask Him, and He said, »Is this what you are questioning one another about–my saying, `A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me'?


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In most solemn truth I tell you that you will weep aloud and lament, but the world will be glad. You will mourn, but your grief will be turned into gladness.


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A woman, when she is in labour, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has given birth to the babe, she no longer remembers the pain, because of her joy at a child being born into the world.


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So you also now have sorrow; but I shall see you again, and your hearts will be glad, and your gladness no one will take away from you.


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You will put no questions to me then. »In most solemn truth I tell you that whatever you ask the Father for in my name He will give you.


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As yet you have not asked for anything in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that your hearts may be filled with gladness.


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»All this I have spoken to you in veiled language. The time is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in veiled language, but will tell you about the Father in plain words.«


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At that time you will make your requests in my name; and I do not promise to ask the Father on your behalf,


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for the Father Himself holds you dear, because you have held me dear and have believed that I came from the Father's presence.


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I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.«


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Now we know that you have all knowledge, and do not need to be pressed with questions. Through this we believe that you came from God.«


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»Remember that the time is coming, nay, has already come, for you all to be dispersed each to his own home and to leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.«


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»I have spoken all this to you in order that in me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction. But keep up your courage: <i>I</i> have won the victory over the world.«


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When Jesus had thus spoken, He raised his eyes towards Heaven and said, »Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You;


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even as You have given Him authority over all mankind, so that on all whom You have given Him He may bestow eternal life.


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And in this consists eternal life–in knowing You the only true God and Jesus the Messiah whom You have sent.


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I have glorified You on earth, having done perfectly the work which by Your appointment has been mine to do.


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And now, Father, do You glorify me in Your own presence, with the glory that I had in Your presence before the world existed.


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»I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to me, and they have obeyed Your message.«


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For the truths which You did teach me I have taught them. And they have received them, and have known for certain that I came out from Your presence, and have believed that You did send me.


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»I am making request for them: for the world I do not make any request, but for those whom You have given me. Because they are Yours,


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and everything that is mine is Yours, and everything that is Yours is mine; and I am crowned with glory in them.«


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I am now no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to You. »Holy Father, keep them true to Your name –the name which You have given me to bear– that they may be one, even as we are.


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While I was with them, I kept them true to Your name –the name You have given me to bear– and I kept watch over them, and not one of them is lost but only he who is doomed to destruction–that the Scripture may be fulfilled.


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»But now I am coming to You, and I speak these words while I am in the world, in order that they may have my gladness within them filling their hearts.«


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I have given them Your Message, and the world has hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.


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I do not ask that You will remove them out of the world, but that You will protect them from the Evil one.


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and on their behalf I consecrate myself, in order that they may become perfectly consecrated in truth.


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»Nor is it for them alone that I make request. It is also for those who trust in me through their teaching;«


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that they may all be one, even as You are in me, O Father, and I am in You; that they also may be in us; that the world may believe that You did send me.


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I in them and You in me; that they may stand perfected in one; that the world may come to understand that You did send me and have loved them with the same love as that with which You have loved me.


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»Father, those whom You have given me – I desire that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see the glory –my glory– my gift from You, which You have given me because You did love me before the creation of the world.


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And, righteous Father, though the world has failed to recognize You, I have known You, and these have perceived that You did send me.


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And I have made known Your name to them and will make it known, that the love with which You have loved me may be in them, and that I may be in them.«


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After offering this prayer Jesus went out with His disciples to a place on the further side of the Ravine of the Cedars, where there was a garden which He entered–Himself and His disciples.


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Now Judas also, who at that very time was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often resorted there with His disciples.


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So Judas, followed by the battalion and by a detachment of the Temple police sent by the High Priests and Pharisees, came there with torches and lamps and weapons.


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Jesus therefore, knowing all that was about to befall Him, went out to meet them. »Who are you looking for?« He asked them.


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»For Jesus the Nazarene,« was the answer. »I am he,« He replied. (Now Judas who was betraying Him was also standing with them.)


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»I have told you,« replied Jesus, »that I am he. If therefore you are looking for me, let these my disciples go their way.«


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He made this request in order that the words He had spoken might be fulfilled, »As for those whom You have given me, I have not lost one.«


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Simon Peter, however, having a sword, drew it, and, aiming at the servant of the High Priest, cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.


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Jesus therefore said to Peter, »Put back your sword. Shall I refuse to drink the cup of sorrow which the Father has given me to drink?«


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They then brought Him to Annas first; for Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was High Priest that year.


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(It was this Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders, saying, »It is to your interest that one man should die for the People.«)


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Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so also was another disciple. The latter was known to the High Priest, and went in with Jesus into the court of the palace of the High Priest.


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But Peter remained standing outside the door, till the disciple who was acquainted with the High Priest came out and induced the portress to let Peter in.


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This led the girl, the portress, to ask Peter, »Are you also one of this man's disciples?«»No, I am not,« he replied.


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Now because it was cold the servants and the police had lighted a charcoal fire, and were standing and warming themselves; and Peter too remained with them, standing and warming himself.


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»As for me,« replied Jesus, »I have spoken openly to the world. I have continually taught in some synagogue or in the Temple where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and I have said nothing in secret.


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Why do you question me? Question those who heard what it was I said to them: these witnesses here know what I said.«


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Upon His saying this, one of the officers standing by struck Him with his open hand, asking Him as he did so, »Is that the way you answer the High Priest?«


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»If I have spoken wrongly,« replied Jesus, »bear witness to it as wrong; but if rightly, why that blow?«


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But Simon Peter remained standing and warming himself, and this led to their asking him, »Are you also one of his disciples?« He denied it, and said, »No, I am not.«


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One of the servants of the High Priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, »Did I not see you in the garden with him?«


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So they brought Jesus from Caiaphas's house to the Praetorium. It was the early morning, and they would not enter the Praetorium themselves for fear of defilement, and in order that they might be able to eat the Passover.


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Accordingly Pilate came out to them and inquired, »What accusation have you to bring against this man?«


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»Take him yourselves,« said Pilate, »and judge him by your Law.«»We have no power,« replied the Jewish leaders, »to put any man to death.«


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They said this that the words might be fulfilled in which Jesus predicted the kind of death He was to die.


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Re-entering the Praetorium, therefore, Pilate called Jesus and asked Him, »Are <i>you</i> the King of the Jews?«


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»Am I a Jew?« exclaimed Pilate; »it is your own nation and the High Priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?«


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»My kingdom,« replied Jesus, »does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my subjects would have resolutely fought to save me from being delivered up to the Jewish authorities. But, as a matter of fact, my kingdom has not this origin.«


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»So then <i>you</i> are a king!« rejoined Pilate. »Yes,« said Jesus, »you say truly that I am a king. For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world–to give testimony for the truth. Every one who is a friend of the truth listens to my voice.«


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»What is truth?« said Pilate. But no sooner had he spoken the words than he went out again to the Jewish leaders and told them, »I find no crime in him.


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But you have a custom that I should release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So shall I release to you the King of the Jews?«


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With a roar of voices they again cried out, saying, »Not this man, but Barabbas!« Now Barabbas was a robber.


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And the soldiers, twisting twigs of thorn into a wreath, put it on His head, and threw round Him a crimson cloak.


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Then they began to march up to Him, saying in a mocking voice, »Hail King of the Jews!« And they struck Him with the palms of their hands.


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Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jewish leaders, »See, I am bringing him out to you to let you clearly understand that I find no crime in him.«


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So Jesus came out, wearing the wreath of thorns and the crimson cloak. And Pilate said to them, »See, there is the man.«


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As soon then as the High Priests and the officers saw Him, they shouted »To the cross! To the cross!« »Take him yourselves and crucify him,« said Pilate; »for I, at any rate, find no crime in him.«


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»We,« replied the Jewish leaders, »have a Law, and in accordance with that Law he ought to die, for having claimed to be the Son of God.«


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More alarmed than ever, Pilate no sooner heard these words than he re-entered the Praetorium and began to question Jesus.


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»Do you refuse to speak even to me?« asked Pilate; »do you not know that I have it in my power either to release you or to crucify you?«


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»You would have had no power whatever over me,« replied Jesus, »had it not been granted you from above. On that account he who has delivered me up to you is more guilty than you are.«


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Upon receiving this answer, Pilate was for releasing Him. But the Jewish leaders kept shouting, »If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's. Every one who sets himself up as king declares himself a rebel against Caesar.«


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On hearing this, Pilate brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judge's seat in a place called the Pavement–or in Hebrew, Gabbatha.


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It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about six o'clock in the morning. Then he said to the Jewish leaders, »There is your king!«


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This caused a storm of outcries, »Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!«»Am I to crucify your king?« Pilate asked. »We have no king, except Caesar,« answered the High Priests.


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where they nailed Him to a cross, and two others at the same time, one on each side and Jesus in the middle.


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And Pilate wrote a notice and had it fastened to the top of the cross. It ran thus: JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.


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Many of the Jews read this notice, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was in three languages–Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.


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This led the Jewish High Priests to remonstrate with Pilate. »You should not write `The King of the Jews,'« they said, »but that he claimed to be King of the Jews.«


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So the soldiers, as soon as they had crucified Jesus, took His garments, including His tunic, and divided them into four parts–one part for each soldier. The tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece.


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So they said to one another, »Do not let us tear it. Let us draw lots for it.« This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, <J>»They shared my garments among them, and drew lots for my clothing.«</J> That was just what the soldiers did.


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Now standing close to the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.


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So Jesus, seeing His mother, and seeing the disciple whom He loved standing near, said to His mother, »Behold, your son!«


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Then He said to the disciple, »Behold, your mother!« And from that time the disciple received her into his own home.


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After this, Jesus, knowing that everything was now brought to an end, said–that the Scripture might be fulfilled, »I am thirsty.«


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There was a jar of wine standing there. With this wine they filled a sponge, put it on the end of a stalk of hyssop, and lifted it to His mouth.


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As soon as Jesus had taken the wine, He said, »It is finished.« And then, bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.


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Meanwhile the Jewish leaders, because it was the day of Preparation for the Passover, and in order that the bodies might not remain on the crosses during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was one of special solemnity), requested Pilate to have the legs of the dying men broken, and the bodies removed.


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Accordingly the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and also of the other who had been crucified with Jesus.


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Then they came to Jesus Himself: but when they saw that He was already dead, they refrained from breaking His legs.


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One of the soldiers, however, made a thrust at His side with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out.


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This statement is the testimony of an eye-witness, and it is true. He knows that he is telling the truth–in order that you also may believe.


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For all this took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled which declares, <J>»Not one of His bones shall be broken.«</J>


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After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but for fear of the Jewish leaders a secret disciple, asked Pilate's permission to carry away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him leave. So he came and removed the body.


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Nicodemus too –he who at first had visited Jesus by night– came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, in weight about seventy or eighty pounds.


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Taking down the body they wrapped it in linen cloths along with the spices, in accordance with the Jewish mode of preparing for burial.


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There was a garden at the place where Jesus had been crucified, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.


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Therefore, because it was the day of Preparation for the Jewish Passover, and the tomb was close at hand, they put Jesus there.


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On the first day of the week, very early, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from it.


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So she ran, as fast as she could, to find Simon Peter and the other disciple –the one who was dear to Jesus– and to tell them, »They have taken the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.«


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Simon Peter, however, also came, following him, and entered the tomb. There on the ground he saw the cloths;


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and the towel, which had been placed over the face of Jesus, not lying with the cloths, but folded up and put by itself.


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Then the other disciple, who had been the first to come to the tomb, also went in and saw and was convinced.


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For until now they had not understood the inspired teaching, that He must rise again from among the dead.


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Meanwhile Mary remained standing near the tomb, weeping aloud. She did not enter the tomb, but as she wept she stooped and looked in,


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and saw two angels clothed in white raiment, sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.


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They spoke to her. »Why are you weeping?« they asked. »Because,« she replied, »they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him.«


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»Why are you weeping?« He asked; »who are you looking for?« She, supposing that He was the gardener, replied, »Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will remove him.«


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»Do not cling to me,« said Jesus, »for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But take this message to my brethren: `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'«


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Mary of Magdala came and brought word to the disciples. »I have seen the Master,« she said. And she told them that He had said these things to her.


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On that same first day of the week, when it was evening and, for fear of the Jewish leaders, the doors of the house where the disciples were, were locked, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, »Peace be to you!«


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Having said this He showed them His hands and also His side; and the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Master.


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A second time, therefore, He said to them, »Peace be to you! As the Father sent me, I also now send you.«


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If you remit the sins of any persons, they remain remitted to them. If you bind fast the sins of any, they remain bound.«


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So the rest of the disciples told him, »We have seen the Master!« His reply was, »Unless I see in his hands the wound made by the nails and put my finger into the wound, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it.«


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A week later the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them, when Jesus came –though the doors were locked– and stood in their midst, and said, »Peace be to you.«


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Then He said to Thomas, »Bring your finger here and feel my hands; bring you hand and put it into my side; and do not be ready to disbelieve but to believe.«


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»Because you have seen me,« replied Jesus, »you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.«


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There were also a great number of other signs which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book.


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But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have Life through His name.


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After this, Jesus again showed Himself to the disciples. It was at the Lake of Tiberias. The circumstances were as follows.


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Simon Peter was with Thomas, called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zabdai, and two others of the Master's disciples.


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Simon Peter said to them, »I am going fishing.«»We will go too,« said they. So they set out and went on board their boat; but they caught nothing that night.


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When, however, day was now dawning, Jesus stood on the beach, though the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.


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»Throw the net in on the right hand side,« He said, »and you will find fish.« So they threw the net in, and now they could scarcely drag it along for the quantity of fish.


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This made the disciple whom Jesus loved say to Peter, »It is the Master.« Simon Peter therefore, when he heard the words, »It is the Master,« drew on his fisherman's shirt –for he had not been wearing it– put on his girdle, and sprang into the water.


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But the rest of the disciples came in the small boat (for they were not far from land–only about a hundred yards off), dragging the net full of fish.


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As soon as they landed, they saw a charcoal fire burning there, with fish broiling on it, and bread close by.


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So Simon Peter went on board the boat and drew the net ashore full of large fish, 153 in number; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not broken.


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»Come this way and have breakfast,« said Jesus. But not one of the disciples ventured to question Him as to who He was, for they felt sure that it was the Master.


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This was now the third occasion on which Jesus showed Himself to the disciples after He had risen from among the dead.


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When they had finished breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, »Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?«»Yes, Master,« was his answer; »you know that you are dear to me.« »Then feed my lambs,« replied Jesus.


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Again a second time He asked him, »Simon, son of John, do you love me?«»Yes, Master,« he said, »you know that you are dear to me.«»Then be a shepherd to my sheep,« He said.


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A third time Jesus put the question:»Simon, son of John, am I dear to you?« It grieved Peter that Jesus asked him the third time, »Am I dear to you?«»Master,« he replied, »you know everything, you can see that you are dear to me.«»Then feed my much-loved sheep,« said Jesus.


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»In most solemn truth I tell you that whereas, when you were young, you used to put on your girdle and walk whichever way you chose, when you have grown old you will stretch out your arms and some one else will put a girdle round you and carry you where you have no wish to go.«


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This He said to indicate the kind of death by which that disciple would bring glory to God; and after speaking thus He said to him, »Follow me.«


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Peter turned round and noticed the disciple whom Jesus loved following–the one who at the supper had leaned back on His breast and had asked, »Master, who is it that is betraying you?«


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»If I desire him to remain till I come,« replied Jesus, »what concern is that of yours? You, yourself, must follow me.«


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Hence the report spread among the brethren that that disciple would never die. Yet Jesus did not say, »He is not to die,« but, »If I desire him to remain till I come, what concern is that of yours?«


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That is the disciple who gives his testimony as to these matters, and has written this history; and we know that his testimony is true.


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But there are also many other things which Jesus did–so vast a number indeed that if they were all described in detail, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written.


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My former narrative, Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus did and taught as a beginning, down to the day on which,


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after giving instruction through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom He had chosen, He was taken up to Heaven.


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He had also, after He suffered, shown Himself alive to them with many sure proofs, appearing to them at intervals during forty days, and speaking of the Kingdom of God.


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And while in their company He charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father's promised gift. »This you have heard of,« He said, »from me.


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For John indeed baptized with water, but before many days have passed you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.«


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Once when they were with Him, they asked Him, »Master, is this the time at which you are about to restore the kingdom of Israel?«


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»It is not for you,« He replied, »to know times or epochs which the Father has reserved within His own authority;


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and yet you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and to the remotest parts of the earth.«


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When He had said this, and while they were looking at Him, He was carried up, and a cloud closing beneath Him hid Him from their sight.


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But, while they stood intently gazing into the sky as He went, suddenly there were two men in white garments standing by them,


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who said, »Galilaeans, why stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into Heaven will come in just the same way as you have seen Him going into Heaven.«


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Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Oliveyard, which is near Jerusalem, about a mile off.


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They entered the city, and they went up to the upper room which was now their fixed place for meeting. Their names were Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the brother of James.


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All of these with one mind continued earnest in prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.


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It was on one of these days that Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren –the entire number of persons present being about 120– and said,


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»Brethren, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled–the prediction, I mean, which the Holy Spirit uttered by the lips of David, about Judas, who acted as guide to those who arrested Jesus.


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(Now having bought a piece of ground with the money paid for his wickedness he fell there with his face downwards, and, his body bursting open, he became disembowelled.


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This fact became widely known to the people of Jerusalem, so that the place received the name, in their language, of Achel-damach, which means `The Field of Blood.')


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»For it is written in the Book of Psalms,« <J>`Let his encampment be desolate: let there be no one to dwell there';</J> and <J>`His work let another take up.'</J>


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»It is necessary, therefore, that of the men who have been with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us–


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beginning from His baptism by John down to the day on which He was taken up again from us into Heaven–one should be appointed to become a witness with us as to His resurrection.«


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And the brethren prayed, saying, »You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show clearly which of these two You have chosen


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to occupy the place in this ministry and Apostleship from which Judas through transgression fell, in order to go to his own place.«


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Then they drew lots between them. The lot fell on Matthias, and a place among the eleven Apostles was voted to him.


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when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where they were sitting;


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and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted.


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They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter.


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So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.


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Some of us are Parthians, Medes, Elamites. Some are inhabitants of Mesopotamia, of Judaea or Cappadocia, of Pontus or the Asian Province, of Phrygia or Pamphylia,


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of Egypt or of the parts of Africa towards Cyrene. Others are visitors from Rome –being either Jews or converts from heathenism– and others are Cretans or Arabians.


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Yet we all alike hear these Galilaeans speaking in our own language about the wonderful things which God has done.«


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Peter however, together with the Eleven, stood up and addressed them in a loud voice. »Men of Judaea, and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem,« he said, »be in no uncertainty about this matter but pay attention to what I say.


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And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;


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and even upon My bondservants, both men and women, at that time, I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.


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I will display marvels in the sky above, and signs on the earth below, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke.


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The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, to usher in the day of the Lord– that great and illustrious day;


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»Listen, Israelites, to what I say. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles and marvels and signs which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know, Him–«


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delivered up through God's settled purpose and foreknowledge–you by the hands of Gentiles have nailed to a cross and have put to death.


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But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held fast by death.


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For David says in reference to Him, <J>»`I constantly fixed my eyes upon the Lord, because He is at my right hand in order that I may continue unshaken.</J>


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<J>For You will not leave me in the Unseen World forsaken, nor give up Your holy One to undergo decay.</J>


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<J>You have made known to me the ways of Life: You will fill me with gladness in Your presence.'</J>


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»As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us.«


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Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne,


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with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.


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»Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.«


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For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, <J>»`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand</J>


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»Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and MESSIAH–this Jesus whom you crucified.«


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Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, »Brethren, what are we to do?«


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»Repent,« replied Peter, »and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.


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For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call.«


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And with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them, saying, »Escape from this crooked generation.«


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Those, therefore, who joyfully welcomed his Message were baptized; and on that one day about three thousand persons were added to them;


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and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.


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They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities.


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And, day by day, attending constantly in the Temple with one accord, and breaking bread in private houses, they took their meals with great happiness and single-heartedness,


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praising God and being regarded with favour by all the people. Also, day by day, the Lord added to their number those whom He was saving.


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One day Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the hour of prayer –the ninth hour– and, just then,


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some men were carrying there one who had been lame from birth, whom they were wont to place every day close to the Beautiful Gate (as it was called) of the Temple, for him to beg from the people as they went in.


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»I have no silver or gold,« Peter said, »but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus the Messiah, the Nazarene– walk!«


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Leaping up, he stood upright and began to walk, and went into the Temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God.


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and recognizing him as the man who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple asking for alms, they were filled with awe and amazement at what had happened to him.


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While he still clung to Peter and John, the people, awe-struck, ran up crowding round them in what was known as Solomon's Portico.


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Peter, seeing this, spoke to the people. »Israelites,« he said, »why do you wonder at this man? Or why gaze at us, as though by any power or piety of our own we had enabled him to walk?


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The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has conferred this honour on His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to let Him go.


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The Prince of Life you put to death; but God has raised Him from the dead, and we are witnesses as to that.


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It is His name – faith in that name being the condition– which has strengthened this man whom you behold and know; and the faith which He has given has made this man sound and strong again, as you can all see.


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»And now, brethren, I know that it was in ignorance that you did it, as was the case with your rulers also.«


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But in this way God has fulfilled the declarations He made through all the Prophets, that His Messiah would suffer.


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Repent, therefore, and reform your lives, so that the record of your sins may be cancelled, and that there may come seasons of revival from the Lord,


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Heaven must receive Him until those times of which God has spoken from the earliest ages through the lips of His holy Prophets–the times of the reconstitution of all things.


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Moses declared, <J>»`The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brethren as He has raised me. In all that He says to you, you must listen to Him.</J>


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<J>And every one, without exception, who refuses to listen to that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the People.'</J>


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Yes, and all the Prophets, from Samuel onwards –all who have spoken– have also announced the coming of this present time.


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»You are the heirs of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God made with your forefathers when He said to Abraham, <J>`And through your posterity all the families of the world shall be blessed.'</J>


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It is to you first that God, after raising His Servant from the grave, has sent Him to bless you, by causing every one of you to turn from your wickedness.«


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While they were saying this to the people, the Priests, the Commander of the Temple Guard, and the Sadducees came upon them,


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highly incensed at their teaching the people and proclaiming in the case of Jesus the Resurrection from among the dead.


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They arrested the two Apostles and lodged them in custody till the next day; for it was already evening.


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But many of those who had listened to their preaching believed; and the number of the adult men had now grown to be about 5,000.


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with Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the other members of the high-priestly family.


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So they made the Apostles stand in the centre, and demanded of them, »By what power or in what name have you done this?«


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if we today are under examination concerning the benefit conferred on a man helplessly lame, as to how this man has been cured;


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be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that through the name of Jesus the Messiah, the Nazarene, whom <i>you</i> crucified, but whom <i>God</i> has raised from among the dead– through that name this man stands here before you in perfect health.


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This Jesus is <J>the Stone treated with contempt by you the builders, but it has been made the Cornerstone.</J>


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And in no other is the great salvation to be found; for, in fact, there is no second name under Heaven that has been given among men through which we are to be saved.«


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As they looked on Peter and John so fearlessly outspoken –and also discovered that they were illiterate persons, untrained in the schools– they were surprised; and now they recognized them as having been with Jesus.


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»What are we to do with these men?« they asked one another; for the fact that a remarkable miracle has been performed by them is well known to every one in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.


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But to prevent the matter spreading any further among the people, let us stop them by threats from speaking in the future in this name to any one whatever.«


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So they recalled the Apostles, and ordered them altogether to give up speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus.


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But Peter and John replied, »Judge whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you instead of listening to God.


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The Court added further threats and then let them go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them on account of the people, because all gave God the glory for the thing that had happened.


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For the man was over forty years of age on whom this miracle of restoration to health had been performed.


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After their release the two Apostles went to their friends, and told them all that the High Priests and Elders had said.


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And they, upon hearing the story, all lifted up their voices to God and said, »O Sovereign Lord, it is You who did make Heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them,


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and did say through the Holy Spirit by the lips of our forefather David Your servant, <J>»`Why have the nations stamped and raged, and the peoples formed futile plans?</J>


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<J>The kings of the earth came near, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.'«</J>


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»They did indeed assemble in this city in hostility to Your holy Servant Jesus whom You had anointed –Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and also the tribes of Israel–«


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And now, Lord, listen to their threats, and enable Your servants to proclaim Your Message with fearless courage,


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whilst You stretch out Your arm to cure men, and to give signs and marvels through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.«


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When they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled shook, and they were, one and all, filled with the Holy Spirit, and proceeded to tell God's Message with boldness.


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Among all those who had embraced the faith there was but one heart and soul, so that none of them claimed any of his possessions as his own, but everything they had was common property;


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while the Apostles with great force of conviction delivered their testimony as to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all.


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And, in fact, there was not a needy man among them, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the money which they realised,


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In this way Joseph, whom the Apostles gave the name of Bar-nabas –signifying `Son of Encouragement'– a Levite, a native of Cyprus,


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with her full knowledge and consent, dishonestly kept back part of the price which he received for it, though he brought the rest and gave it to the Apostles.


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»Ananias,« said Peter, »why has Satan taken possession of your heart, that you should try to deceive the Holy Spirit and dishonestly keep back part of the price paid you for this land?


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While it remained unsold, was not the land your own? And when sold, was it not at your own disposal? How is it that you have cherished this design in your heart? It is not to men you have told this lie, but to God.«


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Peter at once questioned her. »Tell me,« he said, »whether you sold the land for so much.«»Yes,« she replied, »for so much.«


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»How was it,« replied Peter, »that you two agreed to try an experiment upon the Spirit of the Lord? The men who have buried your husband are already at the door, and they will carry you out.«


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Instantly she fell down dead at his feet, and the young men came in and found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her by her husband's side.


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Many signs and marvels continued to be done among the people by the Apostles; and by common consent they all met in Solomon's Portico.


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so that they would even bring out their sick friends into the streets and lay them on light couches or mats, in order that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or other of them.


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The inhabitants, too, of the towns in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem came in crowds, bringing sick persons and some who were harassed by foul spirits, and they were cured, one and all.


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This roused the High Priest. He and all his party –the sect of the Sadducees– were filled with angry jealousy


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Having received that command they went into the Temple, just before daybreak, and began to teach: So when the High Priest and his party came, and had called together the Sanhedrin as well as all the Elders of the descendants of Israel, they sent to the jail to fetch the Apostles.


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saying, »The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there.«


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When the Commander of the Temple Guards and the High Priests heard this statement, they were utterly at a loss with regard to it, wondering what would happen next.


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And some one came and brought them word, saying, »The men you put in prison are actually in the Temple, standing there, teaching the people.«


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Upon this the Commander went with the officers, and brought the Apostles; but without using violence; for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.


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So they brought them and made them stand in front of the Sanhedrin. And then the High Priest questioned them.


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»We strictly forbad you to teach in that name–did we not?« he said. »And see, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and are trying to make us responsible for that man's death!«


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God has exalted Him to His right hand as Chief Leader and as Saviour, to give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.


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And we –and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him– are witnesses as to these things.«


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But a Pharisee of the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, held in honour by all the people, rose from his seat and requested that they should be sent outside the court for a few minutes.


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Years ago Theudas appeared, professing to be a person of importance, and a body of men, some four hundred in number, joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and annihilated.


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After him, at the time of the Census, came Judas, the Galilaean, and was the leader in a revolt. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.


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And now I tell you to keep away from these men and leave them alone–for if this scheme or work is of human origin, it will come to nothing.


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But if it is really from God, you will be powerless to put them down–lest perhaps you find yourselves to be actually fighting against God.«


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His advice carried conviction. So they called the Apostles in, and –after flogging them– ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then let them go.


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They, therefore, left the Sanhedrin and went their way, rejoicing that they had been deemed worthy to suffer disgrace on behalf of the NAME.


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But they did not desist from teaching every day, in the Temple or in private houses, and telling the Good News about Jesus, the Messiah.


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About this time, as the number of disciples was increasing, complaints were made by the Greek-speaking Jews against the Hebrews because their widows were habitually overlooked in the daily distribution.


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So the Twelve called together the general body of the disciples and said, »It does not seem fitting that we Apostles should neglect the delivery of God's Message and serve at tables.


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Therefore, brethren, pick out from among yourselves seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, and we will appoint them to undertake this duty.


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The suggestion met with general approval, and they selected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte of Antioch.


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Meanwhile God's Message continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem very greatly increased, and very many priests obeyed the faith.


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But some members of the so-called `Synagogue of the Freed-men,' together with some Cyrenaeans, Alexandrians, Cilicians and men from Roman Asia, were roused to encounter Stephen in debate.


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Then they privately put forward men who declared, »We have heard him speak blasphemous things against Moses and against God.«


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In this way they excited the people, the Elders, and the Scribes. At length they came upon him, seized him with violence, and took him before the Sanhedrin.


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Here they brought forward false witnesses who declared, »This fellow is incessantly speaking against the Holy Place and the Law.


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For we have heard him say that Jesus, the Nazarene, will pull this place down to the ground and will change the customs which Moses handed down to us.«


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At once the eyes of all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin were fastened on him, and they saw his face looking just like the face of an angel.


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The reply of Stephen was, »Sirs –brethren and fathers– listen to me. God Most Glorious appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was living in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran,


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and said to him, »`Leave your country and your relatives, and go into whatever land I point out to you.'


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»Thereupon he left Chaldaea and settled in Haran till after the death of his father, when God caused him to remove into this country where you now live.«


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But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground. And yet He promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity after him–and promised this at a time when Abraham was childless.


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And God declared that Abraham's posterity should for four hundred years make their home in a country not their own, and be reduced to slavery and be oppressed.


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»`And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them, I will judge,' said God; `and afterwards they shall come out, and they shall worship Me in this place.'«


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»Then He gave him the Covenant of circumcision, and under this Covenant he became the father of Isaac–whom he circumcised on the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs.«


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and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household.«


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But there came a famine throughout the whole of Egypt and Canaan –and great distress– so that our forefathers could find no food.


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When, however, Jacob heard that there was wheat to be had, he sent our forefathers into Egypt; that was the first time.


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On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage.


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Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his family, numbering seventy-five persons, to come to him,


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and they were taken to Shechem and were laid in the tomb which Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a sum of money paid in silver.


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»But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise which God had made to Abraham, the people became many times more numerous in Egypt,


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He adopted a crafty policy towards our race, and oppressed our forefathers, making them cast out their infants so that they might not be permitted to live.


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At this time Moses was born–a wonderfully beautiful child; and for three months he was cared for in his father's house.


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So Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and possessed great influence through his eloquence and his achievements.


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»And when he was just forty years old, it occurred to him to visit his brethren the descendants of Israel.«


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Seeing one of them wrongfully treated he took his part, and secured justice for the ill-treated man by striking down the Egyptian.


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He supposed his brethren to be aware that by him God was sending them deliverance; this, however, they did not understand.


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The next day, also, he came and found two of them fighting, and he endeavoured to make peace between them. »`Sirs,' he said, `you are brothers. Why are you wronging one another?'


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»But the man who was doing the wrong resented his interference, and asked,« `Who appointed you magistrate and judge over us?


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»Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the country and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.«


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»But at the end of forty years there appeared to him in the Desert of Mount Sinai an angel in the middle of a flame of fire in a bush.«


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When Moses saw this he wondered at the sight; but on his going up to look further, the voice of the Lord was heard, saying,


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»`I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.'« Quaking with fear Moses did not dare gaze.


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I have seen, yes, I have seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them. And now I will send you to Egypt.'


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»The Moses whom they rejected, asking him, `Who appointed you magistrate and judge?' –that same Moses we find God sending as a magistrate and a deliverer by the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.«


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This was he who brought them out, after performing marvels and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea, and in the Desert for forty years.


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This is the Moses who said to the descendants of Israel, <J>»`God will raise up a Prophet for you, from among your brethren, just as He raised me up.'</J>


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`This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.


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»Our forefathers, however, would not submit to him, but spurned his authority and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.«


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They said to Aaron, »`Make gods for us, to march in front of us; for as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'


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»Moreover they made a calf at that time, and offered a sacrifice to the idol and kept rejoicing in the gods which their own hands had made.«


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So God turned from them and gave them up to the worship of the Host of Heaven, as it is written in the Book of the Prophets, <J>»'Were they victims and sacrifices which you offered Me, forty years in the Desert, O House of Israel?</J>


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<J>Yes, you lifted up Moloch's tent and the Star of the God Rephan–the images which you made in order to worship them; and I will remove you beyond Babylon.'</J>


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»Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen.«


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That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.


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<J>»`The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?</J>


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»O stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you also are continually at strife with the Holy Spirit–just as your forefathers were.«


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Which of the Prophets did not your forefathers persecute? Yes, they killed those who announced beforehand the advent of the righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become–


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But, full of the Holy Spirit and looking up to Heaven, Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand.


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dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.


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Then, rising on his knees, he cried aloud, »Lord, do not reckon this sin against them.« And with these words he fell asleep.


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And Saul fully approved of his murder. At this time a great persecution broke out against the Church in Jerusalem, and all except the Apostles were scattered throughout Judaea and Samaria.


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But Saul cruelly harassed the Church. He went into house after house, and, dragging off both men and women, threw them into prison.


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Those, however, who were scattered abroad went from place to place spreading the Good News of God's Message;


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Crowds of people, with one accord, gave attention to what they heard from him, listening, and witnessing the signs which he did.


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For, with a loud cry, foul spirits came out of many possessed by them, and many paralytics and lame persons were restored to health.


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Now for some time past there had been a man named Simon living there, who had been practising magic and astonishing the Samaritans, pretending that he was more than human.


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To him people of all classes paid attention, declaring, »This man is the Power of God, known as the great Power.«


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But when Philip began to tell the Good News about the Kingdom of God and about the Name of Jesus the Messiah, and they embraced the faith, they were baptized, men and women alike.


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Simon himself also believed, and after being baptized remained in close attendance on Philip, and was full of amazement at seeing such signs and such great miracles performed.


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When the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John to visit them.


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for He had not as yet fallen upon any of them. They had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.


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When, however, Simon saw that it was through the laying on of the Apostles' hands that the Spirit was bestowed, he offered them money.


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»Give me too,« he said, »that power, so that every one on whom I place my hands will receive the Holy Spirit.«


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»Perish your money and yourself,« replied Peter, »because you have imagined that you can obtain God's free gift with money!


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Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, in the hope that the purpose which is in your heart may perhaps be forgiven you.


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»Pray, both of you, to the Lord for me,« answered Simon, »that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.«


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So the Apostles, after giving a solemn charge and delivering the Lord's Message, travelled back to Jerusalem, making known the Good News also in many of the Samaritan villages.


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And an angel of the Lord said to Philip, »Rise and proceed south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Gaza, crossing the Desert.«


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Upon this he rose and went. Now, as it happened, an Ethiopian eunuch who was in a position of high authority with Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, as her treasurer, had visited Jerusalem to worship there,


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So Philip ran up and heard the eunuch reading the Prophet Isaiah. »Do you understand what you are reading?« he asked.


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»Why, how can I,« replied the eunuch, »unless some one explains it to me?« And he earnestly invited Philip to come up and sit with him.


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The passage of Scripture which he was reading was this: <J>»Like a sheep He was led to slaughter, and just as a lamb before its shearer is mute so He opened not His mouth.</J>


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<J>In His humiliation justice was denied Him. Who will make known His posterity? For He is destroyed from among men.«</J>


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Then Philip began to speak, and, commencing with that same portion of Scripture, told him the Good News about Jesus.


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So they proceeded on their way till they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, »See, here is water; what is there to prevent my being baptized?«


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So he stopped the chariot; and both of them –Philip and the eunuch– went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.


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But no sooner had they come up out of the water than the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again. With a glad heart he resumed his journey;


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but Philip found himself at Ashdod. Then visiting town after town he everywhere made known the Good News until he reached Caesarea.


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went to the High Priest and begged from him letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, in order that if he found any believers there, either men or women, he might bring them in chains to Jerusalem.


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But on the journey, as he was getting near Damascus, suddenly there flashed round him a light from Heaven;


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and falling to the ground he heard a voice which said to him, »Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?«


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Meanwhile the men who travelled with Saul were standing mute with amazement, hearing a sound, but seeing no one.


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Then he rose from the ground, but when he had opened his eyes, he could not see, and they led him by the arm and brought him to Damascus.


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Now in Damascus there was a disciple of the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, saying, »Ananias!«»I am here, Lord,« he answered.


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»Rise,« said the Lord, »and go to Straight Street, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man called Saul, from Tarsus, for he is actually praying.


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»Lord,« answered Ananias, »I have heard about that man from many, and I have heard of the great mischief he has done to Your people in Jerusalem;


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»Go,« replied the Lord; »he is a chosen instrument of Mine to carry My name to the Gentiles and to kings and to the descendants of Israel.


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So Ananias went and entered the house; and, laying his two hands upon Saul, said, »Saul, brother, the Lord –even Jesus who appeared to you on your journey– has sent me, that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.«


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Instantly there dropped from his eyes what seemed to be scales, and he could see once more. Upon this he rose and received baptism;


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after which he took food and regained his strength. Then he remained some little time with the disciples in Damascus.


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and his hearers were all amazed, and began to ask one another, »Is not this the man who in Jerusalem tried to exterminate those who called upon that Name, and came here on purpose to carry them off in chains to the High Priests?«


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Saul, however, gained more and more influence, and as for the Jews living in Damascus, he bewildered them with his proofs that Jesus is the Messiah.


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but information of their intention was given to him. They even watched the gates, day and night, in order to murder him;


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So he came to Jerusalem and made several attempts to associate with the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, being in doubt as to whether he himself was a disciple.


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Barnabas, however, came to his assistance. He brought Saul to the Apostles, and related to them how, on his journey, he had seen the Lord, and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had fearlessly taught in the name of Jesus.


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and speaking fearlessly in the name of the Lord. And he often talked with the Hellenists and had discussions with them.


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But they kept trying to take his life. On learning this, the brethren brought him down to Caesarea, and then sent him by sea to Tarsus.


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The Church, however, throughout the whole of Judaea, Galilee and Samaria, had peace and was spiritually built up; and grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and receiving encouragement from the Holy Spirit.


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There he found a man of the name of Aeneas, who for eight years had kept his bed, through being paralysed.


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Peter said to him, »Aeneas, Jesus the Messiah cures you. Rise and make your own bed.« He at once rose to his feet.


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Among the disciples at Jaffa was a woman called Tabitha, or, as the name may be translated, `Dorcas.' Her life was wholly devoted to the good and charitable actions which she was constantly doing.


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But, as it happened, just at that time she was taken ill and died. After washing her body they laid it out in a room upstairs.


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Lud, however, being near Jaffa, the disciples, who had heard that Peter was at Lud, sent two men to him with an urgent request that he would come across to them without delay.


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So Peter rose and went with them. On his arrival they took him upstairs, and the widow women all came and stood by his side, weeping and showing him the underclothing and cloaks and garments of all kinds which Dorcas used to make while she was still with them.


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Peter, however, putting every one out of the room, knelt down and prayed, and then turning to the body, he said, »Tabitha, rise.« Dorcas at once opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, sat up.


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Then, giving her his hand, he raised her to her feet and, calling to him God's people and the widows, he gave her back to them alive.


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and Peter remained for a considerable time at Jaffa, staying at the house of a man called Simon, a tanner.


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He was devout and God-fearing–and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.


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About three o'clock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house, who called him by name, saying, »Cornelius!«


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Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, »What do you want, Sir?«»Your prayers and charities,« he replied, »have gone up and have been recorded before God.


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So when the angel who had been speaking to him was gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier who was in constant attendance on him,


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The next day, while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town, about noon Peter went up on the house-top to pray.


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He had become unusually hungry and wished for food; but, while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.


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The sky had opened to his view, and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending, being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners.


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Again a second time a voice was heard which said, »What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.«


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While Peter was greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house,


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had come to the door and had called the servant, and were asking, »Is Simon, surnamed Peter, staying here?«


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And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, »Three men are now inquiring for you.


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So Peter went down and said to the men, »I am the Simon you are inquiring for. What is the reason of your coming?«


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Their reply was, »Cornelius, a Captain, an upright and God-fearing man, of whom the whole Jewish nation speaks well, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and listen to what you have to say.«


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Upon hearing this, Peter invited them in, and gave them a lodging. The next day he set out with them, some of the brethren from Jaffa going with him,


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and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present.


