AFV2020 - Matthew

Chapter 1

1:1  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

1:2  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;

1:3  And Judah begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

1:4  And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

1:5  And Salmon begat Boaz of Rachab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

1:6  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of the one who had been wife of Uriah;

1:7  And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

1:8  And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

1:9  And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

1:10  And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

1:11  And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.

1:12  And after the captivity in Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

1:13  And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

1:14  And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;

1:15  And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

1:16  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, Who is called the Christ.

1:17  So then, all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

1:18  And the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: Now His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph; but before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.

1:19  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to expose her publicly, was planning to divorce her secretly.

1:20  But as he pondered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary to be your wife, because that which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit.

1:21  And she shall give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins."

1:22  Now all this came to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,

1:23  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel"; which is, being interpreted, "God with us."

1:24  And when Joseph was awakened from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and took his wife to wed;

1:25  But he did not have sexual relations with her until after she had given birth to her Son, the firstborn; and he called His name Jesus.

Chapter 2

2:1  Now after Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, Magi from the east arrived at Jerusalem,

2:2  Saying, "Where is the One Who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him."

2:3  But when Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

2:4  And after gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

2:5  Then they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written by the prophet:

2:6  'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judea, in no way are you least among the princes of Judea; for out of you shall come forth a Prince, Who shall shepherd My people Israel.' ”

2:7  Then Herod secretly called for the Magi and ascertained from them the exact time of the appearing of the star.

2:8  And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the little Child; and when you have found Him, bring word back to me, so that I also may go and worship Him."

2:9  And after hearing the king, they departed; and behold, the star that they had seen in the east went in front of them, until it came and stood over the house where the little Child was.

2:10  And after seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

2:11  And when they had come into the house, they found the little Child with Mary His mother, and they bowed down and worshiped Him; then they opened their treasures and presented their gifts to Him—gold and frankincense and myrrh.

2:12  But being divinely instructed in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another way.

2:13  Now after they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and escape into Egypt, and remain there until I shall tell you; for Herod is about to seek the little Child to destroy Him."

2:14  And he arose by night and took the little Child and His mother, and went into Egypt,

2:15  And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I have called My Son."

2:16  Then Herod, seeing that he had been mocked by the Magi, was filled with rage; and he sent and put to death all the boys who were in Bethlehem and in the area all around, from two years old and under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the Magi.

2:17  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

2:18  "A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she would not be comforted, because they were not."

2:19  Now when Herod had died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream,

2:20  Saying, "Arise and take the little Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who were seeking the life of the little Child have died."

2:21  And he arose and took the little Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

2:22  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there; and after being divinely instructed in a dream, he went into the parts of Galilee.

2:23  And after arriving, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarean."

Chapter 3

3:1  Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

3:2  And saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

3:3  For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths.' ”

3:4  Now John himself wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

3:5  Then went out to him those from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the country around the Jordan,

3:6  And were being baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

3:7  But after seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who has forewarned you to flee from the coming wrath?

3:8  Therefore, produce fruits worthy of repentance;

3:9  And do not think to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I tell you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

3:10  But already the axe is striking at the roots of the trees; therefore, every tree that is not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but the One Who is coming after me is mightier than I, of Whom I am not fit to carry His sandals; He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire;

3:12  Whose winnowing shovel is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and will gather His wheat into the granary; but the chaff He will burn up with unquenchable fire."

3:13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

3:14  But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?"

3:15  Then Jesus answered and said to him, "You must permit it at this time; for in this manner it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him to be baptized.

3:16  And after He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him.

3:17  And lo, a voice from heaven said, "This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I have great delight."

Chapter 4

4:1  Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil.

4:2  And when He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was famished.

4:3  And when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

4:4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' ”

4:5  Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him upon the edge of the temple,

4:6  And said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, cast Yourself down; for it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.' ”

4:7  Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' ”

4:8  After that, the devil took Him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory,

4:9  And said to Him, "All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me."

4:10  Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve.' ”

4:11  Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

4:12  Now when Jesus had heard that John was put in prison, He went into Galilee.

4:13  And after leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is on the seaside, on the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim;

4:14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying,

4:15  "The land of Zabulon and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

4:16  The people who were sitting in darkness have seen a great light; and to those who were sitting in the realm and shadow of death, light has sprung up."

4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

4:18  And as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a large net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

4:19  And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

4:20  Then they immediately left their nets and followed Him.

4:21  And after leaving there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.

4:22  And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him.

4:23  And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily ailment among the people.

4:24  Then His fame went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, oppressed by various diseases and torments, and possessed by demons, and lunatics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

4:25  And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

Chapter 5

5:1  But seeing the multitudes, He went up into the mountain; and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.

5:2  And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying,

5:3  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:4  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5:5  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

5:6  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

5:7  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.

5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

5:10  Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

5:11  Blessed are you when they shall reproach you, and shall persecute you, and shall falsely say every wicked thing against you, for My sake.

5:12  Rejoice and be filled with joy, for great is your reward in heaven; for in this same manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

5:13  You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, with what shall it be salted? For it no longer has any strength, but is to be thrown out and to be trampled upon by men.

5:14  You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a mountain cannot be hid.

5:15  Neither do they light a lamp and put it under a bushelbasket, but on the lampstand; and it shines for all who are in the house.

5:16  In the same way also, you are to let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

5:17  Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.

5:18  For truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law until everything has been fulfilled.

5:19  Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever shall practice and teach them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

5:20  For I say to you, unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way that you shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

5:21  You have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not commit murder; but whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.'

5:22  But I say to you, everyone who is angry with his brother without cause shall be subject to judgment. Now you have heard it said, 'Whoever shall say to his brother, "Raca," shall be subject to the judgment of the council.' But I say to you, whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be subject to the fire of Gehenna.

5:23  For this reason, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

5:24  Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

5:25  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.

5:26  Truly I say to you, there is no way that you shall come out of there until you have paid the very last coin.

5:27  You have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not commit adultery.'

5:28  But I say to you, everyone who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5:29  So then, if your right eye shall cause you to offend, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body be cast into Gehenna.

5:30  And if your right hand shall cause you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body be cast into Gehenna.

5:31  It was also said in ancient times, 'Whoever shall divorce his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement.'

5:32  But I say to you, whoever shall divorce his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever shall marry her who has been divorced is committing adultery.

5:33  Again, you have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'You shall not forswear yourself, but you shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'

5:34  But I say to you, do not swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;

5:35  Nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King.

5:36  Neither shall you swear by your head, because you do not have the power to make one hair white or black.

5:37  But let your word be good, your 'Yes' be yes and your 'No' be no; for anything that is added to these is from the evil one.

5:38  You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth';

5:39  But I say to you, do not resist evil; rather, if anyone shall strike you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

5:40  And if anyone shall sue you before the law and take your garment, give him your coat also.

5:41  And if anyone shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.

5:42  Give to the one who asks of you; and do not turn away from the one who wishes to borrow from you.

5:43  You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

5:44  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you,

5:45  So that you yourselves may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

5:46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing?

5:47  And if you salute your brethren only, what have you done that is extraordinary? Do not the tax collectors practice the same thing?

5:48  Therefore, you shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect."

Chapter 6

6:1  "Beware that you do not bestow your alms in the sight of men in order to be seen by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father Who is in heaven.

6:2  Therefore, when you give your alms, do not sound the trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

6:3  But when you give your alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

6:4  So that your alms may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly.

6:5  And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

6:6  But you, when you pray, enter into a private room; and after shutting the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

6:7  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that by multiplying their words they shall be heard.

6:8  Now then, do not be like them; for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.

6:9  Therefore, you are to pray after this manner: 'Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name;

6:10  Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven;

6:11  Give us this day our daily bread;

6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors;

6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'

6:14  For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

6:15  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

6:16  And when you fast, do not be as the hypocrites, dejected in countenance; for they disfigure their faces in order that they may appear to men to fast. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

6:17  But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

6:18  So that you may not appear to men to fast, but to your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret shall reward you openly.

6:19  Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust spoil, and where thieves break through and steal;

6:20  But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

6:22  The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye be sound, your whole body shall be full of light.

6:23  But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!

6:24  No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

6:25  Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious about your life as to what you shall eat and what you shall drink; nor about your body as to what you shall wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

6:26  Observe the birds of heaven: they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor do they gather into granaries; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?

6:27  But who among you, by taking careful thought, is able to add one cubit to his stature?

6:28  And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not labor, nor do they spin;

6:29  But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.

6:30  Now if God so arrays the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much rather clothe you, O you of little faith?

6:31  Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we be clothed?'

6:32  For the nations seek after all these things. And your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.

6:33  But as for you, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

6:34  Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for tomorrow shall take care of the things of itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil of that day."

Chapter 7

7:1  "Do not condemn others, so that you yourself will not be condemned;

7:2  For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure you mete out, it shall be measured again to you.

7:3  Now why do you look at the sliver that is in your brother's eye, but you do not perceive the beam in your own eye?

7:4  Or how will you say to your brother, 'Allow me to remove the sliver from your eye'; and behold, the beam is in your own eye?

7:5  You hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to remove the sliver from your brother's eye.

7:6  Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn around and tear you in pieces.

7:7  Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.

7:8  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it shall be opened.

7:9  Or what man is there of you who, if his son shall ask for bread, will give him a stone?

7:10  And if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?

7:11  Therefore, if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?

7:12  Therefore, everything that you would have men do to you, so also do to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets.

7:13  Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it;

7:14  For narrow the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it.

7:15  But beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, for within they are ravening wolves.

7:16  You shall know them by their fruits. They do not gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles, do they?

7:17  In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.

7:18  A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

7:19  Every tree that is not producing good fruit is cut down and is cast into the fire.

7:20  Therefore, you shall assuredly know them by their fruits.

7:21  Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the one who is doing the will of My Father, Who is in heaven.

7:22  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy through Your name? And did we not cast out demons through Your name? And did we not perform many works of power through Your name?'

7:23  And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness.'

7:24  Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and practices them, I will compare him to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock;

7:25  And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; but it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock.

7:26  And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not practice them shall be compared to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand;

7:27  And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

7:28  Now it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching;

7:29  For He taught them as one Who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Chapter 8

8:1  When He came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

8:2  And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You will, You have the power to cleanse me."

8:3  Then Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I will. Be cleansed." And immediately he was cleansed from his leprosy.

8:4  And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a witness to them."

8:5  Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, beseeching Him,

8:6  And saying, "Lord, my servant is lying in the house paralyzed and grievously tormented."

8:7  And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

8:8  But the centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under the roof of my house; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

8:9  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another one, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

8:10  Now when Jesus heard these words, He was amazed; and He said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, nowhere in Israel have I found such great faith.

8:11  But I say to you, many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

8:13  Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, and as you have believed, so be it done to you." And his servant was healed in that hour.

8:14  And after coming into Peter's house, Jesus saw Peter's mother-in-law lying sick with a fever;

8:15  Then He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose and served them.

8:16  Now when evening had come, they brought to Him many possessed with demons, and He cast out the spirits by His word, and healed all who were sick;

8:17  So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases."

8:18  But when Jesus saw great multitudes around Him, He commanded His disciples to depart to the other side.

8:19  And a certain scribe came to Him and said, "Master, I will follow You wherever You may go."

8:20  Then Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of heaven have nests; but the Son of man has no place to lay His head."

8:21  And another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

8:22  But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

8:23  And when He entered into the ship, His disciples followed Him.

8:24  Now a great tempest suddenly arose in the sea, so great that the ship was being covered by the waves; but He was sleeping.

8:25  And His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing."

8:26  And He said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

8:27  But the men were amazed, saying, "What kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

8:28  And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two who were possessed by demons coming out of the tombs, so violent that no one was able to pass by that way.

8:29  And they cried out at once, saying, "What do You have to do with us, Jesus, the Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?"

8:30  Now there was far off from them a herd of many swine feeding;

8:31  And the demons pleaded with Him, saying, "If You cast us out, allow us to go into the herd of swine."

8:32  And He said to them, "Go!" And after coming out, they went into the herd of swine; and the entire herd of swine suddenly rushed down the steep slope into the sea and died in the waters.

8:33  But those who were tending them fled, and after going into the city reported everything, and what had happened to those who had been possessed by demons.

8:34  And the entire city immediately went out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they besought Him to depart from their borders.

Chapter 9

9:1  And after going into the ship, He passed over and came to His own city.

9:2  And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Then Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Be of good courage, child; your sins have been forgiven you."

9:3  And immediately some of the scribes said within themselves, "This man blasphemes."

9:4  But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?

9:5  For which is easier to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?

9:6  But I speak these words so that you may understand that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

9:7  And he arose and went away to his house.

9:8  Now when the multitudes saw it, they were amazed and glorified God, Who had given such authority to men.

9:9  And passing from there, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow Me." And he arose and followed Him.

9:10  Then it came to pass, when Jesus sat down to eat in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

9:11  And after seeing this, the Pharisees said to His disciples, "Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

9:12  But when Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are strong do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick.

9:13  Now go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

9:14  Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"

9:15  And Jesus said to them, "Are the children of the bridechamber able to mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast.

9:16  Now no one sews a new piece of cloth onto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill up the hole takes away from the garment, and a worse tear develops.

9:17  Neither do they put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins will burst, and the wine will spill out, and the wineskins will be destroyed; but they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved together."

9:18  While He was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hands on her, and she shall live."

9:19  Then Jesus and His disciples arose and followed him.

9:20  And behold, a woman who had been afflicted with a flow of blood for twelve years, after coming behind Him, touched the hem of His garment.

9:21  For she said within herself, "If only I shall touch His garment, I shall be healed."

9:22  But Jesus turned; and seeing the woman, He said to her, "Be of good courage, daughter; your faith has made you whole." And from that hour the woman was healed.

9:23  Now when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the multitude making an uproar,

9:24  He said to them, "Back away! For the damsel is not dead, but is sleeping." And they laughed at Him.

9:25  But when the multitude had been put out, He went in and took hold of her hand, and the damsel arose.

9:26  And this report went out into all that land.

9:27  Now as Jesus was traveling from there, two blind men followed, crying and saying, "Have pity on us, Son of David!"

9:28  And after coming into the house, the blind men came to Him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I have the power to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."

9:29  Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it to you."

9:30  And their eyes were opened. And He sternly warned them, saying, "See that you do not let anyone know it."

9:31  But they went out and made Him known in all that land.

9:32  And as they were leaving, behold, they brought to Him a dumb man, possessed by a demon;

9:33  And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been dumb spoke. And the multitudes wondered, saying, "Never has the like been seen in Israel."

9:34  But the Pharisees said, "By the prince of the demons He casts out demons."

9:35  Then Jesus went around to all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily weakness among the people.

9:36  And seeing the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wearied and scattered abroad, as sheep who did not have a shepherd.

9:37  Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is truly great, but the workmen are few;

9:38  Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest, that He may send out workmen into His harvest."

Chapter 10

10:1  And when He had called His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every kind of sickness.

10:2  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

10:3  Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew, the former tax collector; James, the son of Alpheus; and Lebbeus, who was surnamed Thaddeus;

10:4  Simon, the Cananean; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

10:5  These twelve Jesus sent out after commanding them, saying, "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter into a city of the Samaritans;

10:6  But go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

10:7  And as you are going, proclaim, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'

10:8  Heal the sick. Cleanse the lepers. Raise the dead. Cast out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

10:9  Do not provide gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts,

10:10  Nor a provision bag for the way, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the workman is worthy of his food.

10:11  And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there remain until you leave.

10:12  When you come into the house, salute it;

10:13  And if the house is indeed worthy, let your peace be upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

10:14  And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you leave that house or that city, shake off the dust from your feet.

10:15  Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

10:16  Behold, I am sending you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

10:17  But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

10:18  And you shall also be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a witness to them and to the Gentiles.

10:19  Now when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you should speak; for in that hour it shall be given to you what you shall speak.

10:20  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.

10:21  Then brother will deliver up brother to death; and the father, the child; and children will rise up against their parents and have them put to death.

10:22  And you shall be hated by all for My name's sake; but the one who endures to the end, that one shall be saved.

10:23  But when they persecute you in this city, escape into another; for truly I say to you, in no way shall you have completed witnessing to the cities of Israel until the Son of man has come.

10:24  A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.

10:25  It is sufficient for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household?

10:26  Therefore, do not fear them because there is nothing covered that shall not be uncovered, and nothing hidden that shall not be known.

10:27  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

10:28  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but do not have power to destroy the life; rather, fear Him Who has the power to destroy both life and body in Gehenna.

10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a coin? And yet not one of them shall fall to the ground without your Father taking account of it.

10:30  But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31  Therefore, do not be afraid; you are better than many sparrows.

10:32  Now then, whoever shall confess Me before men, that one will I also confess before My Father Who is in heaven.

10:33  But whoever shall deny Me before men, that one will I also deny before My Father, Who is in heaven.

10:34  Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

10:35  For I have come to set a man at variance against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-inlaw against her mother-in-law.

10:36  And a man's enemies shall be those of his own household.

10:37  The one who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and the one who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

10:38  And the one who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.

10:39  The one who has found his life shall lose it; and the one who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.

10:40  The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me.

10:41  The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive the reward of a prophet; and the one who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive the reward of a righteous man.

10:42  And if anyone shall in the name of a disciple give to one of these little ones to drink a cup of cold water only, truly I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward."

Chapter 11

11:1  And it came to pass that, when Jesus had finished commanding His twelve disciples, He left there to teach and to preach in their cities.

11:2  Now John, having heard in prison of the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples,

11:3  Saying to Him, "Are You the One Who is coming, or are we to look for another?"

11:4  Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see:

11:5  The blind receive sight, and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised, and the poor are evangelized.

11:6  And blessed is everyone who shall not be offended in Me."

11:7  And as they were leaving, Jesus said to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

11:8  But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

11:9  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one more excellent than a prophet.

11:10  For this is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.'

11:11  Truly I say to you, there has not arisen among those born of women anyone greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

11:12  For from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is taken with a great struggle, and the zealous ones lay hold on it.

11:13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

11:14  And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was to come.

11:15  The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.

11:16  But to what shall I compare this generation? It is exactly like little children sitting in the markets and calling to their companions,

11:17  And saying, 'We have piped to you, and you did not dance; we have mourned to you, and you did not wail.'

11:18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.'

11:19  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a man who is a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is justified by her children."

11:20  Then He began to castigate the cities in which most of His miracles had taken place, because they did not repent:

11:21  "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that have taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

11:22  But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

11:23  And you, Capernaum, who have been exalted to heaven, shall be cast down to the grave. For if the miracles that have taken place in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

11:24  But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

11:25  At that time Jesus answered and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to babes.

11:26  Yes, Father, for it was well pleasing in Your sight to do this.

11:27  All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him.

11:28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened, and I will give you rest.

11:29  Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.

11:30  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

Chapter 12

12:1  At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath days; and His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck the heads of grain and to eat them.

12:2  But after seeing this, the Pharisees said to Him, "Behold, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath."

12:3  But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he himself and those with him were hungry?

12:4  How he went into the house of God and he ate the loaves of showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but for the priests only?

12:5  Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbaths the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

12:6  But I say to you, there is one here Who is greater than the temple.

12:7  Now if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

12:8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."

12:9  And after leaving there, He went into their synagogue.

12:10  And, behold, a man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbaths?" so that they might accuse Him.

12:11  But He said to them, "What man is there among you who, if he has one sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

12:12  And how much better is a man than a sheep? So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbaths."

12:13  And He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as sound as the other.

12:14  Then the Pharisees went out of the synagogue and held a council against Him to discuss how they might destroy Him.

12:15  But when Jesus knew of it, He withdrew from there; and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed all of them.

12:16  And He strictly commanded them not to make Him known publicly;

12:17  So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

12:18  "Behold My Servant, Whom I have chosen; My Beloved, in Whom My soul has found delight. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.

12:19  He shall not strive nor cry out, neither shall anyone hear His voice in the streets.

12:20  A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, until He brings forth the judgment unto victory.

12:21  And the Gentiles shall hope in His name."

12:22  Then was brought to Him one who was possessed by a demon, blind and dumb; and He healed him, so that the one who had been blind and dumb both spoke and saw.

12:23  And the multitudes were all amazed, and said, "Is this the Son of David?"

12:24  But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This Man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, prince of the demons."

12:25  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

12:26  And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then shall his kingdom stand?

12:27  And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? On account of this, they shall be your judges.

12:28  But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

12:29  Or how is anyone able to enter into the house of a strong man and plunder his goods, if he does not first bind the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

12:30  The one who is not with Me is against Me, and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

12:31  Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men.

12:32  And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age.

12:33  Either make the tree good and the fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for a tree is known by its fruit.

12:34  Offspring of vipers, how are you able to speak good things, being evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

12:35  The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings out wicked things.

12:36  But I say to you, for every idle word that men may speak, they shall be held accountable in the day of judgment.

12:37  For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."

12:38  Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we desire to see a sign from You."

12:39  And He answered and said to them, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

12:40  For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

12:41  The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.

12:42  The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

12:43  But when the unclean spirit has departed from a man, it goes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none.

12:44  Then it says, 'I will return to my house, from which I came out.' And after coming, it finds unoccupied, swept and set in order.

12:45  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Likewise shall it also be with this wicked generation."

12:46  But while He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, mother and His brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak with Him.

12:47  Then one said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."

12:48  But He answered and said to him, "Who is My mother? And who are My brothers?"

12:49  And stretching out His hand to His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers.

12:50  For whoever shall do the will of My Father, Who is in heaven, that one is My brother and sister and mother."

Chapter 13

13:1  Now in that same day, Jesus departed from the house and sat down by the sea.

13:2  And so great multitude gathered around Him that He went into a ship and sat down, and all the multitude stood on the shore.

13:3  And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying, "Behold, the sower went out to sow.

13:4  And as he was sowing, some of the seed fell by the way; and the birds came and devoured them.

13:5  And some fell upon the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up because the soil was not deep enough;

13:6  But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they did not have roots, they dried up.

13:7  And some of the seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

13:8  And some fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit—some a hundredfold, and some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.

13:9  The one who has ears to hear, let him hear."

13:10  And His disciples came to Him and asked, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

13:11  And He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

13:12  For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

13:13  For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand.

13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, 'In hearing you shall hear, and in no way understand; and in seeing you shall see, and in no way perceive;

13:15  For the heart of this people has grown fat, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and should hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts, and should be converted, and I should heal them.'

13:16  But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

13:17  For truly I say to you, many prophets and righteous men have desired to see what you see, and have not seen; and to hear what you hear, and have not heard.

13:18  Therefore, hear the parable of the sower:

13:19  When anyone hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and snatches away that which was sown in his heart. This is the one who was sown by the way.

13:20  Now the one who was sown upon the rocky places is the one who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy;

13:21  But because he has no root in himself, he does not endure; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, he is quickly offended.

13:22  And the one who was sown among the thorns is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.

13:23  But the one who was sown on good ground, this is the one who hears the Word and understands, who indeed brings forth fruit and produces—one a hundredfold, another sixtyfold and another thirtyfold."

13:24  And He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was sowing good seed in his field;

13:25  But while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.

13:26  Now when the blades sprouted and produced fruit, then the tares also appeared.

13:27  And the servants came to the master of the house and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then where did these tares come from?'

13:28  And he said to them, 'A man who is an enemy has done this.' Then the servants said to him, 'Do you want us to go out and gather them?'

13:29  But he said, 'No, lest while you are gathering the tares, you also uproot the wheat with them.

13:30  Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest, I will say to the reapers, "Gather the tares first, and bind them into bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my granary."

13:31  Another parable He presented to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is compared to a tiny mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field;

13:32  Which indeed is very small among all the seeds; but after it is grown, it is greater than all the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven come and roost in its branches."

13:33  Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is compared to leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour until all was leavened."

13:34  Jesus spoke all these things to the multitudes in parables, and without a parable He did not speak to them;

13:35  So that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."

13:36  And after dismissing the multitude, Jesus went into the house. Then His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

13:37  And He answered and said to them, "The One Who sows the good seed is the Son of man;

13:38  And the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

13:39  Now the enemy who sowed them is the devil; and the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.

13:40  Therefore, as the tares are gathered and consumed in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this age.

13:41  The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all the offenders and those who are practicing lawlessness;

13:42  And they shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13:43  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.

13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to treasure hidden in a field; which when a man finds, he conceals, and for the joy of finding it, goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.

13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a merchant seeking beautiful pearls;

13:46  Who, after finding one very precious pearl, went and sold everything that he had, and bought it.

13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a dragnet cast into the sea, gathering in every kind of fish;

13:48  Which after it was filled was drawn up on shore; and they sat down and collected the good into vessels, and the unfit they threw away.

13:49  This is the way it will be in the end of the age: the angels shall go out, and shall separate the wicked from among the righteous,

13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

13:51  Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."

13:52  Then He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old."

13:53  And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed from there.

13:54  And after coming into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were amazed and said, "From where did this Man receive this wisdom and these works of power?

13:55  Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers James and Joses and Simon and Judas?

13:56  And His sisters, are they not all with us? From where then did this Man receive all these things?"

13:57  And they were offended in Him. Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house."

13:58  And He did not do many works of power there because of their unbelief.

Chapter 14

14:1  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

14:2  And said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why these powerful deeds are at work in him."

14:3  For Herod had arrested John, bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip;

14:4  Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her as your wife."

14:5  And he desired to put him to death; but he feared the multitude because they held him to be a prophet.

14:6  Now when they were celebrating Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them; and it pleased Herod.

14:7  Therefore, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

14:8  Then, being urged by her mother, she said, "Give me, here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist."

14:9  And the king was grieved; but because of the oaths and those who were sitting with him, he commanded that it be given.

14:10  And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

14:11  And his head was brought on a platter and given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.

14:12  Then his disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

14:13  Now after hearing this, Jesus departed from there by ship into a wilderness place apart. But when the multitudes heard that He had left, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

14:14  And after going out, Jesus saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion toward them, and healed their sick.

14:15  Now when evening was approaching, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This place is a wilderness, and the time to eat has already passed; dismiss the multitude so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

14:16  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

14:17  But they said to Him, "We do not have anything here except five loaves and two fish."

14:18  And He said to them, "Bring them here to Me."

14:19  And He commanded the multitude to sit on the grass. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up into heaven, He blessed them; and He broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

14:20  And they all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that were left.

14:21  Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

14:22  And immediately Jesus compelled His disciples to enter the ship and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the multitude.

14:23  And after dismissing the multitude, He went up into the mountain apart to pray; and when evening came, He was there alone.

14:24  But the ship was now in the middle of the sea, being tossed by the waves, because the wind was contrary.

14:25  Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

14:26  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled and said, "It is an apparition!" And they cried out in fear.

14:27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good courage; it is I. Do not be afraid."

14:28  Then Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, bid me to come to You upon the waters."

14:29  And He said, "Come." And after climbing down from the ship, Peter walked upon the waters to go to Jesus.

14:30  But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became afraid; and as he was beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

14:32  Now when they went into the ship, the wind ceased.

14:33  And those in the ship came and worshiped Him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God."

14:34  And after passing over the sea, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

14:35  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent to all the country around; and they brought to Him all those who were sick.

14:36  And they besought Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment; and as many as touched it were healed.

Chapter 15

15:1  Then the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,

15:2  "Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

15:3  But He answered and said to them, "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

15:4  For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother, let him die the death.'

15:5  But you say, 'Whoever shall say to father or mother, "Whatever benefit you might receive from me is being given as a gift to the temple," he is not at all obligated to honor his father or his mother.'

15:6  And you have made void the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition.

15:7  Hypocrites! Isaiah has prophesied well concerning you, saying,

15:8  'These people have drawn near to Me with their mouths, and with their lips they honor Me; but their hearts are far away from Me.

15:9  For they worship Me in vain, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.' ”

15:10  And after calling the multitude to Him, He said to them, "Hear, and understand.

15:11  That which goes into the mouth does not defile the man; but that which comes out of his mouth, this defiles the man."

15:12  Then His disciples came to Him and said, "Do You realize that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"

15:13  But He answered and said, "Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.

15:14  Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the pit."

15:15  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."

15:16  But Jesus said to him, "Are you also still without understanding?

15:17  Do you not perceive that everything that enters the mouth goes into the belly, and is expelled into the sewer?

15:18  But the things that go forth from the mouth come out of the heart, and these defile the man.

15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnessing and blasphemies.

15:20  These are the things that defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man."

15:21  Then Jesus left there and withdrew into the area of Tyre and Sidon;

15:22  And, behold, a Canaanite woman who came from those borders cried to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon."

15:23  But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and requested of Him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out behind us."

15:24  But He answered and said, "I have not been sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

15:25  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"

15:26  But He answered and said, "It is not proper to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

15:27  And she said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master's table."

15:28  Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! As you have desired, so be it to you." And her daughter was healed from that hour.

15:29  Now after leaving there, Jesus came toward the Sea of Galilee; and He went up into the mountain and sat there.

15:30  Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, the blind, the dumb, the maimed, and many others; and they laid them at the feet of Jesus, and He healed them;

15:31  So that the multitudes were amazed, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

15:32  And after calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, "I am moved with compassion toward the multitude because they have been with Me for three days, and they have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint along the way."

15:33  Then His disciples said to Him, "Where in this wilderness can we find enough loaves of bread to satisfy so great a multitude?"

15:34  And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

15:35  Then He commanded the multitude to sit on the ground;

15:36  And He took the seven loaves and the fish, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave them to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

15:37  And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of fragments that were left.

15:38  Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

15:39  And after dismissing the multitude, He went into the ship and came to the area of Magdala.

Chapter 16

16:1  Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Him, tempting Him and asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.

16:2  But He answered and said to them, "When evening has come, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'

16:3  And in the morning, you say, 'Today it will storm, for the sky is red and lowering.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

16:4  A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet." Then He left them and went away.

16:5  Now when His disciples came to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

16:6  And Jesus said to them, "Watch out, and be on guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

16:7  Then they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we did not take bread."

16:8  But when Jesus knew this, He said to them, "O you of little faith, why are you reasoning among yourselves that it is because you did not bring bread?

16:9  Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

16:10  Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

16:11  How is it that you do not understand that I was not speaking of bread when I told you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?"

16:12  Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

16:13  Now after coming into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus questioned His disciples, saying, "Who do men declare Me, the Son of man, to be?"

16:14  And they said, "Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."

16:15  He said to them, "But you, who do you declare Me to be?"

16:16  Then Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

16:17  And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but My Father, Who is in heaven.

16:18  And I say also to you, that you are Peter; but upon this Rock I will build My church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it.

16:19  And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you may bind on the earth will have already been bound in heaven; and whatever you may loose on the earth will have already been loosed in heaven."

16:20  Then He charged His disciples not to tell anyone that He was Jesus the Christ.

16:21  From that time Jesus began to explain to His disciples that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and to be raised the third day.

16:22  But after taking Him aside, Peter personally began to rebuke Him, saying, "God will be favorable to you, Lord. In no way shall this happen to You."

16:23  Then He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, because your thoughts are not in accord with the things of God, but the things of men."

16:24  And Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and let him take up his cross and follow Me.

16:25  For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.

16:26  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?

16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall render to everyone according to his doings.

16:28  Truly I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste of death until they have seen the Son of man coming in His kingdom."

Chapter 17

17:1  And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

17:2  And He was transfigured before them; and His face shined as the sun, and His garments became white as the light.

17:3  Then behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with Him.

17:4  And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You desire, let us make three tabernacles here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

17:5  While he was speaking, a bright cloud suddenly overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My Son, the Beloved, in Whom I delight. Listen to Him!"

17:6  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces in extreme terror.

17:7  But Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Arise, and do not be terrified."

17:8  And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus alone.

17:9  Now as they were descending from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of man has risen from the dead."

17:10  Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

17:11  And Jesus answered and said to them, "Elijah shall indeed come first and restore all things.

17:12  But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him; but they did to him whatever they desired. In like manner also, the Son of man is about to suffer from them."

17:13  Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

17:14  And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him,

17:15  And saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is insane and suffers miserably; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

17:16  And I brought him to Your disciples, but they were not able to heal him."

17:17  Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you in your unbelief? Bring him here to Me."

17:18  And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it departed from him; and the boy was healed from that hour.

17:19  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why were we not able to cast it out?"

17:20  And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a tiny mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Remove from here,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

17:21  But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

17:22  And while they were dwelling in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,

17:23  And they shall kill Him; but the third day He shall be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

17:24  Now after coming to Capernaum, those who received the tribute money came to Peter and said, "Does not your Master pay tribute?"

17:25  And he said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus, anticipating his question, said, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive custom or tribute? From their own children, or from strangers?"

17:26  Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the children are indeed free.

17:27  Nevertheless, so that we may not offend them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you have opened its mouth, you shall find a coin. Take that, and give it to them for Me and you."

Chapter 18

18:1  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

18:2  And after calling a little child to Him, Jesus set him in their midst,

18:3  And said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, there is no way that you shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

18:4  Therefore, whoever shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

18:5  And whoever shall receive one such little child in My name receives Me.

18:6  But whoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in Me to offend, it would be better for him that a millstone be hung around his neck and he be sunk in the depths of the sea.

18:7  Woe to the world because of offenses! For it is necessary that offenses come, yet woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

18:8  And if your hand or your foot causes you to offend, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

18:9  And if your eye causes you to offend, pluck it out and throw it away; for it is better for you to enter into life one-eyed than to have two eyes and be cast into the fire of Gehenna.

18:10  Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven continually look upon the face of My Father, Who is in heaven.

18:11  For the Son of man has come to save those who are lost.

18:12  What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and search for the one that went astray?

18:13  And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

18:14  Likewise, it is not the will of your Father Who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

18:15  So then, if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he is willing to hear you, you have gained your brother.

18:16  But if he will not listen, take with you one or two others, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

18:17  And if he fails to listen to them, tell it to the church. But if he also fails to listen to the church, let him be to you as the heathen and the tax collector.

18:18  Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on the earth will have already been bound in heaven; and whatever you shall loose on the earth will have already been loosed in heaven.

18:19  Again I say to you, that if two of you on earth shall agree concerning any matter that they wish to request, it shall be done for them by My Father, Who is in heaven.

18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there, I am in the midst of them."

18:21  Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?"

18:22  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you until seven times, but until seventy times seven.

18:23  Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a man, a certain king, who would take account with his servants.

18:24  And after he began to reckon, there was brought to him one debtor who owed him ten thousand talents.

18:25  But since he did not have anything to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

18:26  Because of this, the servant fell down and worshiped him, saying, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

18:27  And being moved with compassion, the lord of that servant released him, and forgave him the debt.

18:28  Then that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him a hundred silver coins; and after seizing him, he choked him, saying, 'Pay me what you owe.'

18:29  As a result, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and pleaded with him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

18:30  But he would not listen; instead, he went and cast him into prison, until he should pay the amount that he owed.

18:31  Now when his fellow servants saw the things that had taken place, they were greatly distressed; and they went to their lord and related all that had taken place.

18:32  Then his lord called him and said to him, ' You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you implored me.

18:33  Were you not also obligated to have compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had compassion on you?'

18:34  And in anger, his lord delivered him up to the tormentors, until he should pay all that he owed to him.

18:35  Likewise shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother's offenses from the heart."

Chapter 19

19:1  And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these sayings, He departed from Galilee and came to the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.

19:2  And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them there.

19:3  Then the Pharisees came to Him and tempted Him, saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?"

19:4  But He answered them, saying, "Have you not read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

19:5  And said, 'For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh'?

19:6  So then, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate."

19:7  They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?"

19:8  He said to them, "Because of your hardheartedness, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it was not so.

19:9  And I say to you, whoever shall divorce his wife, except it be for sexual immorality, and shall marry another, is committing adultery; and the one who marries her who has been divorced is committing adultery."

19:10  His disciples said to Him, "If that is the case of a man with a wife, it is better not to marry."

19:11  But He said to them, "Not everyone can receive this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

19:12  For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to receive it, let him receive it."

19:13  Then little children were brought to Him, so that He might lay His hands on them and pray for them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

19:14  But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

19:15  And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

19:16  Now at that time, one came to Him and said, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"

19:17  And He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except one—God. But if you desire to enter into life, keep the commandments."

19:18  Then he said to Him, "Which?" And Jesus said, " 'You shall not commit murder'; 'You shall not commit adultery'; 'You shall not steal'; 'You shall not bear false witness';

19:19  'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' ”

19:20  The young man said to Him, "I have kept all these things from my youth. What do I yet lack?"

19:21  Jesus said to him, "If you desire to be perfect, go and sell your property, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me."

19:22  But after hearing this word, the young man went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

19:23  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is extremely difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

19:24  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

19:25  But after hearing this, the disciples were greatly astonished and said, "Who then is able to be saved?"

19:26  But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

19:27  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and have followed You. What then shall be for us?"

19:28  And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you who have followed Me: in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of His glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

19:29  And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.

19:30  But many of the first shall be last, and the last first."

Chapter 20

20:1  "The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to a man, a master of a house, who went out early in the morning to hire workmen for his vineyard.

20:2  And after agreeing with the workmen on a silver coin for the day's wage, he sent them into his vineyard.

20:3  And when he went out about the third hour, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;

20:4  And he said to them, 'Go also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.'

20:5  And they went. Again, after going out about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did likewise.

20:6  And about the eleventh hour, he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all the day?'

20:7  They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'Go also into my vineyard, and whatever is right you shall receive.'

20:8  And when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the workmen and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.'

20:9  And when those who were hired about the eleventh hour came, they each received a silver coin.

20:10  But when the first ones came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a silver coin.

20:11  And after receiving it, they complained against the master of the house,

20:12  Saying, 'These who came last have worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have carried the burden and the heat of the day.'

20:13  But he answered and said to them, 'Friend, I am not doing you wrong. Did you not agree with me on a silver coin for the day?

20:14  Take what is yours and go, for I also desire to give to the last ones exactly as I gave to you.

20:15  And is it not lawful for me to do what I will with that which is my own? Is your eye evil because I am good?'

20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first shall be last; for many are called, but few are chosen."

20:17  And while they were going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside in the way and said to them,

20:18  "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death;

20:19  And they shall deliver Him up to the Gentiles to mock Him, and to scourge Him, and to crucify Him; but He shall rise again the third day."

20:20  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Him with her sons, worshiping Him and asking a certain thing from Him.

20:21  And He said to her, "What do you desire?" She said to Him, "Grant that these my two sons may sit one at Your right hand and one at Your left hand in Your kingdom."

20:22  But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."

20:23  And He said to them, "You shall indeed drink of My cup, and shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit at My right hand and at My left hand is not Mine to give, but shall be given to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father."

20:24  And after hearing this, the ten were indignant against the two brothers.

20:25  But Jesus called them to Him and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them, and the great ones exercise authority over them.

20:26  However, it shall not be this way among you; but whoever would become great among you, let him be your servant;

20:27  And whoever would be first among you, let him be your slave;

20:28  Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."

20:29  And as they were going out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.

20:30  And behold, two blind men sitting beside the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!"

20:31  Then the multitude rebuked them, so that they would be silent. But they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!"

20:32  And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, "What do you desire that I do for you?"

20:33  They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."

20:34  And being moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Chapter 21

21:1  Now as they were approaching Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage, near the Mount of Olives; and Jesus sent two disciples,

21:2  Saying to them, "Go into the village, the one ahead of you, and immediately you shall find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me.

21:3  And if anyone says anything to you, tell him, 'The Lord has need of them.' And he will send them at once."

21:4  But this all took place so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

21:5  "Say to the daughter of Sion, 'Behold, your King comes to you, meek and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt the foal of a donkey.' ”

21:6  And the disciples left, and did as Jesus had ordered them;

21:7  They brought the donkey and the colt, and put their garments upon them; and He sat on them.

21:8  And a great number of the multitude spread their garments on the road; and others were cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road.

21:9  And the multitudes, those who were going before and those who were following behind, were shouting, saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!"

21:10  Now when He entered Jerusalem, the entire city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"

21:11  And the multitudes said, "This is Jesus the prophet, the One Who is from Nazareth of Galilee."

21:12  And Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple; and He overthrew the tables of the money exchangers, and the seats of those who were selling doves.

21:13  Then He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of thieves."

21:14  And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

21:15  But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children shouting in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant,

21:16  And said to Him, "Do You hear what they are saying?" Then Jesus said to them, "Yes! Have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of little children and infants You have perfected praise'? ”

21:17  And leaving them, He went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

21:18  Now early in the morning, as He was coming back into the city, He hungered;

21:19  And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came up to it, but found nothing on it except leaves only. And He said to it, "Let there never again be fruit from you forever." And immediately the fig tree dried up.

21:20  And after seeing it, the disciples were amazed, saying, "How quickly the fig tree has dried up!"

21:21  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only shall you do the miracle of the fig tree, but even if you shall say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it shall come to pass.

21:22  And everything that you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive."

21:23  Now when He entered the temple and was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him, saying, "By what authority do You do these things? And who gave You this authority?"

21:24  And Jesus answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

21:25  The baptism of John, where did it come from? From heaven, or from men?" Then they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

21:26  But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude; for everyone holds John as a prophet."

21:27  And they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." He said to them also, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

21:28  But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first one and said, 'Son, go work in my vineyard today.'

21:29  And he answered and said, 'I will not'; but afterwards he repented and went.

21:30  Then he came to the second son and said the same thing. And he answered and said, 'Sir, I will go'; but he did not go.

21:31  Which of the two did the will of the father?" They said to Him, "The first one." Jesus said to them, "I tell you truly, the tax collectors and the harlots are going into the kingdom of God before you.

21:32  For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him. Yet you, after seeing this, did not afterwards repent and believe him.

21:33  Hear another parable: There was a certain man, a master of a house, who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and then leased it to husbandmen and left the country.

21:34  Now when the season of the fruits was drawing near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits.

21:35  But the husbandmen took his servants and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

21:36  Again he sent other servants, more than the first time; and they did the same thing to them.

21:37  Then at last he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will have respect for my son.'

21:38  But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us murder him and gain possession of his inheritance.'

21:39  Then they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

21:40  Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen?"

21:41  They said to Him, "Evil men! He will utterly destroy them, and he will lease his vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."

21:42  Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures, 'The Stone that the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner. This was from the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes'?

21:43  Because of this, I say to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and it shall be given to a nation that produces the fruits of it.

21:44  And the one who falls on this Stone shall be broken; but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

21:45  Now after hearing His parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees knew that He was speaking about them.

21:46  And they sought to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the multitudes, because they held Him as a prophet.

Chapter 22

22:1  And again Jesus answered and spoke to them in parables, saying,

22:2  "The kingdom of heaven is compared to a man who was a king, who made a wedding feast for his son,

22:3  And sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast; but they refused to come.

22:4  Afterwards he sent out other servants, saying, 'Say to those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatted beasts are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast." ’

22:5  But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, and another to his business.

22:6  And the rest, after seizing his servants, insulted and killed them.

22:7  Now when the king heard it, he became angry; and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

22:8  Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy;

22:9  Therefore, go into the well-traveled highways, and invite all that you find to the wedding feast.'

22:10  And after going out into the highways, those servants brought together everyone that they found, both good and evil; and the wedding feast was filled with guests.

22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not dressed in proper attire for the wedding feast;

22:12  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you enter here without a garment fit for the wedding feast?' But he had no answer.

22:13  Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and take him away, and cast him into the outer darkness.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

22:14  For many are called, but few chosen."

22:15  Then the Pharisees went and took counsel as to how they might entrap Him in His speech.

22:16  And they sent their disciples along with the Herodians to Him, saying, "Master, we know that You are true, and that You teach the way of God in truth, and that You are not concerned about pleasing anyone; for You do not respect the persons of men.

22:17  Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"

22:18  But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, "Why do you tempt Me, you hypocrites?

22:19  Show Me the tribute coin." And they brought to Him a silver coin.

22:20  And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is on this?"

22:21  They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render then the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God."

22:22  And when they heard this, they were amazed; and they left Him and went their way.

22:23  On that same day, the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and questioned Him,

22:24  Saying, "Master, Moses said, 'If anyone dies without having children, his brother shall marry his wife and shall raise up seed to his brother.'

22:25  Now there were with us seven brothers; and the first one, being married, died with no seed; and he left his wife to his brother.

22:26  And likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

22:27  And last of all the woman died also.

22:28  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven shall she be, for all had her?"

22:29  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "You do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.

22:30  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are as the angels of God in heaven.

22:31  Now concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying,

22:32  'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

22:33  And when the multitudes heard this, they were amazed at His teaching.

22:34  But after the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together before Him.

22:35  And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned Him, tempting Him, and saying,

22:36  "Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the Law?"

22:37  And Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'

22:38  This is the first and greatest commandment;

22:39  And the second one is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

22:40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

22:41  While the Pharisees were assembled together, Jesus questioned them,

22:42  Saying, "What do you think concerning the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David."

22:43  He said to them, "How then does David in spirit call Him Lord, saying,

22:44  'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet" ’?

22:45  Therefore, if David calls Him Lord, how is He his Son?"

22:46  And no one was able to answer Him a word, neither dared anyone from that day to question Him any more.

Chapter 23

23:1  Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,

23:2  Saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down on Moses' seat as judges;

23:3  Therefore, every judgment that they tell you to observe, observe and do. But do not do according to their works; for they say and do not.

23:4  For they bind heavy burdens and hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of men; but they will not move them with one of their own fingers.

23:5  And they do all their works to be seen by men. They make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments;

23:6  And they love the first place at the suppers, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

23:7  And the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'

23:8  But you are not to be called Rabbi; for one is your Master, the Christ, and all of you are brethren.

23:9  Also, do not call anyone on the earth your Father; for one is your Father, Who is in heaven.

23:10  Neither be called Master; for one is your Master, the Christ.

23:11  But the greatest among you shall be your servant.

23:12  And whoever will exalt himself shall be humbled; and whoever will humble himself shall be exalted.

23:13  But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and as a pretext you offer prayers of great length. Because of this, you shall receive the greater judgment.

23:14  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven before men; for neither do you yourselves enter, nor do you allow those who are entering to enter.

23:15  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel the sea and the land to make one proselyte, and when he has become one, you make him twofold more a son of Gehenna than yourselves.

23:16  Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is not binding; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is obligated to fulfill his oath.'

23:17  You fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold?

23:18  And you say, 'Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is not binding; but whoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is obligated to fulfill his oath.'

23:19  You fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift?

23:20  Therefore, the one who swears by the altar swears by it, and by all things that are upon it.

23:21  And the one who swears by the temple swears by it, and by Him Who dwells in it.

23:22  And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God, and by Him Who sits upon it.

23:23  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, but you have abandoned the more important matters of the law—judgment, and mercy and faith. These you were obligated to do, and not to leave the others undone.

23:24  Blind guides, who filter out a gnat, but swallow a camel!

23:25  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but within you are full of extortion and excess.

23:26  Blind Pharisees! First cleanse the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may also become clean.

23:27  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful on the outside, but within are full of the bones of the dead, and of all uncleanness.

23:28  Likewise, you also outwardly appear to men to be righteous, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

23:29  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the sepulchers of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous;

23:30  And you say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'

23:31  So then, you are testifying against yourselves, that you are the sons of those who killed the prophets;

23:32  And as for you, you are filling up the measure of your fathers.

23:33  You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how shall you escape the judgment of Gehenna?

23:34  Because of this, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes; and some of them you shall kill and crucify, and some of them you shall scourge in your synagogues, and some of them you shall persecute from city to city;

23:35  So that upon you may come all the righteous blood poured out upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous, unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

23:36  Truly I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation.

23:37  Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who have been sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you refused!

23:38  Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

23:39  For I say to you, you shall not see Me at all from this time forward, until you shall say, 'Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.' ”

Chapter 24

24:1  And after going out, Jesus departed from the temple; and His disciples came to Him to point out the buildings of the temple.

24:2  But Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, there shall not be left here even a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down."

24:3  And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, His disciples came to Him alone, saying, "Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Your coming, and of the completion of the age?"

24:4  Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Be on guard, so that no one deceives you.

24:5  For many shall come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'; and they shall deceive many.

24:6  And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you do not let these things disturb you. For it is necessary that all these things take place, but the end is not yet.

24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places.

24:8  Now all these things are the beginning of sorrows.

24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated by all nations for My name's sake.

24:10  And then shall many be led into sin, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another;

24:11  And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many;

24:12  And because lawlessness shall be multiplied, the love of many shall grow cold.

24:13  But the one who endures to the end, that one shall be saved.

24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.

24:15  Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (the one who reads, let him understand),

24:16  Then let those who are in Judea flee into the mountains.

24:17  Let the one who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house;

24:18  And let the one who is in the field not go back to take his garments.

24:19  But woe to those women who are expecting a child, and to those who are nursing infants in those days!

24:20  And pray that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the Sabbath;

24:21  For then shall there be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be again.

24:22  And if those days were not limited, there would no flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake those days shall be limited.

24:23  Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or, 'He is there,' do not believe it.

24:24  For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and they shall present great signs and wonders, in order to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

24:25  Behold, I have foretold it to you.

24:26  Therefore, if they say to you, 'Come and see! He is in the wilderness'; do not go forth. 'Come and see! He is in the secret chambers'; do not believe it.

24:27  For as the light of day, which comes forth from the east and shines as far as the west, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be.

24:28  For wherever the carcass may be, there will the eagles be gathered together.

24:29  But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

24:31  And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet; and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

24:32  Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branches have already become tender, and it puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.

24:33  In like manner also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

24:34  Truly I say to you, this generation shall in no wise pass away until all these things have taken place.

24:35  The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My words shall never pass away.

24:36  But concerning that day, and the hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

24:37  Now as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be at the coming of the Son of man.

24:38  For as in the days that were before the Flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark;

24:39  And they were not aware until the Flood came and took them all away; so shall it also be at the coming of the Son of man.

24:40  Then two shall be in the field; one shall be taken, and one shall be left;

24:41  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; one shall be taken, and one shall be left.

24:42  Watch, therefore, because you do not know in what hour your Lord is coming.

24:43  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have been watching, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

24:44  Therefore, you also be ready. For the Son of man is coming at a time that you do not think.

24:45  Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his lord has set over his household, to give them food in due season?

24:46  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing.

24:47  Truly I say to you, he will set him over all his property.

24:48  But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, 'My lord delays his coming,'

24:49  And shall begin to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken,

24:50  The lord of that servant will come in a day that he does not expect, and in an hour that he does not know.

24:51  And he shall cut him asunder and shall appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Chapter 25

25:1  "Then shall the kingdom of heaven be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

25:2  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

25:3  The ones who were foolish took their lamps, but they did not take oil with them;

25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels along with their lamps.

25:5  Now when the bridegroom was gone a long time, they all became drowsy and slept.

25:6  But in the middle of the night there was a cry: 'Look, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.'

25:7  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

25:8  And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.'

25:9  But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there not be enough for us and for you. But instead, go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut.

25:11  And afterwards the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.'

25:12  But He answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'

25:13  Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.

25:14  For the kingdom of heaven is like a man leaving the country, who called his own servants and delivered to them his property.

25:15  Now to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one; he gave to each one according to his own ability, and immediately left the country.

25:16  Then the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made an additional five talents.

25:17  In the same way also, the one who had received two talents also gained two others.

25:18  But the one who had received the single talent went and dug in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

25:19  Now after a long time, the lord of those servants came to take account with them.

25:20  Then the one who had received five talents came to him and brought an additional five talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered five talents to me; see, I have gained five other talents besides them.'

25:21  And his lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Because you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

25:22  And the one who had received two talents also came to him and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; see, I have gained two other talents besides them.'

25:23  His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! Because you were faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

25:24  Then the one who had received the single talent also came to him and said, 'Lord, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.

25:25  And because I was afraid, I went and hid your talent in the earth. Now look, you have your own.'

25:26  His lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather what I did not scatter.

25:27  Because you knew this, you were duty-bound to take my talent to the money exchangers, so that when I came, I could have received my own with interest.

25:28  Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten talents.

25:29  For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; on the other hand, as for the one who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken from him.

25:30  And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness.' There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

25:31  Now when the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory;

25:32  And He shall gather before Him all the nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

25:33  And He shall set the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at His left.

25:34  Then shall the King say to those at His right hand, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

25:35  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in;

25:36  I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'

25:37  Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You a drink?

25:38  And when did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You?

25:39  And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You?'

25:40  And answering, the King shall say to them, 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.'

25:41  Then shall He also say to those on the left, 'Depart from Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire, which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.

25:42  For I was hungry, and you did not give Me anything to eat; I was thirsty, and you did not give Me anything to drink;

25:43  I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in; I was naked, and you did not clothe Me; I was sick, and in prison, and you did not come to visit Me.'

25:44  Then they also shall answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and we did not minister to You?'

25:45  Then shall He answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, neither did you do it to Me.'

25:46  And they shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Chapter 26

26:1  Now it came to pass that when Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples,

26:2  "You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified."

26:3  Then the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;

26:4  And they took counsel together for the purpose of seizing Jesus by treachery, and killing Him.

26:5  But they said, "Not during the feast, so that there will not be a riot among the people."

26:6  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in Simon the leper's house,

26:7  A woman came to Him with an alabaster flask of ointment, very precious, and poured it on His head as He sat down to eat.

26:8  But when His disciples saw it, they became indignant and said, "What reason is there for this waste?

26:9  For this ointment could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor."

26:10  But Jesus knew this and said to them, "Why do you cause trouble for this woman? For she has performed a good work toward Me.

26:11  For you have the poor with you always, but you do not always have Me.

26:12  What this woman did in pouring this ointment on My body, she did for My burial.

26:13  Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, what this woman has done shall also be spoken of for a memorial of her."

26:14  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

26:15  And said, "What are you willing to give me, and I will deliver Him up to you?" And they offered him thirty pieces of silver.

26:16  And from that time he sought an opportunity to betray Him.

26:17  Now on the first of the unleaveneds, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You desire that we prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

26:18  And He said, "Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I will keep the Passover with My disciples at your house." ' "

26:19  Then the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and prepared the Passover.

26:20  And after evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.

26:21  And as they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you, one of you shall betray Me."

26:22  And being sorely grieved, each of them began to say to Him, "Am I the one, Lord?"

26:23  But He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish, he shall betray Me.

26:24  The Son of man indeed goes, as it has been written concerning Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would be better for him if that man had not been born."

26:25  Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Am I the one, Master?" He said to him, "You have said it."

26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took the bread and blessed it; then He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

26:27  And He took the cup; and after giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "All of you drink of it;

26:28  For this is My blood, the blood of the New Covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.

26:29  But I say to you, from this time forward I will not drink at all of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it anew with you in the kingdom of My Father."

26:30  And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

26:31  Then Jesus said to them, "All of you shall be offended in Me during this night; for it is written, 'I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.'

26:32  But after I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee."

26:33  Then Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all shall be offended in You, I will never be offended."

26:34  Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, during this very night, before the cock crows, you yourself shall deny Me three times."

26:35  Peter said to Him, "Even if I were required to die with You, in no way would I ever deny You." All the disciples also spoke in like manner.

26:36  Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here, while I go onward and pray."

26:37  And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be very melancholy and deeply depressed.

26:38  Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

26:39  And after going forward a little, He fell on His face, praying, and saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

26:40  Then He came to His disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, "What! Were you not able to watch with Me one hour?

26:41  Watch and pray, so that you do not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

26:42  The second time He went again and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cup cannot pass from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."

26:43  Now when He came to them, He found them asleep again, because their eyes were heavy.

26:44  And leaving them, He went again and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

26:45  Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

26:46  Arise! Let us be going. Look, the one who is betraying Me is approaching."

26:47  And while He was yet speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, suddenly appeared, and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

26:48  Now the one who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, "Whomever I shall kiss, He is the One. Arrest Him!"

26:49  And as soon as he came to Jesus, he said, "Hail, Rabbi," and earnestly kissed Him.

26:50  But Jesus said to him, "Friend, for what purpose have you come?" Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus, and arrested Him.

26:51  And one of those with Jesus suddenly stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

26:52  Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place; for all who take up the sword shall die by the sword.

26:53  Don't you realize that I have the power to call upon the Father at this time, and He will furnish Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

26:54  But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled? For this is ordained to be."

26:55  At that point Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out to take Me with swords and clubs, as against a robber? I sat day after day with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest Me.

26:56  But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

26:57  But those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.

26:58  And Peter followed Him from a distance, even to the court of the high priest; and after going inside, he sat down with the officers to see what the end would be.

26:59  Now the chief priests and the elders and the whole Sanhedrin sought false evidence against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death;

26:60  But they did not find any. Although many false witnesses came forward, they did not find any evidence.

26:61  Then at the last, two false witnesses came forward and said, "This Man said, 'I have the power to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.' "

26:62  And the high priest rose up and said to Him, "Have You no answer for what these are testifying against You?"

26:63  But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God that You tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God."

26:64  Jesus said to him, "You have said it. Moreover, I say to you, in the future you shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

26:65  Then the high priest ripped his own garments, saying, "He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, you have just now heard His blasphemy.

26:66  What do you think?" They answered and said, "He is deserving of death!"

26:67  Then they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists; and some struck Him with rods,

26:68  Saying, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one that struck You?"

26:69  Now Peter was sitting outside in the court; and a maid came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean."

26:70  But he denied it before everyone, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about."

26:71  And after he went out into the porch, another maid saw him and said to those there, "This man was also with Jesus the Nazarean."

26:72  Then again he denied it with an oath, , "I do not know the Man."

26:73  After a little while, those who were standing by came to Peter and said, "Truly, you also are one of them, for even your speech shows that you are."

26:74  Then he began to curse and to swear, saying, "I do not know the Man." And immediately a cock crowed.

26:75  And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, Who had said to him, "Before the cock crows, you yourself shall deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Chapter 27

27:1  Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death.

27:2  And after binding Him, they led Him away and delivered Him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

27:3  Now when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, he changed his mind and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying,

27:4  "I have sinned and have betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it yourself."

27:5  And after throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he went out and hanged himself.

27:6  But the chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood."

27:7  And after taking counsel, they bought a potter's field with the pieces of silver, for a burial ground for strangers.

27:8  Therefore that field is called The Field of Blood to this day.

27:9  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, "And I took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him on Whom a price was set, Whom they of the sons of Israel set a price on,

27:10  And gave them for the field of the potter, as the Lord had directed me."

27:11  Then Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you said."

27:12  And when He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He answered nothing.

27:13  Then Pilate said to Him, "Don't You hear how many things they testify against You?"

27:14  And He did not answer even one word to him, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

27:15  Now at the feast, the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the multitude, whomever they wished.

27:16  And they had at that time a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

27:17  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you desire that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus Who is called Christ?"

27:18  For he understood that they had delivered Him up because of envy.

27:19  Now as he sat on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him, saying, "Let there be nothing between you and that righteous Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

27:20  But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to demand Barabbas, and to destroy Jesus.

27:21  Then the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you desire that I release to you?" And they said, "Barabbas."

27:22  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus Who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"

27:23  And the governor said, "Why? What evil did He commit?" But they shouted all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

27:24  Now Pilate, seeing that he was accomplishing nothing, but that a riot was developing instead, took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am guiltless of the blood of this righteous Man. You see to it."

27:25  And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."

27:26  Then he released Barabbas to them; but after scourging Jesus, he delivered Him up so that He might be crucified.

27:27  Then the governor's soldiers, after taking Jesus with them into the Praetorium, gathered the entire band against Him;

27:28  And they stripped Him and put a scarlet cloak around Him.

27:29  And after platting a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a rod in His right hand; and bowing on their knees before Him, they mocked Him, and kept on saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

27:30  Then, after spitting on Him, they took the rod and struck Him on the head.

27:31  When they were done mocking Him, they took the cloak off Him; and they put His own garments on Him and led Him away to crucify Him.

27:32  Now as they came out, they found a Cyrenean man named Simon; and they compelled him to carry His cross.

27:33  And after coming to a place called Golgotha, which is called Place of a Skull,

27:34  They gave Him vinegar mingled with gall to drink; but after tasting it, He would not drink.

27:35  And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments by casting lots; so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, "They divided My garments among themselves, and for My vesture they cast lots."

27:36  And they sat down there to keep guard over Him.

27:37  And they put up over His head His accusation, written, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

27:38  And two robbers were crucified with Him, one at the right hand and one at the left.

27:39  Then those who were passing by railed at Him, shaking their heads,

27:40  And saying, "You Who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself. If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

27:41  And in the same way also the chief priests were mocking, with the scribes and elders, saying,

27:42  "He saved others, but He does not have the power to save Himself. If He is the King of Israel, let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe Him.

27:43  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him. For He said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

27:44  And the two robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him with the same words.

27:45  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness was over all the land.

27:46  And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" That is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

27:47  And some of those who were standing there heard and said, "This one is calling for Elijah."

27:48  And immediately one of them ran and, taking a sponge, filled it with vinegar and put it on a stick, and gave it to Him to drink.

27:49  But the rest said, "Let Him alone! Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him." Then another took a spear and thrust it into His side, and out came water and blood.

27:50  And after crying out again with a loud voice, Jesus yielded up His spirit.

27:51  Then suddenly the veil of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks were split,

27:52  So that the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had died, were resurrected

27:53  After His resurrection; and they came out of the tombs. Then they entered into the holy city, and appeared to many.

27:54  Then the centurion and those with him who had been keeping guard over Jesus, after seeing the earthquake and the things that took place, were filled with fear, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

27:55  Now there were many women who were watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him;

27:56  With whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

27:57  And when evening was coming on, a rich man of Arimathea came, named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus

27:58  After going to Pilate, he begged to have the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given over to him.

27:59  And after taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen cloth,

27:60  And placed it in his new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and after rolling a great stone to the door of the tomb, he went away.

27:61  But sitting there opposite the sepulcher were Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.

27:62  Now on the next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,

27:63  Saying, "Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while He was living, 'After three days I will rise.'

27:64  Therefore, command that the sepulcher be secured until the third day; lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He is risen from the dead'; and the last deception shall be worse than the first."

27:65  Then Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you know how."

27:66  And they went and made the sepulcher secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Chapter 28

28:1  Now late on the Sabbath, as the first day of the weeks was drawing near, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to observe the sepulcher.

28:2  And in the morning suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

28:3  Now his appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

28:4  And for fear of him, those who were keeping guard trembled, and became as dead men.

28:5  But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are seeking Jesus, Who was crucified.

28:6  He is not here; for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord Himself was lying.

28:7  And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead. And behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him. Listen! I have told you."

28:8  And they quickly left the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell it to His disciples.

28:9  But as they were going to tell His disciples, all at once Jesus Himself met them, saying, "Hail!" And they came to Him and held His feet, and worshiped Him.

28:10  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go, tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and there they shall see Me."

28:11  And as they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that were done.

28:12  Then, after gathering together with the elders and taking counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

28:13  Saying, "Tell everyone that His disciples came by night and stole Him while you were sleeping.

28:14  And if the governor hears of this, we will persuade him to release you from responsibility."

28:15  And they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this report has been spread abroad among the Jews to this day.

28:16  Now the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them to meet Him.

28:17  And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

28:19  Therefore, go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

28:20  Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even until the completion of the age." Amen.