1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us.
2 They have written the same things that we learned from others -- the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message.
3 Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellentn Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order
4 to help you know that what you have been taught is true.
5 During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah's group. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron.
6 Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old.
8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty.
9 According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.
10 There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense table.
12 When he saw the angel, Zechariah was startled and frightened.
13 But the angel said to him, "Zechariah, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and you will name him John.
14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many people will be happy because of his birth.
15 John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.
16 He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.
17 He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too."
19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.
20 Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen."
21 Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.
22 When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only make signs to them and remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service at the Temple was finished, he went home.
24 Later, Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,
25 Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamedn of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame."
26 During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.
28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you."
29 But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean.
30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.
31 Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of King David, his ancestor.
33 He will rule over the people of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel said to Mary, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you. For this reason the baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.
36 Now Elizabeth, your relative, is also pregnant with a son though she is very old. Everyone thought she could not have a baby, but she has been pregnant for six months.
37 God can do anything!"
38 Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Then the angel went away.
39 Mary got up and went quickly to a town in the hills of Judea.
40 She came to Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.
41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the unborn baby inside her jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42 She cried out in a loud voice, "God has blessed you more than any other woman, and he has blessed the baby to which you will give birth.
43 Why has this good thing happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?
44 When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.
45 You are blessed because you believed that what the Lord said to you would really happen."
46 Then Mary said, "My soul praises the Lord;
47 my heart rejoices in God my Savior,
48 because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed,
49 because the Powerful One has done great things for me. His name is holy.
50 God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him.
51 He has done mighty deeds by his power. He has scattered the people who are proud and think great things about themselves.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones and raised up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with nothing.
54 He has helped his servant, the people of Israel, remembering to show them mercy
55 as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his children forever."
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
57 When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy.
58 Her neighbors and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59 When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father's name,
60 but his mother said, "No! He will be named John."
61 The people said to Elizabeth, "But no one in your family has this name."
62 Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.
63 Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John," and everyone was surprised.
64 Immediately Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God.
65 All their neighbors became alarmed, and in all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things.
66 The people who heard about them wondered, saying, "What will this child be?" because the Lord was with him.
67 Then Zechariah, John's father, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
68 Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
69 He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God's servant David.
70 He said that he would do this through his holy prophets who lived long ago:
71 He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us.
72 He said he would give mercy to our fathers and that he would remember his holy promise.
73 God promised Abraham, our father,
74 that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear,
75 being holy and good before God as long as we live.
76 Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
77 You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.
78 With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.
79 It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace."
80 And so the child grew up and became strong in spirit. John lived in the desert until the time when he came out to preach to Israel.
1 At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register.
2 This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3 And all went to their own towns to be registered.
4 So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.
5 Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engagedn and who was now pregnant.
6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby,
7 and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.
8 That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.
10 The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.
11 Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord.
12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box."
13 Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying:
14 Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God."
15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about."
16 So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding box.
17 When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child.
18 Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.
20 Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them.
21 When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised and was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.
22 When the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
23 (It is written in the law of the Lord: "Every firstborn male shall be given to the Lord.")
24 Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: "You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons."
25 In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel's sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him.
26 Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord.
27 The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do,
28 Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
29 Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said.
30 With my own eyes I have seen your salvation,
31 which you prepared before all people.
32 It is a light for the non-Jewish people to see and an honor for your people, the Israelites."
33 Jesus' father and mother were amazed at what Simeon had said about him.
34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, "God has chosen this child to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel. He will be a sign from God that many people will not accept
35 so that the thoughts of many will be made known. And the things that will happen will make your heart sad, too."
36 There was a prophetess, Anna, from the family of Phanuel in the tribe of Asher. Anna was very old. She had once been married for seven years.
37 Then her husband died, and she was a widow for eighty-four years. Anna never left the Temple but worshiped God, going without food and praying day and night.
38 Standing there at that time, she thanked God and spoke about Jesus to all who were waiting for God to free Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything the law of the Lord commanded, they went home to Nazareth, their own town in Galilee.
40 The little child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's goodness was upon him.
41 Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went to the feast as they always did.
43 After the feast days were over, they started home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
44 Thinking that Jesus was with them in the group, they traveled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends.
45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there.
46 After three days they found Jesus sitting in the Temple with the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and answers.
48 When Jesus' parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you."
49 Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"
50 But they did not understand the meaning of what he said.
51 Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened.
52 Jesus became wiser and grew physically. People liked him, and he pleased God.
1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod's brother, the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis; and Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene.
2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.
3 He went all over the area around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins.
4 As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: "This is a voice of one who calls out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make the road straight for him.
5 Every valley should be filled in, and every mountain and hill should be made flat. Roads with turns should be made straight, and rough roads should be made smooth.
6 And all people will know about the salvation of God!'"
7 To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's coming punishment?
8 Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don't begin to say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
9 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
10 The people asked John, "Then what should we do?"
11 John answered, "If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also."
12 Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"
13 John said to them, "Don't take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take."
14 The soldiers asked John, "What about us? What should we do?" John said to them, "Don't force people to give you money, and don't lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get."
15 Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one.
16 John answered everyone, "I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out."
18 And John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people.
19 But John spoke against Herod, the governor, because of his sin with Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and because of the many other evil things Herod did.
20 So Herod did something even worse: He put John in prison.
21 When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. While Jesus was praying, heaven opened
22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you."
23 When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph's son. Joseph was the sonn of Heli.
24 Heli was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Melki. Melki was the son of Jannai. Jannai was the son of Joseph.
25 Joseph was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Amos. Amos was the son of Nahum. Nahum was the son of Esli. Esli was the son of Naggai.
26 Naggai was the son of Maath. Maath was the son of Mattathias. Mattathias was the son of Semein. Semein was the son of Josech. Josech was the son of Joda.
27 Joda was the son of Joanan. Joanan was the son of Rhesa. Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the grandson of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the son of Neri.
28 Neri was the son of Melki. Melki was the son of Addi. Addi was the son of Cosam. Cosam was the son of Elmadam. Elmadam was the son of Er.
29 Er was the son of Joshua. Joshua was the son of Eliezer. Eliezer was the son of Jorim. Jorim was the son of Matthat. Matthat was the son of Levi.
30 Levi was the son of Simeon. Simeon was the son of Judah. Judah was the son of Joseph. Joseph was the son of Jonam. Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
31 Eliakim was the son of Melea. Melea was the son of Menna. Menna was the son of Mattatha. Mattatha was the son of Nathan. Nathan was the son of David.
32 David was the son of Jesse. Jesse was the son of Obed. Obed was the son of Boaz. Boaz was the son of Salmon. Salmon was the son of Nahshon.
33 Nahshon was the son of Amminadab. Amminadab was the son of Admin. Admin was the son of Arni. Arni was the son of Hezron. Hezron was the son of Perez. Perez was the son of Judah.
34 Judah was the son of Jacob. Jacob was the son of Isaac. Isaac was the son of Abraham. Abraham was the son of Terah. Terah was the son of Nahor.
35 Nahor was the son of Serug. Serug was the son of Reu. Reu was the son of Peleg. Peleg was the son of Eber. Eber was the son of Shelah.
36 Shelah was the son of Cainan. Cainan was the son of Arphaxad. Arphaxad was the son of Shem. Shem was the son of Noah. Noah was the son of Lamech.
37 Lamech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalalel. Mahalalel was the son of Kenan.
38 Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.
1 Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert
2 where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry.
3 The devil said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures: 'A person does not live by eating only bread.'"
5 Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant.
6 The devil said to Jesus, "I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.
7 If you worship me, then it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures: 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"
9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple. He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump down.
10 It is written in the Scriptures: 'He has put his angels in charge of you to watch over you.'
11 It is also written: 'They will catch you in their hands so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.'"
12 Jesus answered, "But it also says in the Scriptures: 'Do not test the Lord your God.'"
13 After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he left him to wait until a better time.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and stories about him spread all through the area.
15 He began to teach in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as he always did, and stood up to read.
17 The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:
18 The Lord has put his Spirit in me, because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again.
19 God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness."
20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was watching Jesus closely.
21 He began to say to them, "While you heard these words just now, they were coming true!"
22 All the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the words of grace he spoke. They asked, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"
23 Jesus said to them, "I know that you will tell me the old saying: 'Doctor, heal yourself.' You want to say, 'We heard about the things you did in Capernaum. Do those things here in your own town!'"
24 Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, a prophet is not accepted in his hometown.
25 But I tell you the truth, there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah. It did not rain in Israel for three and one-half years, and there was no food anywhere in the whole country.
26 But Elijah was sent to none of those widows, only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon.
27 And there were many with skin diseases living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were healed, only Naaman, who was from the country of Syria."
28 When all the people in the synagogue heard these things, they became very angry.
29 They got up, forced Jesus out of town, and took him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the edge,
30 but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way.
31 Jesus went to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and on the Sabbath day, he taught the people.
32 They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.
33 In the synagogue a man who had within him an evil spirit shouted in a loud voice,
34 Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- God's Holy One!"
35 Jesus commanded the evil spirit, "Be quiet! Come out of the man!" The evil spirit threw the man down to the ground before all the people and then left the man without hurting him.
36 The people were amazed and said to each other, "What does this mean? With authority and power he commands evil spirits, and they come out."
37 And so the news about Jesus spread to every place in the whole area.
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.
39 He came to her side and commanded the fever to leave. It left her, and immediately she got up and began serving them.
40 When the sun went down, the people brought those who were sick to Jesus. Putting his hands on each sick person, he healed every one of them.
41 Demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God." But Jesus commanded the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew Jesus was the Christ.
42 At daybreak, Jesus went to a lonely place, but the people looked for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving.
43 But Jesus said to them, "I must preach about God's kingdom to other towns, too. This is why I was sent."
44 Then he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
1 One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God.
2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.
4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish."
5 Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will."
6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break.
7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.
8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!"
9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were
10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people."
11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
12 When Jesus was in one of the towns, there was a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he bowed before him and begged him, "Lord, you can heal me if you will."
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, "I will. Be healed!" Immediately the disease disappeared.
14 Then Jesus said, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priestn and offer a gift for your healing, as Moses commanded. This will show the people what I have done."
15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses,
16 but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.
17 One day as Jesus was teaching the people, the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were there. The Lord was giving Jesus the power to heal people.
18 Just then, some men were carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and put him down before Jesus.
19 But because there were so many people there, they could not find a way in. So they went up on the roof and lowered the man on his mat through the ceiling into the middle of the crowd right before Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
21 The Jewish teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought to themselves, "Who is this man who is speaking as if he were God? Only God can forgive sins."
22 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Why are you thinking these things?
23 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?
24 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home."
25 At once the man stood up before them, picked up his mat, and went home, praising God.
26 All the people were fully amazed and began to praise God. They were filled with much respect and said, "Today we have seen amazing things!"
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax collector's booth. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!"
28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
29 Then Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus at his house. Many tax collectors and other people were eating there, too.
30 But the Pharisees and the men who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to Jesus' followers, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
31 Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy people who need a doctor, but the sick.
32 I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives."
33 They said to Jesus, "John's followers often give up eatingn for a certain time and pray, just as the Pharisees do. But your followers eat and drink all the time."
34 Jesus said to them, "You cannot make the friends of the bridegroom give up eating while he is still with them.
35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will give up eating."
36 Jesus told them this story: "No one takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole in an old coat. Otherwise, he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth.
37 Also, no one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, the wine will spill out, and the leather bags will be ruined.
38 New wine must be put into new leather bags.
39 No one after drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, 'The old wine is better.'"
1 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His followers picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.
2 Some Pharisees said, "Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"
3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry?
4 He went into God's house and took and ate the holy bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he gave some to the people who were with him."
5 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day."
6 On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man with a crippled right hand was there.
7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day so they could accuse him.
8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up here in the middle of everyone." The man got up and stood there.
9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?"
10 Jesus looked around at all of them and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand, and it was healed.
11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry and discussed with each other what they could do to Jesus.
12 At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God.
13 The next morning, Jesus called his followers to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles:
14 Simon (Jesus named him Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (called the Zealot),
16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later turned Jesus over to his enemies.
17 Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, and he stood on level ground. A large group of his followers was there, as well as many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.
18 They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses, and he healed those who were troubled by evil spirits.
19 All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Jesus looked at his followers and said, "You people who are poor are happy, because the kingdom of God belongs to you.
21 You people who are now hungry are happy, because you will be satisfied. You people who are now crying are happy, because you will laugh with joy.
22 People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be happy.
23 Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
24 But how terrible it will be for you who are rich, because you have had your easy life.
25 How terrible it will be for you who are full now, because you will be hungry. How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.
26 How terrible when everyone says only good things about you, because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.
27 But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you.
29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back.
31 Do to others what you would want them to do to you.
32 If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners love the people who love them.
33 If you do good only to those who do good to you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that!
34 If you lend things to people, always hoping to get something back, what praise should you get? Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount!
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin.
36 Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy.
37 Don't judge other people, and you will not be judged. Don't accuse others of being guilty, and you will not be accused of being guilty. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you."
39 Jesus told them this story: "Can a blind person lead another blind person? No! Both of them will fall into a ditch.
40 A student is not better than the teacher, but the student who has been fully trained will be like the teacher.
41 Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood in your own eye?
42 How can you say to your friend, 'Friend, let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye' when you cannot see that big piece of wood in your own eye! You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend's eye.
43 A good tree does not produce bad fruit, nor does a bad tree produce good fruit.
44 Each tree is known by its own fruit. People don't gather figs from thornbushes, and they don't get grapes from bushes.
45 Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts. But evil people bring evil things out of the evil they stored in their hearts. People speak the things that are in their hearts.
46 Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?
47 I will show you what everyone is like who comes to me and hears my words and obeys.
48 That person is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. When the floods came, the water tried to wash the house away, but it could not shake it, because the house was built well.
49 But the one who hears my words and does not obey is like a man who built his house on the ground without a foundation. When the floods came, the house quickly fell and was completely destroyed."
1 When Jesus finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum.
2 There was an army officer who had a servant who was very important to him. The servant was so sick he was nearly dead.
3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some older Jewish leaders to him to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant.
4 The men went to Jesus and begged him, saying, "This officer is worthy of your help.
5 He loves our people, and he built us a synagogue."
6 So Jesus went with the men. He was getting near the officer's house when the officer sent friends to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, because I am not worthy to have you come into my house.
7 That is why I did not come to you myself. But you only need to command it, and my servant will be healed.
8 I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant does it."
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, this is the greatest faith I have found anywhere, even in Israel."
10 Those who had been sent to Jesus went back to the house where they found the servant in good health.
11 Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his followers and a large crowd traveled with him.
12 When he came near the town gate, he saw a funeral. A mother, who was a widow, had lost her only son. A large crowd from the town was with the mother while her son was being carried out.
13 When the Lord saw her, he felt very sorry for her and said, "Don't cry."
14 He went up and touched the coffin, and the people who were carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!"
15 And the son sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 All the people were amazed and began praising God, saying, "A great prophet has come to us! God has come to help his people."
17 This news about Jesus spread through all Judea and into all the places around there.
18 John's followers told him about all these things. He called for two of his followers
19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?"
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?'"
21 At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to many blind people.
22 Then Jesus answered John's followers, "Go tell John what you saw and heard here. The blind can see, the crippled can walk, and people with skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor.
23 Those who do not stumble in their faith because of me are blessed!"
24 When John's followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reedn blown by the wind?
25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, people who have fine clothes and much wealth live in kings' palaces.
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet.
27 This was written about him: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way for you.'
28 I tell you, John is greater than any other person ever born, but even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John."
29 (When the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they all agreed that God's teaching was good, because they had been baptized by John.
30 But the Pharisees and experts on the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.)
31 Then Jesus said, "What shall I say about the people of this time? What are they like?
32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling to one another and saying, 'We played music for you, but you did not dance; we sang a sad song, but you did not cry.'
33 John the Baptist came and did not eat bread or drink wine, and you say, 'He has a demon in him.'
34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
35 But wisdom is proved to be right by what it does."
36 One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, so Jesus went into the Pharisee's house and sat at the table.
37 A sinful woman in the town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. So she brought an alabaster jar of perfume
38 and stood behind Jesus at his feet, crying. She began to wash his feet with her tears, and she dried them with her hair, kissing them many times and rubbing them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who asked Jesus to come to his house saw this, he thought to himself, "If Jesus were a prophet, he would know that the woman touching him is a sinner!"
40 Jesus said to the Pharisee, "Simon, I have something to say to you." Simon said, "Teacher, tell me."
41 Jesus said, "Two people owed money to the same banker. One owed five hundred coinsn and the other owed fifty.
42 They had no money to pay what they owed, but the banker told both of them they did not have to pay him. Which person will love the banker more?"
43 Simon, the Pharisee, answered, "I think it would be the one who owed him the most money." Jesus said to Simon, "You are right."
44 Then Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.
45 You gave me no kiss of greeting, but she has been kissing my feet since I came in.
46 You did not put oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet.
47 I tell you that her many sins are forgiven, so she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven only a little will love only a little."
48 Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
49 The people sitting at the table began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"
50 Jesus said to the woman, "Because you believed, you are saved from your sins. Go in peace."
1 After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him,
2 and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
3 Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod's house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.
4 When a great crowd was gathered, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he told them this story:
5 A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up.
6 Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water.
7 Some seed fell among thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up with it and choked the good plants.
8 And some seed fell on good ground and grew and made a hundred times more." As Jesus finished the story, he called out, "You people who can hear me, listen!"
9 Jesus' followers asked him what this story meant.
10 Jesus said, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of God. But I use stories to speak to other people so that: 'They will look, but they may not see. They will listen, but they may not understand.'
11 This is what the story means: The seed is God's message.
12 The seed that fell beside the road is like the people who hear God's teaching, but the devil comes and takes it away from them so they cannot believe it and be saved.
13 The seed that fell on rock is like those who hear God's teaching and accept it gladly, but they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They believe for a while, but when trouble comes, they give up.
14 The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God's teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit.
15 And the seed that fell on the good ground is like those who hear God's teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it and patiently produce good fruit.
16 No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a lampstand so those who come in will see the light.
17 Everything that is hidden will become clear, and every secret thing will be made known.
18 So be careful how you listen. Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them."
19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but there was such a crowd they could not get to him.
20 Someone said to Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
21 Jesus answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and obey it!"
22 One day Jesus and his followers got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let's go across the lake." And so they started across.
23 While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A very strong wind blew up on the lake, causing the boat to fill with water, and they were in danger.
24 The followers went to Jesus and woke him, saying, "Master! Master! We will drown!" Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves. They stopped, and it became calm.
25 Jesus said to his followers, "Where is your faith?" The followers were afraid and amazed and said to each other, "Who is this that commands even the wind and the water, and they obey him?"
26 Jesus and his followers sailed across the lake from Galilee to the area of the Gerasene people.
27 When Jesus got out on the land, a man from the town who had demons inside him came to Jesus. For a long time he had worn no clothes and had lived in the burial caves, not in a house.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him. He said with a loud voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"
29 He said this because Jesus was commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had taken hold of him. Though he had been kept under guard and chained hand and foot, he had broken his chains and had been forced by the demon out into a lonely place.
30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Legion," because many demons were in him.
31 The demons begged Jesus not to send them into eternal darkness.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding on a hill, and the demons begged Jesus to allow them to go into the pigs. So Jesus allowed them to do this.
33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd ran down the hill into the lake and was drowned.
34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and told about this in the town and the countryside.
35 And people went to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, because the demons were gone. But the people were frightened.
36 The people who saw this happen told the others how Jesus had made the man well.
37 All the people of the Gerasene country asked Jesus to leave, because they were all very afraid. So Jesus got into the boat and went back to Galilee.
38 The man whom Jesus had healed begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you." So the man went all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him.
40 When Jesus got back to Galilee, a crowd welcomed him, because everyone was waiting for him.
41 A man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, came to Jesus and fell at his feet, begging him to come to his house.
42 Jairus' only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying. While Jesus was on his way to Jairus' house, the people were crowding all around him.
43 A woman was in the crowd who had been bleeding for twelve years, but no one was able to heal her.
44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his coat, and instantly her bleeding stopped.
45 Then Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When all the people said they had not touched him, Peter said, "Master, the people are all around you and are pushing against you."
46 But Jesus said, "Someone did touch me, because I felt power go out from me."
47 When the woman saw she could not hide, she came forward, shaking, and fell down before Jesus. While all the people listened, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.
48 Jesus said to her, "Dear woman, you are made well because you believed. Go in peace."
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue leader and said to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't bother the teacher anymore."
50 When Jesus heard this, he said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe, and your daughter will be well."
51 When Jesus went to the house, he let only Peter, John, James, and the girl's father and mother go inside with him.
52 All the people were crying and feeling sad because the girl was dead, but Jesus said, "Stop crying. She is not dead, only asleep."
53 The people laughed at Jesus because they knew the girl was dead.
54 But Jesus took hold of her hand and called to her, "My child, stand up!"
55 Her spirit came back into her, and she stood up at once. Then Jesus ordered that she be given something to eat.
56 The girl's parents were amazed, but Jesus told them not to tell anyone what had happened.
1 Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal sicknesses.
2 He sent the apostles out to tell about God's kingdom and to heal the sick.
3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your trip, neither a walking stick, bag, bread, money, or extra clothes.
4 When you enter a house, stay there until it is time to leave.
5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off of your feetn as you leave the town, as a warning to them."
6 So the apostles went out and traveled through all the towns, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere.
7 Herod, the governor, heard about all the things that were happening and was confused, because some people said, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead."
8 Others said, "Elijah has come to us." And still others said, "One of the prophets who lived long ago has risen from the dead."
9 Herod said, "I cut off John's head, so who is this man I hear such things about?" And Herod kept trying to see Jesus.
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then Jesus took them with him to a town called Bethsaida where they could be alone together.
11 But the people learned where Jesus went and followed him. He welcomed them and talked with them about God's kingdom and healed those who needed to be healed.
12 Late in the afternoon, the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, "Send the people away. They need to go to the towns and countryside around here and find places to sleep and something to eat, because no one lives in this place."
13 But Jesus said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go buy food for all these people."
14 (There were about five thousand men there.) Jesus said to his followers, "Tell the people to sit in groups of about fifty people."
15 So the followers did this, and all the people sat down.
16 Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish, and looking up to heaven, he thanked God for the food. Then he divided the food and gave it to the followers to give to the people.
17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was gathered up, filling twelve baskets.
18 One time when Jesus was praying alone, his followers were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the people say I am?"
19 They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah. And others say you are one of the prophets from long ago who has come back to life."
20 Then Jesus asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ from God."
21 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone, saying,
22 The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He will be killed and after three days will be raised from the dead."
23 Jesus said to all of them, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me.
24 Those who want to save their lives will give up true life. But those who give up their lives for me will have true life.
25 It is worth nothing for them to have the whole world if they themselves are destroyed or lost.
26 If people are ashamed of me and my teaching, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
27 I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God before they die."
28 About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James and went up on a mountain to pray.
29 While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became shining white.
30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with Jesus.
31 They appeared in heavenly glory, talking about his departure which he would soon bring about in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and the others were very sleepy, but when they awoke fully, they saw the glory of Jesus and the two men standing with him.
33 When Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents -- one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter did not know what he was talking about.)
34 While he was saying these things, a cloud came and covered them, and they became afraid as the cloud covered them.
35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to him!"
36 When the voice finished speaking, only Jesus was there. Peter, John, and James said nothing and told no one at that time what they had seen.
37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.
38 A man in the crowd shouted to him, "Teacher, please come and look at my son, because he is my only child.
39 An evil spirit seizes my son, and suddenly he screams. It causes him to lose control of himself and foam at the mouth. The evil spirit keeps on hurting him and almost never leaves him.
40 I begged your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they could not do it."
41 Jesus answered, "You people have no faith, and your lives are all wrong. How long must I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here."
42 While the boy was coming, the demon threw him on the ground and made him lose control of himself. But Jesus gave a strong command to the evil spirit and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.
43 All the people were amazed at the great power of God. While everyone was wondering about all that Jesus did, he said to his followers,
44 Don't forget what I tell you now: The Son of Man will be handed over to people."
45 But the followers did not understand what this meant; the meaning was hidden from them so they could not understand. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
46 Jesus' followers began to have an argument about which one of them was the greatest.
47 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he took a little child and stood the child beside him.
48 Then Jesus said, "Whoever accepts this little child in my name accepts me. And whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me, because whoever is least among you all is really the greatest."
49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone using your name to force demons out of people. We told him to stop, because he does not belong to our group."
50 But Jesus said to him, "Don't stop him, because whoever is not against you is for you."
51 When the time was coming near for Jesus to depart, he was determined to go to Jerusalem.
52 He sent some men ahead of him, who went into a town in Samaria to make everything ready for him.
53 But the people there would not welcome him, because he was set on going to Jerusalem.
54 When James and John, followers of Jesus, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven and destroy those people?"
55 But Jesus turned and scolded them.
56 Thenn they went to another town.
57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you any place you go."
58 Jesus said to them, "The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head."
59 Jesus said to another man, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
60 But Jesus said to him, "Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about the kingdom of God."
61 Another man said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to my family."
62 Jesus said, "Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God."
1 After this, the Lord chose seventy-twon others and sent them out in pairs ahead of him into every town and place where he planned to go.
2 He said to them, "There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest.
3 Go now, but listen! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
4 Don't carry a purse, a bag, or sandals, and don't waste time talking with people on the road.
5 Before you go into a house, say, 'Peace be with this house.'
6 If peaceful people live there, your blessing of peace will stay with them, but if not, then your blessing will come back to you.
7 Stay in the peaceful house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. A worker should be given his pay. Don't move from house to house.
8 If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you.
9 Heal the sick who live there, and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'
10 But if you go into a town, and the people don't welcome you, then go into the streets and say,
11 'Even the dirt from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the kingdom of God is near.'
12 I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for the people of Sodomn than for the people of that town.
13 How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles I did in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have changed their lives long ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show they had changed.
14 But on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will be thrown down to the depths!
16 Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever refuses to accept you refuses to accept me. And whoever refuses to accept me refuses to accept the One who sent me."
17 When the seventy-twon came back, they were very happy and said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!"
18 Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing will hurt you.
20 But you should not be happy because the spirits obey you but because your names are written in heaven."
21 Then Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children. Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted.
22 My Father has given me all things. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father. And no one knows who the Father is, except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to tell."
23 Then Jesus turned to his followers and said privately, "You are blessed to see what you now see.
24 I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you now see, but they did not, and they wanted to hear what you now hear, but they did not."
25 Then an expert on the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to get life forever?"
26 Jesus said, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?"
27 The man answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind." Also, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
28 Jesus said to him, "Your answer is right. Do this and you will live."
29 But the man, wanting to show the importance of his question, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 Jesus answered, "As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, some robbers attacked him. They tore off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there, almost dead.
31 It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he walked by on the other side.
32 Next, a Leviten came there, and after he went over and looked at the man, he walked by on the other side of the road.
33 Then a Samaritann traveling down the road came to where the hurt man was. When he saw the man, he felt very sorry for him.
34 The Samaritan went to him, poured olive oil and winen on his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he put the hurt man on his own donkey and took him to an inn where he cared for him.
35 The next day, the Samaritan brought out two coins, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of this man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.'"
36 Then Jesus said, "Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?"
37 The expert on the law answered, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Then go and do what he did."
38 While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house.
39 Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to him teach.
40 But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me."
41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.
42 Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."
1 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his followers."
2 Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come.
3 Give us the food we need for each day.
4 Forgive us for our sins, because we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And do not cause us to be tempted.'"
5 Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house at midnight and said to him, 'Friend, loan me three loaves of bread.
6 A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothing for him to eat.'
7 Your friend inside the house answers, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.'
8 I tell you, if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need.
9 So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.
10 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.
11 If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead?
12 Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?
13 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
14 One time Jesus was sending out a demon that could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed.
15 But some of them said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."
16 Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven.
17 But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And a family that is divided against itself will not continue.
18 So if Satan is divided against himself, his kingdom will not continue. You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons.
19 But if I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, what power do your people use to force demons out? So they will be your judges.
20 But if I use the power of God to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21 When a strong person with many weapons guards his own house, his possessions are safe.
22 But when someone stronger comes and defeats him, the stronger one will take away the weapons the first man trusted and will give away the possessions.
23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not work with me is working against me.
24 When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest. But when it finds no place, it says, 'I will go back to the house I left.'
25 And when it comes back, it finds that house swept clean and made neat.
26 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before."
27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, "Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you."
28 But Jesus said, "No, happy are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it."
29 As the crowd grew larger, Jesus said, "The people who live today are evil. They want to see a miracle for a sign, but no sign will be given them, except the sign of Jonah.
30 As Jonah was a sign for those people who lived in Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign for the people of this time.
31 On the Judgment Day the Queen of the Southn will stand up with the people who live now. She will show they are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.
32 On the Judgment Day the people of Nineveh will stand up with the people who live now, and they will show that you are guilty. When Jonah preached to them, they were sorry and changed their lives. And I tell you that someone greater than Jonah is here.
33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a secret place or under a bowl, but on a lampstand so the people who come in can see.
34 Your eye is a light for the body. When your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But when your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness.
35 So be careful not to let the light in you become darkness.
36 If your whole body is full of light, and none of it is dark, then you will shine bright, as when a lamp shines on you."
37 After Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee asked Jesus to eat with him. So Jesus went in and sat at the table.
38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he saw that Jesus did not wash his handsn before the meal.
39 The Lord said to him, "You Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.
40 You foolish people! The same one who made what is outside also made what is inside.
41 So give what is in your dishes to the poor, and then you will be fully clean.
42 How terrible for you Pharisees! You give God one-tenth of even your mint, your rue, and every other plant in your garden. But you fail to be fair to others and to love God. These are the things you should do while continuing to do those other things.
43 How terrible for you Pharisees, because you love to have the most important seats in the synagogues, and you love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.
44 How terrible for you, because you are like hidden graves, which people walk on without knowing."
45 One of the experts on the law said to Jesus, "Teacher, when you say these things, you are insulting us, too."
46 Jesus answered, "How terrible for you, you experts on the law! You make strict rules that are very hard for people to obey, but you yourselves don't even try to follow those rules.
47 How terrible for you, because you build tombs for the prophets whom your ancestors killed!
48 And now you show that you approve of what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you build tombs for them!
49 This is why in his wisdom God said, 'I will send prophets and apostles to them. They will kill some, and they will treat others cruelly.'
50 So you who live now will be punished for the deaths of all the prophets who were killed since the beginning of the world --
51 from the killing of Abel to the killing of Zechariah, who died between the altar and the Temple. Yes, I tell you that you who are alive now will be punished for them all.
52 How terrible for you, you experts on the law. You have taken away the key to learning about God. You yourselves would not learn, and you stopped others from learning, too."
53 When Jesus left, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees began to give him trouble, asking him questions about many things,
54 trying to catch him saying something wrong.
1 So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites.
2 Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.
3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops.
4 I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of people who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more to hurt you.
5 I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who has the power to kill you and also to throw you into hell. Yes, this is the one you should fear.
6 Five sparrows are sold for only two pennies, and God does not forget any of them.
7 But God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.
8 I tell you, all those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I, the Son of Man, will say before the angels of God that they belong to me.
9 But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before the angels of God that they do not belong to me.
10 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 When you are brought into the synagogues before the leaders and other powerful people, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say.
12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say."
13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us."
14 But Jesus said to him, "Who said I should judge or decide between you?"
15 Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns."
16 Then Jesus told this story: "There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop.
17 He thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.'
18 Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods.
19 Then I can say to myself, "I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!"'
20 But God said to him, 'Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?'
21 This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God."
22 Jesus said to his followers, "So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body.
23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.
24 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than birds.
25 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.
26 If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things?
27 Consider how the lilies grow; they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.
28 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So how much more will God clothe you? Don't have so little faith!
29 Don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don't keep worrying.
30 All the people in the world are trying to get these things, and your Father knows you need them.
31 But seek God's kingdom, and all the other things you need will be given to you.
32 Don't fear, little flock, because your Father wants to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Get for yourselves purses that will not wear out, the treasure in heaven that never runs out, where thieves can't steal and moths can't destroy.
34 Your heart will be where your treasure is.
35 Be dressed, ready for service, and have your lamps shining.
36 Be like servants who are waiting for their master to come home from a wedding party. When he comes and knocks, the servants immediately open the door for him.
37 They will be blessed when their master comes home, because he sees that they were watching for him. I tell you the truth, the master will dress himself to serve and tell the servants to sit at the table, and he will serve them.
38 Those servants will be happy when he comes in and finds them still waiting, even if it is midnight or later.
39 Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time a thief was coming, he would not allow the thief to enter his house.
40 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time when you don't expect him!"
41 Peter said, "Lord, did you tell this story to us or to all people?"
42 The Lord said, "Who is the wise and trusted servant that the master trusts to give the other servants their food at the right time?
43 When the master comes and finds the servant doing his work, the servant will be blessed.
44 I tell you the truth, the master will choose that servant to take care of everything he owns.
45 But suppose the servant thinks to himself, 'My master will not come back soon,' and he begins to beat the other servants, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
46 The master will come when that servant is not ready and is not expecting him. Then the master will cut him in pieces and send him away to be with the others who don't obey.
47 The servant who knows what his master wants but is not ready, or who does not do what the master wants, will be beaten with many blows!
48 But the servant who does not know what his master wants and does things that should be punished will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And from the one trusted with much, much more will be expected.
49 I came to set fire to the world, and I wish it were already burning!
50 I have a baptismn to suffer through, and I feel very troubled until it is over.
51 Do you think I came to give peace to the earth? No, I tell you, I came to divide it.
52 From now on, a family with five people will be divided, three against two, and two against three.
53 They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
54 Then Jesus said to the people, "When you see clouds coming up in the west, you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it happens.
55 When you feel the wind begin to blow from the south, you say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it happens.
56 Hypocrites! You know how to understand the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don't you understand what is happening now?
57 Why can't you decide for yourselves what is right?
58 If your enemy is taking you to court, try hard to settle it on the way. If you don't, your enemy might take you to the judge, and the judge might turn you over to the officer, and the officer might throw you into jail.
59 I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid everything you owe."
1 At that time some people were there who told Jesus that Pilaten had killed some people from Galilee while they were worshiping. He mixed their blood with the blood of the animals they were sacrificing to God.
2 Jesus answered, "Do you think this happened to them because they were more sinful than all others from Galilee?
3 No, I tell you. But unless you change your hearts and lives, you will be destroyed as they were!
4 What about those eighteen people who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more sinful than all the others who live in Jerusalem?
5 No, I tell you. But unless you change your hearts and lives, you will all be destroyed too!"
6 Jesus told this story: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for some fruit on the tree, but he found none.
7 So the man said to his gardener, 'I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down. Why should it waste the ground?'
8 But the servant answered, 'Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and put on some fertilizer.
9 If the tree produces fruit next year, good. But if not, you can cut it down.'"
10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.
11 A woman was there who, for eighteen years, had an evil spirit in her that made her crippled. Her back was always bent; she could not stand up straight.
12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are free from your sickness."
13 Jesus put his hands on her, and immediately she was able to stand up straight and began praising God.
14 The synagogue leader was angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. He said to the people, "There are six days when one has to work. So come to be healed on one of those days, and not on the Sabbath day."
15 The Lord answered, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you untie your work animals and lead them to drink water every day -- even on the Sabbath day?
16 This woman that I healed, a daughter of Abraham, has been held by Satan for eighteen years. Surely it is not wrong for her to be freed from her sickness on a Sabbath day!"
17 When Jesus said this, all of those who were criticizing him were ashamed, but the entire crowd rejoiced at all the wonderful things Jesus was doing.
18 Then Jesus said, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it with?
19 It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the wild birds build nests in its branches."
20 Jesus said again, "What can I compare God's kingdom with?
21 It is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub of flour until it made all the dough rise."
22 Jesus was teaching in every town and village as he traveled toward Jerusalem.
23 Someone said to Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus said,
24 Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able.
25 When the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside and knock on the door and say, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26 Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in the streets of our town.'
27 But he will say to you, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil!'
28 You will cry and grind your teeth with pain when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom, but you yourselves thrown outside.
29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south and will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God.
30 There are those who have the lowest place in life now who will have the highest place in the future. And there are those who have the highest place now who will have the lowest place in the future."
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away from here! Herod wants to kill you!"
32 Jesus said to them, "Go tell that fox Herod, 'Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out and healing people. Then, on the third day, I will reach my goal.'
33 Yet I must be on my way today and tomorrow and the next day. Surely it cannot be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.
34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me.
35 Now your house is left completely empty. I tell you, you will not see me until that time when you will say, 'God bless the One who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
1 On a Sabbath day, when Jesus went to eat at the home of a leading Pharisee, the people were watching Jesus very closely.
2 And in front of him was a man with dropsy.
3 Jesus said to the Pharisees and experts on the law, "Is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?"
4 But they would not answer his question. So Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.
5 Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, "If your child or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not pull him out quickly?"
6 And they could not answer him.
7 When Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit, he told this story:
8 When someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't take the most important seat, because someone more important than you may have been invited.
9 The host, who invited both of you, will come to you and say, 'Give this person your seat.' Then you will be embarrassed and will have to move to the last place.
10 So when you are invited, go sit in a seat that is not important. When the host comes to you, he may say, 'Friend, move up here to a more important place.' Then all the other guests will respect you.
11 All who make themselves great will be made humble, but those who make themselves humble will be made great."
12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid.
13 Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
14 Then you will be blessed, because they have nothing and cannot pay you back. But you will be repaid when the good people rise from the dead."
15 One of those at the table with Jesus heard these things and said to him, "Happy are the people who will share in the meal in God's kingdom."
16 Jesus said to him, "A man gave a big banquet and invited many people.
17 When it was time to eat, the man sent his servant to tell the guests, 'Come. Everything is ready.'
18 But all the guests made excuses. The first one said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go look at it. Please excuse me.'
19 Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen; I must go and try them. Please excuse me.'
20 A third person said, 'I just got married; I can't come.'
21 So the servant returned and told his master what had happened. Then the master became angry and said, 'Go at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'
22 Later the servant said to him, 'Master, I did what you commanded, but we still have room.'
23 The master said to the servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes, and urge the people there to come so my house will be full.
24 I tell you, none of those whom I invited first will eat with me.'"
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them,
26 If anyone comes to me but loves his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters -- or even life -- more than me, he cannot be my follower.
27 Whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me cannot be my follower.
28 If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job.
29 If you don't, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you,
30 saying, 'This person began to build but was not able to finish.'
31 If a king is going to fight another king, first he will sit down and plan. He will decide if he and his ten thousand soldiers can defeat the other king who has twenty thousand soldiers.
32 If he can't, then while the other king is still far away, he will send some people to speak to him and ask for peace.
33 In the same way, you must give up everything you have to be my follower.
34 Salt is good, but if it loses its salty taste, you cannot make it salty again.
35 It is no good for the soil or for manure; it is thrown away. "You people who can hear me, listen."
1 The tax collectors and sinners all came to listen to Jesus.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain: "Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this story:
4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. Then he will leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it.
5 And when he finds it, he happily puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbors and says, 'Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep.'
7 In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to change.
8 Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but loses one. She will light a lamp, sweep the house, and look carefully for the coin until she finds it.
9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, 'Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life."
11 Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons.
12 The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property.' So the father divided the property between his two sons.
13 Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living.
14 After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry.
15 So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs.
16 The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 When he realized what he was doing, he thought, 'All of my father's servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger.
18 I will leave and return to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants."'
20 So the son left and went to his father. "While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
21 The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 But the father said to his servants, 'Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate.
24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!' So they began to celebrate.
25 The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.
26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what all this meant.
27 The servant said, 'Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.'
28 The older son was angry and would not go in to the feast. So his father went out and begged him to come in.
29 But the older son said to his father, 'I have served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to have at a feast with my friends.
30 But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!'
31 The father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.'"
1 Jesus also said to his followers, "Once there was a rich man who had a manager to take care of his business. This manager was accused of cheating him.
2 So he called the manager in and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of what you have done with my money, because you can't be my manager any longer.'
3 The manager thought to himself, 'What will I do since my master is taking my job away from me? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg.
4 I know what I'll do so that when I lose my job people will welcome me into their homes.'
5 So the manager called in everyone who owed the master any money. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe?'
6 He answered, 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.' The manager said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write four hundred gallons.'
7 Then the manager asked another one, 'How much do you owe?' He answered, 'One thousand bushels of wheat.' Then the manager said to him, 'Take your bill and write eight hundred bushels.'
8 So, the master praised the dishonest manager for being smart. Yes, worldly people are smarter with their own kind than spiritual people are.
9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever.
10 Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot.
11 If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches."
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, were listening to all these things and made fun of Jesus.
15 He said to them, "You make yourselves look good in front of people, but God knows what is really in your hearts. What is important to people is hateful in God's sight.
16 The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were preached until John came. Since then the Good News about the kingdom of God is being told, and everyone tries to enter it by force.
17 It would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter in the law to be changed.
18 If a man divorces his wife and marries another woman, he is guilty of adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman is also guilty of adultery."
19 Jesus said, "There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes and lived in luxury every day.
20 And a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores, was laid at the rich man's gate.
21 He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man's table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores.
22 Later, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried.
23 In the place of the dead, he was in much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus at his side.
24 He called, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire!'
25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember when you were alive you had the good things in life, but bad things happened to Lazarus. Now he is comforted here, and you are suffering.
26 Besides, there is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here.'
27 The rich man said, 'Father, then please send Lazarus to my father's house.
28 I have five brothers, and Lazarus could warn them so that they will not come to this place of pain.'
29 But Abraham said, 'They have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets; let them learn from them.'
30 The rich man said, 'No, father Abraham! If someone goes to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives.'
31 But Abraham said to him, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not listen to someone who comes back from the dead.'"
1 Jesus said to his followers, "Things that cause people to sin will happen, but how terrible for the person who causes them to happen!
2 It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large stone around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin.
3 So be careful! "If another follower sins, warn him, and if he is sorry and stops sinning, forgive him.
4 If he sins against you seven times in one day and says that he is sorry each time, forgive him."
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith!"
6 The Lord said, "If your faith were the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the sea,' and it would obey you.
7 Suppose one of you has a servant who has been plowing the ground or caring for the sheep. When the servant comes in from working in the field, would you say, 'Come in and sit down to eat'?
8 No, you would say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Then get yourself ready and serve me. After I finish eating and drinking, you can eat.'
9 The servant does not get any special thanks for doing what his master commanded.
10 It is the same with you. When you have done everything you are told to do, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done the work we should do.'"
11 While Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was going through the area between Samaria and Galilee.
12 As he came into a small town, ten men who had a skin disease met him there. They did not come close to Jesus
13 but called to him, "Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!"
14 When Jesus saw the men, he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As the ten men were going, they were healed.
15 When one of them saw that he was healed, he went back to Jesus, praising God in a loud voice.
16 Then he bowed down at Jesus' feet and thanked him. (And this man was a Samaritan.)
17 Jesus said, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine?
18 Is this Samaritan the only one who came back to thank God?"
19 Then Jesus said to him, "Stand up and go on your way. You were healed because you believed."
20 Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the kingdom of God come?" Jesus answered, "God's kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes.
21 People will not say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' because God's kingdom is withinn you."
22 Then Jesus said to his followers, "The time will come when you will want very much to see one of the days of the Son of Man. But you will not see it.
23 People will say to you, 'Look, there he is!' or, 'Look, here he is!' Stay where you are; don't go away and search.
24 When the Son of Man comes again, he will shine like lightning, which flashes across the sky and lights it up from one side to the other.
25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by the people of this time.
26 When the Son of Man comes again, it will be as it was when Noah lived.
27 People were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving their children to be married until the day Noah entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed them all.
28 It will be the same as during the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building.
29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from the sky and killed them all.
30 This is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.
31 On that day, a person who is on the roof and whose belongings are in the house should not go inside to get them. A person who is in the field should not go back home.
32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Those who try to keep their lives will lose them. But those who give up their lives will save them.
34 I tell you, on that night two people will be sleeping in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 There will be two women grinding grain together; one will be taken, and the other will be left."
1 Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and never lose hope.
2 In a certain town there was a judge who did not respect God or care about people.
3 In that same town there was a widow who kept coming to this judge, saying, 'Give me my rights against my enemy.'
4 For a while the judge refused to help her. But afterwards, he thought to himself, 'Even though I don't respect God or care about people,
5 I will see that she gets her rights. Otherwise she will continue to bother me until I am worn out.'"
6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge said.
7 God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them.
8 I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find those on earth who believe in him?"
9 Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else:
10 A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray.
11 The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector.
12 I give up eatingn twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get!'
13 The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven. But he beat on his chest because he was so sad. He said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14 I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not. All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great."
15 Some people brought even their babies to Jesus so he could touch them. When the followers saw this, they told them to stop.
16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children.
17 I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a child, or you will never enter it."
18 A certain leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to have life forever?"
19 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good.
20 You know the commands: 'You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. Honor your father and mother.'"
21 But the leader said, "I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy."
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me."
23 But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich.
24 Jesus looked at him and said, "It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God.
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26 When the people heard this, they asked, "Then who can be saved?"
27 Jesus answered, "God can do things that are not possible for people to do."
28 Peter said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you."
29 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, wives, brothers, parents, or children for the kingdom of God
30 will get much more in this life. And in the age that is coming, they will have life forever."
31 Then Jesus took the twelve apostles aside and said to them, "We are going to Jerusalem. Everything the prophets wrote about the Son of Man will happen.
32 He will be turned over to those who are not Jews. They will laugh at him, insult him, spit on him,
33 beat him with whips, and kill him. But on the third day, he will rise to life again."
34 The apostles did not understand this; the meaning was hidden from them, and they did not realize what was said.
35 As Jesus came near the city of Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.
36 When he heard the people coming down the road, he asked, "What is happening?"
37 They told him, "Jesus, from Nazareth, is going by."
38 The blind man cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39 The people leading the group warned the blind man to be quiet. But the blind man shouted even more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,
41 What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, I want to see."
42 Jesus said to him, "Then see. You are healed because you believed."
43 At once the man was able to see, and he followed Jesus, thanking God. All the people who saw this praised God.
1 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho.
2 A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd.
4 He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.
5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today."
6 Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to complain, "Jesus is staying with a sinner!"
8 But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more."
9 Jesus said to him, "Salvation has come to this house today, because this man also belongs to the family of Abraham.
10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them."
11 As the people were listening to this, Jesus told them a story because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God's kingdom would appear immediately.
12 He said: "A very important man went to a country far away to be made a king and then to return home.
13 So he called ten of his servants and gave a coinn to each servant. He said, 'Do business with this money until I get back.'
14 But the people in the kingdom hated the man. So they sent a group to follow him and say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
15 But the man became king. When he returned home, he said, 'Call those servants who have my money so I can know how much they earned with it.'
16 The first servant came and said, 'Sir, I earned ten coins with the one you gave me.'
17 The king said to the servant, 'Excellent! You are a good servant. Since I can trust you with small things, I will let you rule over ten of my cities.'
18 The second servant said, 'Sir, I earned five coins with your one.'
19 The king said to this servant, 'You can rule over five cities.'
20 Then another servant came in and said to the king, 'Sir, here is your coin which I wrapped in a piece of cloth and hid.
21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't plant.'
22 Then the king said to the servant, 'I will condemn you by your own words, you evil servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking money that I didn't earn and gathering food that I didn't plant.
23 Why then didn't you put my money in the bank? Then when I came back, my money would have earned some interest.'
24 The king said to the men who were standing by, 'Take the coin away from this servant and give it to the servant who earned ten coins.'
25 They said, 'But sir, that servant already has ten coins.'
26 The king said, 'Those who have will be given more, but those who do not have anything will have everything taken away from them.
27 Now where are my enemies who didn't want me to be king? Bring them here and kill them before me.'"
28 After Jesus said this, he went on toward Jerusalem.
29 As Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his followers.
30 He said, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me.
31 If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that the Master needs it."
32 The two followers went into town and found the colt just as Jesus had told them.
33 As they were untying it, its owners came out and asked the followers, "Why are you untying our colt?"
34 The followers answered, "The Master needs it."
35 So they brought it to Jesus, threw their coats on the colt's back, and put Jesus on it.
36 As Jesus rode toward Jerusalem, others spread their coats on the road before him.
37 As he was coming close to Jerusalem, on the way down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of followers began joyfully shouting praise to God for all the miracles they had seen.
38 They said, "God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! There is peace in heaven and glory to God."
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell your followers not to say these things."
40 But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if my followers didn't say these things, then the stones would cry out."
41 As Jesus came near Jerusalem, he saw the city and cried for it,
42 saying, "I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But now it is hidden from you.
43 The time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and will hold you in on all sides.
44 They will destroy you and all your people, and not one stone will be left on another. All this will happen because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you."
45 Jesus went into the Temple and began to throw out the people who were selling things there.
46 He said, "It is written in the Scriptures, 'My Temple will be a house for prayer.' But you have changed it into a 'hideout for robbers'!"
47 Jesus taught in the Temple every day. The leading priests, the experts on the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill Jesus.
48 But they did not know how they could do it, because all the people were listening closely to him.
1 One day Jesus was in the Temple, teaching the people and telling them the Good News. The leading priests, teachers of the law, and older Jewish leaders came up to talk with him,
2 saying, "Tell us what authority you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
3 Jesus answered, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me:
4 When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
5 They argued about this, saying, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
6 But if we say, 'It was from other people,' all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet."
7 So they answered that they didn't know where it came from.
8 Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things."
9 Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
10 When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
11 Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.
12 So the man sent a third servant. The farmers wounded him and threw him out.
13 The owner of the vineyard said, 'What will I do now? I will send my son whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'
14 But when the farmers saw the son, they said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.'
15 So the farmers threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the owner of this vineyard do to them?
16 He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers." When the people heard this story, they said, "Let this never happen!"
17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does this verse mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone'?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!"
19 The teachers of the law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus at once, because they knew the story was about them. But they were afraid of what the people would do.
20 So they watched Jesus and sent some spies who acted as if they were sincere. They wanted to trap Jesus in saying something wrong so they could hand him over to the authority and power of the governor.
21 So the spies asked Jesus, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. You pay no attention to who people are, and you always teach the truth about God's way.
22 Tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23 But Jesus, knowing they were trying to trick him, said,
24 Show me a coin. Whose image and name are on it?" They said, "Caesar's."
25 Jesus said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's."
26 So they were not able to trap Jesus in anything he said in the presence of the people. And being amazed at his answer, they became silent.
27 Some Sadducees, who believed people would not rise from the dead, came to Jesus.
28 They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.
29 Once there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, but had no children.
30 Then the second brother married the widow, and he died.
31 And the third brother married the widow, and he died. The same thing happened with all seven brothers; they died and had no children.
32 Finally, the woman died also.
33 Since all seven brothers had married her, whose wife will she be when people rise from the dead?"
34 Jesus said to them, "On earth, people marry and are given to someone to marry.
35 But those who will be worthy to be raised from the dead and live again will not marry, nor will they be given to someone to marry.
36 In that life they are like angels and cannot die. They are children of God, because they have been raised from the dead.
37 Even Moses clearly showed that the dead are raised to life. When he wrote about the burning bush, he said that the Lord is 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
38 God is the God of the living, not the dead, because all people are alive to him."
39 Some of the teachers of the law said, "Teacher, your answer was good."
40 No one was brave enough to ask him another question.
41 Then Jesus said, "Why do people say that the Christ is the Son of David?
42 In the book of Psalms, David himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit by me at my right side,
43 until I put your enemies under your control.'
44 David calls the Christ 'Lord,' so how can the Christ be his son?"
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his followers,
46 Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts.
47 But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment."
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box.
2 Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box.
3 He said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people.
4 They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on."
5 Some people were talking about the Temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God. But Jesus said,
6 As for these things you are looking at, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down."
7 They asked Jesus, "Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8 Jesus said, "Be careful so you are not fooled. Many people will come in my name, saying, 'I am the One' and, 'The time has come!' But don't follow them.
9 When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid, because these things must happen first, but the end will come later."
10 Then he said to them, "Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms.
11 In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven.
12 But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because you follow me.
13 But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.
14 Make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about what you will say.
15 I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong.
16 Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you, and they will kill some of you.
17 All people will hate you because you follow me.
18 But none of these things can really harm you.
19 By continuing to have faith you will save your lives.
20 When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed.
21 At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in.
22 These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures.
23 How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people.
24 They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over.
25 There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea.
26 People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!"
29 Then Jesus told this story: "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.
30 When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near.
31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that God's kingdom is near.
32 I tell you the truth, all these things will happen while the people of this time are still living.
33 Earth and sky will be destroyed, but the words I have spoken will never be destroyed.
34 Be careful not to spend your time feasting, drinking, or worrying about worldly things. If you do, that day might come on you suddenly,
35 like a trap on all people on earth.
36 So be ready all the time. Pray that you will be strong enough to escape all these things that will happen and that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man."
37 During the day, Jesus taught the people in the Temple, and at night he went out of the city and stayed on the Mount of Olives.
38 Every morning all the people got up early to go to the Temple to listen to him.
1 It was almost time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover Feast.
2 The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to kill Jesus, because they were afraid of the people.
3 Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles.
4 Judas went to the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the Temple and talked to them about a way to hand Jesus over to them.
5 They were pleased and agreed to give Judas money.
6 He agreed and watched for the best time to hand Jesus over to them when he was away from the crowd.
7 The Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lambs had to be sacrificed.
8 Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat."
9 They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare it?"
10 Jesus said to them, "After you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters,
11 and tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says: Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover meal with my followers?'
12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Prepare the Passover meal there."
13 So Peter and John left and found everything as Jesus had said. And they prepared the Passover meal.
14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table.
15 He said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer.
16 I will not eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God."
17 Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this cup and share it among yourselves.
18 I will not drink again from the fruit of the vinen until God's kingdom comes."
19 Then Jesus took some bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the apostles, saying, "This is my body, which I am giving for you. Do this to remember me."
20 In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup and said, "This cup is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This new agreement begins with my blood which is poured out for you.
21 But one of you will turn against me, and his hand is with mine on the table.
22 What God has planned for the Son of Man will happen, but how terrible it will be for that one who turns against the Son of Man."
23 Then the apostles asked each other which one of them would do that.
24 The apostles also began to argue about which one of them was the most important.
25 But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the non-Jewish people rule over them, and those who have authority over others like to be called 'friends of the people.'
26 But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader should be like the servant.
27 Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving? You think the one at the table is more important, but I am like a servant among you.
28 You have stayed with me through my struggles.
29 Just as my Father has given me a kingdom, I also give you a kingdom
30 so you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to test all of you as a farmer sifts his wheat.
32 I have prayed that you will not lose your faith! Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me."
33 But Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and even to die with you!"
34 But Jesus said, "Peter, before the rooster crows this day, you will say three times that you don't know me."
35 Then Jesus said to the apostles, "When I sent you out without a purse, a bag, or sandals, did you need anything?" They said, "No."
36 He said to them, "But now if you have a purse or a bag, carry that with you. If you don't have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.
37 The Scripture says, 'He was treated like a criminal,' and I tell you this scripture must have its full meaning. It was written about me, and it is happening now."
38 His followers said, "Look, Lord, here are two swords." He said to them, "That is enough."
39 Jesus left the city and went to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his followers went with him.
40 When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray for strength against temptation."
41 Then Jesus went about a stone's throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed,
42 Father, if you are willing, take away this cupn of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want."
43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to strengthen him.
44 Being full of pain, Jesus prayed even harder. His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
45 When he finished praying, he went to his followers and found them asleep because of their sadness.
46 Jesus said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray for strength against temptation."
47 While Jesus was speaking, a crowd came up, and Judas, one of the twelve apostles, was leading them. He came close to Jesus so he could kiss him.
48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you using the kiss to give the Son of Man to his enemies?"
49 When those who were standing around him saw what was happening, they said, "Lord, should we strike them with our swords?"
50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 Jesus said, "Stop! No more of this." Then he touched the servant's ear and healed him.
52 Those who came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the soldiers who guarded the Temple, and the older Jewish leaders. Jesus said to them, "You came out here with swords and clubs as though I were a criminal.
53 I was with you every day in the Temple, and you didn't arrest me there. But this is your time -- the time when darkness rules."
54 They arrested Jesus, and led him away, and brought him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed far behind them.
55 After the soldiers started a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat together, Peter sat with them.
56 A servant girl saw Peter sitting there in the firelight, and looking closely at him, she said, "This man was also with him."
57 But Peter said this was not true; he said, "Woman, I don't know him."
58 A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, "You are also one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"
59 About an hour later, another man insisted, "Certainly this man was with him, because he is from Galilee, too."
60 But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you are talking about!" At once, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: "Before the rooster crows this day, you will say three times that you don't know me."
62 Then Peter went outside and cried painfully.
63 The men who were guarding Jesus began making fun of him and beating him.
64 They blindfolded him and said, "Prove that you are a prophet, and tell us who hit you."
65 They said many cruel things to Jesus.
66 When day came, the council of the older leaders of the people, both the leading priests and the teachers of the law, came together and led Jesus to their highest court.
67 They said, "If you are the Christ, tell us." Jesus said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me.
68 And if I ask you, you will not answer.
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will sit at the right hand of the powerful God."
70 They all said, "Then are you the Son of God?" Jesus said to them, "You say that I am."
71 They said, "Why do we need witnesses now? We ourselves heard him say this."
1 Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus to Pilate.
2 They began to accuse Jesus, saying, "We caught this man telling things that mislead our people. He says that we should not pay taxes to Caesar, and he calls himself the Christ, a king."
3 Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Those are your words."
4 Pilate said to the leading priests and the people, "I find nothing against this man."
5 They were insisting, saying, "But Jesus makes trouble with the people, teaching all around Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here."
6 Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee.
7 Since Jesus was under Herod's authority, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, because he had heard about Jesus and had wanted to meet him for a long time. He was hoping to see Jesus work a miracle.
9 Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus said nothing.
10 The leading priests and teachers of the law were standing there, strongly accusing Jesus.
11 After Herod and his soldiers had made fun of Jesus, they dressed him in a kingly robe and sent him back to Pilate.
12 In the past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies, but on that day they became friends.
13 Pilate called the people together with the leading priests and the Jewish leaders.
14 He said to them, "You brought this man to me, saying he makes trouble among the people. But I have questioned him before you all, and I have not found him guilty of what you say.
15 Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing for which he should die.
16 So, after I punish him, I will let him go free."
1 Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb,
3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them.
5 The women were very afraid and bowed their heads to the ground. The men said to them, "Why are you looking for a living person in this place for the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen from the dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee?
7 He said the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the third day."
8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had said.
9 The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and the other followers.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had happened at the tomb.
11 But they did not believe the women, because it sounded like nonsense.
12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down and looking in, he saw only the cloth that Jesus' body had been wrapped in. Peter went away to his home, wondering about what had happened.
13 That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 They were talking about everything that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them,
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 Then he said, "What are these things you are talking about while you walk?" The two followers stopped, looking very sad.
18 The one named Cleopas answered, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?"
19 Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about?" They said, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people.
20 Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.
21 But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened.
22 And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb,
23 but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive!
24 So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus."
25 Then Jesus said to them, "You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said.
26 They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory."
27 Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures.
28 They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
29 But they begged him, "Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them.
30 When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them.
31 And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared.
32 They said to each other, "It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us."
33 So the two followers got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven apostles and others gathered.
34 They were saying, "The Lord really has risen from the dead! He showed himself to Simon."
35 Then the two followers told what had happened on the road and how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.
36 While the two followers were telling this, Jesus himself stood right in the middle of them and said, "Peace be with you."
37 They were fearful and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost.
38 But Jesus said, "Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see?
39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have a living body as you see I have."
40 After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
41 While they still could not believe it because they were amazed and happy, Jesus said to them, "Do you have any food here?"
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish.
43 While the followers watched, Jesus took the fish and ate it.
44 He said to them, "Remember when I was with you before? I said that everything written about me must happen -- everything in the law of Moses, the books of the prophets, and the Psalms."
45 Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
46 He said to them, "It is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
47 and that a change of hearts and lives and forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, starting at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I will send you what my Father has promised, but you must stay in Jerusalem until you have received that power from heaven."
50 Jesus led his followers as far as Bethany, and he raised his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he was separated from them and carried into heaven.
52 They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem very happy.
53 They stayed in the Temple all the time, praising God.