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Mark 14:32-15:47
Contemporary English Version

Jesus Prays

(Matthew 26.36-46; Luke 22.39-46)

32 Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he told them, “Sit here while I pray.”

33 Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and 34 told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”

35-36 Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father,[a] if it is possible, don't let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don't make me suffer by drinking from this cup.[b] But do what you want, and not what I want.”

37 When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can't you stay awake for just one hour? 38 Stay awake and pray that you won't be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

39 Jesus went back and prayed the same prayer. 40 But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say.

41 When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time, he said, “Are you still sleeping and resting?[c] Enough of this! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. 42 Get up! Let's go. The one who will betray me is already here.”

Jesus Is Arrested

(Matthew 26.47-56; Luke 22.47-53; John 18.3-12)

43 Jesus was still speaking, when Judas the betrayer came up. He was one of the twelve disciples, and a mob of men armed with swords and clubs were with him. They had been sent by the chief priests, the nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses. 44 Judas had told them ahead of time, “Arrest the man I greet with a kiss.[d] Tie him up tight and lead him away.”

45 Judas walked right up to Jesus and said, “Teacher!” Then Judas kissed him, 46 and the men grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

47 Someone standing there pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to the mob, “Why do you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like a criminal? 49 (A) Day after day I was with you and taught in the temple, and you didn't arrest me. But what the Scriptures say must come true.”

50 All of Jesus' disciples ran off and left him. 51 One of them was a young man who was wearing only a linen cloth. And when the men grabbed him, 52 he left the cloth behind and ran away naked.

Jesus Is Questioned by the Council

(Matthew 26.57-68; Luke 22.54,55,63-71; John 18.13,14,19-24)

53 Jesus was led off to the high priest. Then the chief priests, the nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses all met together. 54 Peter had followed at a distance, and when he reached the courtyard of the high priest's house, he sat down with the guards to warm himself beside a fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole council tried to find someone to accuse Jesus of a crime, so they could put him to death. But they could not find anyone to accuse him. 56 Many people did tell lies against Jesus, but they did not agree on what they said. 57 Finally, some men stood up and lied about him. They said, 58 (B) “We heard him say he would tear down this temple that we built. He also claimed that in three days he would build another one without any help.” 59 But even then they did not agree on what they said.

60 The high priest stood up in the council and asked Jesus, “Why don't you say something in your own defense? Don't you hear the charges they are making against you?” 61 But Jesus kept quiet and did not say a word. The high priest asked him another question, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the glorious God?”[e]

62 (C) “Yes, I am!” Jesus answered.

“Soon you will see
    the Son of Man
sitting at the right side[f]
    of God All-Powerful,
and coming with the clouds
    of heaven.”

63 At once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted, “Why do we need more witnesses? 64 (D) You heard him claim to be God! What is your decision?” They all agreed he should be put to death.

65 Some of the people started spitting on Jesus. They blindfolded him, hit him with their fists, and said, “Tell us who hit you!” Then the guards took charge of Jesus and beat him.

Peter Says He Doesn't Know Jesus

(Matthew 26.69-75; Luke 22.56-62; John 18.15-18,25-27)

66 While Peter was still in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came up 67 and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared at him and said, “You were with Jesus from Nazareth!”

68 Peter replied, “That isn't true! I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have any idea what you mean.” He went out to the gate, and a rooster crowed.[g]

69 The servant girl saw Peter again and said to the people standing there, “This man is one of them!”

70 “No, I'm not!” Peter replied.

A little while later some of the people said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them. You're a Galilean!”

71 This time Peter began to curse and swear, “I don't even know the man you're talking about!”

72 At once the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me.” So Peter started crying.

Pilate Questions Jesus

(Matthew 27.1,2,11-14; Luke 23.1-5; John 18.28-38)

15 Early the next morning the chief priests, the nation's leaders, and the teachers of the Law of Moses met together with the whole Jewish council. They tied up Jesus and led him off to Pilate.

2 He asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Those are your words,” Jesus answered.

3 The chief priests brought many charges against Jesus. 4 Then Pilate questioned him again, “Don't you have anything to say? Don't you hear what crimes they say you have done?” 5 But Jesus did not answer, and Pilate was amazed.

The Death Sentence

(Matthew 27.15-26; Luke 23.13-25; John 18.39—19.16)

6 During Passover, Pilate always freed one prisoner chosen by the people. 7 And at that time there was a prisoner named Barabbas. He and some others had been arrested for murder during a riot. 8 The crowd now came and asked Pilate to set a prisoner free, just as he usually did.

9 Pilate asked them, “Do you want me to free the king of the Jews?” 10 Pilate knew that the chief priests had brought Jesus to him because they were jealous.

11 But the chief priests told the crowd to ask Pilate to free Barabbas.

12 Then Pilate asked the crowd, “What do you want me to do with this man you say is[h] the king of the Jews?”

13 They yelled, “Nail him to a cross!”

14 Pilate asked, “But what crime has he done?”

“Nail him to a cross!” they yelled even louder.

15 Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free. Then he ordered his soldiers to beat Jesus with a whip and nail him to a cross.

Soldiers Make Fun of Jesus

(Matthew 27.27-30; John 19.2,3)

16 The soldiers led Jesus inside the courtyard of the fortress[i] and called together the rest of the troops. 17 They put a purple robe[j] on him, and on his head they placed a crown they had made out of thorn branches. 18 They made fun of Jesus and shouted, “Hey, you king of the Jews!” 19 Then they beat him on the head with a stick. They spit on him and knelt down and pretended to worship him.

20 When the soldiers had finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple robe. They put his own clothes back on him and led him off to be nailed to a cross. 21 (E) Simon from Cyrene happened to be coming in from a farm, and they forced him to carry Jesus' cross. Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.

Jesus Is Nailed to a Cross

(Matthew 27.31-44; Luke 23.27-43; John 19.17-27)

22 The soldiers took Jesus to Golgotha, which means “Place of a Skull.”[k] 23 There they gave him some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain, but he refused to drink it.

24 (F) They nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 25 It was about nine o'clock in the morning when they nailed him to the cross. 26 On it was a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, “This is the King of the Jews.” 27-28 (G) The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.[l]

29 (H) People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and shouted, “Ha! So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days. 30 Save yourself and come down from the cross!”

31 The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said to each other, “He saved others, but he can't save himself. 32 If he is the Messiah, the king of Israel, let him come down from the cross! Then we will see and believe.” The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.

The Death of Jesus

(Matthew 27.45-56; Luke 23.44-49; John 19.28-30)

33 About noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until around three o'clock. 34 (I) Then about that time Jesus shouted, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”[m] which means, “My God, my God, why have you deserted me?”

35 Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, “He is calling for Elijah.”[n] 36 (J) One of them ran and grabbed a sponge. After he had soaked it in wine, he put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. He said, “Let's wait and see if Elijah will come[o] and take him down!” 37 Jesus shouted and then died.

38 (K) At once the curtain in the temple[p] tore in two from top to bottom.

39 A Roman army officer was standing in front of Jesus. When the officer saw how Jesus died, he said, “This man really was the Son of God!”

40-41 (L) Some women were looking on from a distance. They and many others had come with Jesus to Jerusalem. But even before this they had been his followers and had helped him while he was in Galilee. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph were two of these women. Salome was also one of them.

Jesus Is Buried

(Matthew 27.57-61; Luke 23.50-56; John 19.38-42)

42 It was now the evening before the Sabbath, and the Jewish people were getting ready for that sacred day. 43 A man named Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus. Joseph was a highly respected member of the Jewish council, and he was also waiting for God's kingdom to come.

44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, and he called in the army officer to find out if Jesus had been dead very long. 45 After the officer told him, Pilate let Joseph have Jesus' body.

46 Joseph bought a linen cloth and took the body down from the cross. He had it wrapped in the cloth, and he put it in a tomb that had been cut into solid rock. Then he rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb.

47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body was placed.

Footnotes

  1. 14.35,36 Father: The Greek text has “Abba,” which is an Aramaic word meaning “father.”
  2. 14.35,36 by drinking from this cup: See the note at 10.38.
  3. 14.41 Are you still sleeping and resting: Or “You may as well keep on sleeping and resting.”
  4. 14.44 greet with a kiss: It was the custom for people to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
  5. 14.61 Son of the glorious God: “Son of God” was one of the titles used for the kings of Israel.
  6. 14.62 right side: See the note at 12.36.
  7. 14.68 a rooster crowed: These words are not in some manuscripts.
  8. 15.12 this man you say is: These words are not in some manuscripts.
  9. 15.16 fortress: The place where the Roman governor stayed. It was probably at Herod's palace west of Jerusalem, though it may have been Fortress Antonia, north of the temple, where the Roman troops were stationed.
  10. 15.17 purple robe: This was probably a Roman soldier's robe.
  11. 15.22 Place of a Skull: The place was probably given this name because it was near a large rock in the shape of a human skull.
  12. 15.27-28 left: Some manuscripts add, “So the Scriptures came true which say, ‘He was accused of being a criminal.’ ”
  13. 15.34 Eloi … sabachthani: These words are in Aramaic, a language spoken in Palestine during the time of Jesus.
  14. 15.35 Elijah: The name “Elijah” sounds something like “Eloi,” which means “my God.”
  15. 15.36 see if Elijah will come: See the note at 6.15.
  16. 15.38 curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant.
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Mark 14:32-15:47
New International Version

Gethsemane(A)

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John(B) along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,”(C) he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour(D) might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,”(E) he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup(F) from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(G)

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.(H) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”(I)

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour(J) has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Jesus Arrested(K)

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas,(L) one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.

44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!”(M) and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

48 “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts,(N) and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”(O) 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.(P)

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin(Q)(R)

53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.(S) There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.(T)

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin(U) were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another,(V) not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.(W)

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”(X)

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”(Y)

63 The high priest tore his clothes.(Z) “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

They all condemned him as worthy of death.(AA) 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.(AB)

Peter Disowns Jesus(AC)

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard,(AD) one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself,(AE) she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,”(AF) she said.

68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”(AG) he said, and went out into the entryway.[b]

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it.(AH)

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”(AI)

71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”(AJ)

72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[c] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice[d] you will disown me three times.”(AK) And he broke down and wept.

Jesus Before Pilate(AL)

15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law(AM) and the whole Sanhedrin,(AN) made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.(AO)

2 “Are you the king of the Jews?”(AP) asked Pilate.

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”

5 But Jesus still made no reply,(AQ) and Pilate was amazed.

6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”(AR) asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas(AS) instead.

12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.

14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,(AT) and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus(AU)

16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace(AV) (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!”(AW) 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out(AX) to crucify him.

The Crucifixion of Jesus(AY)

21 A certain man from Cyrene,(AZ) Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus,(BA) was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.(BB) 22 They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 23 Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh,(BC) but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots(BD) to see what each would get.

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.(BE)

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. [28] [e] 29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads(BF) and saying, “So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,(BG) 30 come down from the cross and save yourself!” 31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him(BH) among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah,(BI) this king of Israel,(BJ) come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus(BK)

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.(BL) 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[f](BM)

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar,(BN) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.(BO)

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.(BP) 39 And when the centurion,(BQ) who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,[g] he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”(BR)

40 Some women were watching from a distance.(BS) Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,[h] and Salome.(BT) 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.(BU)

The Burial of Jesus(BV)

42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).(BW) So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council,(BX) who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God,(BY) went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion(BZ) that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.(CA) 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph(CB) saw where he was laid.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 14:36 Aramaic for father
  2. Mark 14:68 Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed
  3. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have the second time.
  4. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.
  5. Mark 15:28 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.
  6. Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:1
  7. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts saw that he died with such a cry
  8. Mark 15:40 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph; also in verse 47
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