¹⁰ The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed^(A) them.

¹⁶ But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed^(A) at his prophets until the wrath^(B) of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.^(C)

⁶ At the king’s command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read:

³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging,^(A) and even chains and imprisonment.^(B)

³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead,^(A) some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(A) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(B)

The Guards Mock Jesus^(A)

⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”

¹⁴ The Pharisees, who loved money,^(A) heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.^(B)

⁵³ They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.