Judah’s Captivity Portrayed

12 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ² “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of ^(A)a rebellious house, which ^(B)has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; ^(C)for they are a rebellious house.

³ “Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. ⁴ By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. ⁵ Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. ⁶ In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, ^(D)for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

⁷ So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.

⁸ And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, ^(E)the rebellious house, said to you, ^(F)‘What are you doing?’ ¹⁰ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “This ^(G)burden^[a] concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.” ’ ¹¹ Say, ^(H)‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; ^(I)they shall be carried away into captivity.’ ¹² And ^(J)the prince who is among them shall bear his belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry them out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. ¹³ I will also spread My ^(K)net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. ^(L)I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. ^14 (M)I will scatter to every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his troops; and ^(N)I will draw out the sword after them.

^15 (O)“Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. ^16 (P)But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Christian Graces

^2 (A)Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it ^(B)with thanksgiving; ^3 (C)meanwhile praying also for us, that God would ^(D)open to us a door for the word, to speak ^(E)the ^[a]mystery of Christ, ^(F)for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

^5 (G)Walk in ^(H)wisdom toward those who are outside, ^(I)redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be ^(J)with grace, ^(K)seasoned with salt, ^(L)that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Final Greetings^(M)

^7 (N)Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. ^8 (O)I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that ^[b]he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, ⁹ with ^(P)Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.

^10 (Q)Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with ^(R)Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), ¹¹ and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.

^12 (S)Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always ^(T)laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand ^(U)perfect and ^[c]complete in all the will of God. ¹³ For I bear him witness that he has a great ^[d]zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. ^14 (V)Luke the beloved physician and ^(W)Demas greet you. ¹⁵ Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and ^[e]Nymphas and ^(X)the church that is in ^[f]his house.

Closing Exhortations and Blessing

¹⁶ Now when ^(Y)this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. ¹⁷ And say to ^(Z)Archippus, “Take heed to ^(AA)the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”

^18 (AB)This salutation by my own hand—Paul. ^(AC)Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Judgment Not Postponed

¹⁷ Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁸ “Son of man, ^(A)eat your bread with ^[a]quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety. ¹⁹ And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may ^(B)be emptied of all who are in it, ^(C)because of the violence of all those who dwell in it. ²⁰ Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

²¹ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ^(D)‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? ²³ Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’ But say to them, ‘ ^(E)“The days are at hand, and the ^[b]fulfillment of every vision. ²⁴ For ^(F)no more shall there be any ^(G)false^[c] vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. ²⁵ For I am the Lord. I speak, and ^(H)the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and ^(I)perform it,” says the Lord God.’ ”

²⁶ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ^27 (J)“Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is ^(K)for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ ^28 (L)Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak ^(M)will be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane^(A)

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, ^(B)He went out with His disciples over ^(C)the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ² And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; ^(D)for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ^3 (E)Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, ^(F)knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

⁵ They answered Him, ^(G)“Jesus ^[a]of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who ^(H)betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶ Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹ that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, ^(I)“Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

^10 (J)Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink ^(K)the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Before the High Priest

¹² Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³ And ^(L)they led Him away to ^(M)Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of ^(N)Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ^14 (O)Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was ^[b]expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus^(P)

^15 (Q)And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did ^(R)another^[c] disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ^16 (S)But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am ^(T)not.”

¹⁸ Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, ^(U)“I spoke openly to the world. I always taught ^(V)in synagogues and ^(W)in the temple, where ^[d]the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask Me? Ask ^(X)those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²² And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by ^(Y)struck^[e] Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

^24 (Z)Then Annas sent Him bound to ^(AA)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. ^(AB)Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied again; and ^(AC)immediately a rooster crowed.