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.

In Pilate’s Court^(AD)

^28 (AE)Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. ^(AF)But they themselves did not go into the ^[f]Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ^29 (AG)Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If He were not ^[g]an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

³¹ Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ^32 (AH)that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, ^(AI)signifying by what death He would die.

^33 (AJ)Then Pilate entered the ^[h]Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

³⁴ Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

^36 (AK)Jesus answered, ^(AL)“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

³⁷ Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, ^(AM)that I should bear ^(AN)witness to the truth. Everyone who ^(AO)is of the truth ^(AP)hears My voice.”

³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ^(AQ)“I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas^(AR)

^39 (AS)“But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

^40 (AT)Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” ^(AU)Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Name of the Lord Is a Strong Tower

Christ Crucified

2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the ^[a]testimony of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you ^(A)except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ^3 (B)I was with you ^(C)in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴ And my speech and my preaching ^(D)were not with persuasive words of ^[b]human wisdom, ^(E)but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the ^(F)power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[c]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for ^(G)had they known, they would not have ^(H)crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹ But as it is written:

¹⁰ But ^(J)God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the ^(K)spirit of the man which is in him? ^(L)Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but ^(M)the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the ^[d]Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ^14 (N)But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For ^(O)“who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” ^(P)But we have the mind of Christ.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(A)charge you ^[a]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(B)who will judge the living and the dead ^[b]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(C)Convince, ^(D)rebuke, ^(E)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3 (F)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(G)sound doctrine, ^(H)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(I)be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(J)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(K)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(L)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(M)my departure is at hand. ^7 (N)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(O)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(P)Judge, will give to me ^(Q)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for ^(R)Demas has forsaken me, ^(S)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get ^(T)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And ^(U)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14 (V)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(W)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (X)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(Y)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(Z)out of the mouth of the lion. ^18 (AA)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(AB)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

¹⁹ Greet ^(AC)Prisca and Aquila, and the household of ^(AD)Onesiphorus. ^20 (AE)Erastus stayed in Corinth, but ^(AF)Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

²² The Lord ^[c]Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

The Son of Promise^(A)

18 Then the Lord appeared to him by ^[a]the ^(B)terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ^2 (C)So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; ^(D)and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let ^(E)a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And ^(F)I will bring a morsel of bread, that ^(G)you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, ^(H)inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”

They said, “Do as you have said.”

⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” ⁷ And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. ⁸ So ^(I)he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

⁹ Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”

So he said, “Here, ^(J)in the tent.”

¹⁰ And He said, “I will certainly return to you ^(K)according to the time of life, and behold, ^(L)Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) ¹¹ Now ^(M)Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and ^[b]Sarah ^(N)had passed the age of childbearing. ¹² Therefore Sarah ^(O)laughed within herself, saying, ^(P)“After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my ^(Q)lord being old also?”

¹³ And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ ^14 (R)Is anything too hard for the Lord? ^(S)At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

¹⁵ But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.

And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them ^(T)to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, ^(U)“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be ^(V)blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have known him, in order ^(W)that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” ²⁰ And the Lord said, “Because ^(X)the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their ^(Y)sin is very grave, ^21 (Z)I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, ^(AA)I will know.”

²² Then the men turned away from there ^(AB)and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham ^(AC)came near and said, ^(AD)“Would You also ^(AE)destroy the ^(AF)righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so ^(AG)that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! ^(AH)Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, ^(AI)“If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am ^(AJ)but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, ^(AK)“Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

^(AL)And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” ³³ So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.

Jethro’s Advice^(A)

18 And ^(B)Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that ^(C)God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took ^(D)Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, ³ with her ^(E)two sons, of whom the name of one was ^[a]Gershom (for he said, ^(F)“I have been a ^[b]stranger in a foreign land”) ⁴ and the name of the other was ^[c]Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my ^(G)help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”); ⁵ and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at ^(H)the mountain of God. ⁶ Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.”

⁷ So Moses ^(I)went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and ^(J)kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. ⁸ And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had ^(K)delivered them. ⁹ Then Jethro rejoiced for all the ^(L)good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ And Jethro said, ^(M)“Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that the Lord is ^(N)greater than all the gods; ^(O)for in the very thing in which they ^[d]behaved ^(P)proudly, He was above them.” ¹² Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, ^[e]took a burnt ^(Q)offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel ^(R)to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

¹³ And so it was, on the next day, that Moses ^(S)sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. ¹⁴ So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone ^[f]sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

¹⁵ And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because ^(T)the people come to me to inquire of God. ¹⁶ When they have ^(U)a ^[g]difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

¹⁷ So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. ¹⁸ Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; ^(V)you are not able to perform it by yourself. ¹⁹ Listen now to my voice; I will give you ^[h]counsel, and God will be with you: Stand ^(W)before God for the people, so that you may ^(X)bring the difficulties to God. ²⁰ And you shall ^(Y)teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and ^(Z)the work they must do. ²¹ Moreover you shall select from all the people ^(AA)able men, such as ^(AB)fear God, ^(AC)men of truth, ^(AD)hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²² And let them judge the people at all times. ^(AE)Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for ^(AF)they will bear the burden with you. ²³ If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their ^(AG)place in peace.”

²⁴ So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. ²⁵ And ^(AH)Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. ²⁶ So they judged the people at all times; the ^(AI)hard^[i] cases they brought to Moses, but they judged every small case themselves.

²⁷ Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and ^(AJ)he went his way to his own land.

God the Sovereign Savior^(A)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David ^(B)the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of ^(C)this song on the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said: