⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed,^[a] and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.^(A)

A Call to Persevere

¹⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,^{(A) 20} by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),^{(B) 21} and since we have a great priest over the house of God,^{(C) 22} let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.^(D)

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.^(A)

³ Behind the second curtain was a tent^[a] called the holy of holies.^{(A) 4} In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;^{(B) 5} above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.^[b] Of these things we cannot speak now in detail.^(C)

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the first tent^[c] to carry out their ritual duties, ⁷ but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.^{(D) 8} By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent^[d] is still standing.^(E)

³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.^(A)