Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.^{(A) 47} They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering^(B)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^{(C) 2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(D)

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times^(E)(F)

⁵ Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ⁶ “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;^(G) every one of them will be thrown down.”

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

⁸ He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.^{(H) 9} When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(I) 11} There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.^(J)

¹² “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. ¹³ And so you will bear testimony to me.^{(K) 14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.^{(L) 15} For I will give you^(M) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,^(N) and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ Everyone will hate you because of me.^{(O) 18} But not a hair of your head will perish.^{(P) 19} Stand firm, and you will win life.^(Q)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,^(R) you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.^{(S) 22} For this is the time of punishment^(T) in fulfillment^(U) of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled^(V) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.^{(W) 26} People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.^{(X) 27} At that time they will see the Son of Man^(Y) coming in a cloud^(Z) with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”^(AA)

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God^(AB) is near.

³² “Truly I tell you, this generation^(AC) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.^(AD)

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,^(AE) and that day will close on you suddenly^(AF) like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray^(AG) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles^(A) reclined at the table.^{(B) 15} And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.^{(C) 16} For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”^(D)

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,^(E) and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant^(F) in my blood, which is poured out for you.^{[a] 21} But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.^{(G) 22} The Son of Man^(H) will go as it has been decreed.^(I) But woe to that man who betrays him!” ²³ They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.^{(J) 25} Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶ But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,^(K) and the one who rules like the one who serves.^{(L) 27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.^{(M) 28} You are those who have stood by me in my trials. ²⁹ And I confer on you a kingdom,^(N) just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰ so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom^(O) and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.^(P)

³¹ “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked^(Q) to sift all of you as wheat.^{(R) 32} But I have prayed for you,^(S) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”^(T)

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”^(U)

³⁴ Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

³⁵ Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,^(V) did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

³⁶ He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. ³⁷ It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’^[b];^(W) and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

³⁸ The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”^(A)

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.^{(B) 38} He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see;^(C) a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.^(D)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(E) Everything must be fulfilled^(F) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(G) the Prophets^(H) and the Psalms.”^(I)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer^(J) and rise from the dead on the third day,^{(K) 47} and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name^(L) to all nations,^(M) beginning at Jerusalem.^{(N) 48} You are witnesses^(O) of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised;^(P) but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,^(Q) he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.^{(R) 52} Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple,^(S) praising God.