Bible in 90 Days
20 (A)So they (B)watched him and sent spies, who (C)pretended to be sincere, that they might (D)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (E)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (F)show no partiality,[a] but truly teach (G)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (H)tribute to (I)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (J)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (K)a denarius.[b] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (L)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people (M)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
27 There came to him (N)some Sadducees, (O)those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us (P)that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[c] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
34 And Jesus said to them, (Q)“The sons of this age (R)marry and (S)are given in marriage, 35 but those who are (T)considered worthy to attain to (U)that age and to the resurrection from the dead (V)neither marry (W)nor are given in marriage, 36 for (X)they cannot die anymore, because they are (Y)equal to angels and (Z)are (AA)sons of God, being (AB)sons[d] of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, (AC)even Moses showed, in (AD)the passage about the bush, where he calls (AE)the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all (AF)live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes (AG)answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For (AH)they no longer dared to ask him any question.
Whose Son Is the Christ?
41 (AI)But he said to them, “How can they say that (AJ)the Christ is (AK)David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
(AL)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43 until I make your enemies (AM)your footstool.”’
44 David thus calls him Lord, so (AN)how is he his son?”
Beware of the Scribes
45 (AO)And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and (AP)the places of honor at feasts, 47 (AQ)who devour widows' houses and (AR)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow's Offering
21 (AS)Jesus[e] looked up and saw the rich (AT)putting their gifts into (AU)the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two (AV)small copper coins.[f] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (AW)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (AX)poverty put in all (AY)she had to live on.”
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 (AZ)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, (BA)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, (BB)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, (BC)“See that you are not led astray. For (BD)many will come in my name, saying, (BE)‘I am he!’ and, (BF)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (BG)terrified, for these things (BH)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, (BI)“Nation will rise against nation, and (BJ)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (BK)earthquakes, and in various places (BL)famines and pestilences. And there will be (BM)terrors and great (BN)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (BO)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (BP)the synagogues and (BQ)prisons, and you (BR)will be brought before (BS)kings and (BT)governors for my name's sake. 13 (BU)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (BV)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (BW)I will give you a mouth and (BX)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (BY)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (BZ)even by parents and brothers[g] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (CA)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (CB)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (CC)endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But (CD)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that (CE)its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are (CF)days of (CG)vengeance, to fulfill (CH)all that is written. 23 (CI)Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and (CJ)wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and (CK)be led captive among all nations, and (CL)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, (CM)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “And (CN)there will be signs in sun and moon (CO)and stars, and on the earth (CP)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For (CQ)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see (CR)the Son of Man coming in a cloud (CS)with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and (CT)raise your heads, because (CU)your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (CV)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (CW)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (CX)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (CY)my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves (CZ)lest (DA)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (DB)cares of this life, and (DC)that day come upon you suddenly (DD)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (DE)stay awake at all times, (DF)praying that you may (DG)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (DH)to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And (DI)every day he was teaching in the temple, but (DJ)at night he went out and lodged on (DK)the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning (DL)all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22 (DM)Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called (DN)the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes (DO)were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
Judas to Betray Jesus
3 (DP)Then (DQ)Satan entered into (DR)Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and (DS)officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to (DT)betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.
The Passover with the Disciples
7 (DU)Then came (DV)the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus[h] sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, (DW)‘The Teacher says to you, Where is (DX)the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you (DY)a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it (DZ)just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
Institution of the Lord's Supper
14 (EA)And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it[i] (EB)until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and (EC)when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 (ED)For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine (EE)until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 (EF)And he took bread, and (EG)when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, (EH)“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, (EI)“This cup that is poured out for you is (EJ)the new (EK)covenant in my blood.[j] 21 (EL)But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is (EM)with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes (EN)as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
Who Is the Greatest?
24 (EO)A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. 25 (EP)And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles (EQ)exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. 26 (ER)But not so with you. Rather, let (ES)the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, (ET)one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But (EU)I am among you as the one who serves.
28 “You are those who have stayed with me (EV)in my trials, 29 and (EW)I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, 30 (EX)that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and (EY)sit on thrones judging (EZ)the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, (FA)Satan demanded to have you,[k] (FB)that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but (FC)I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, (FD)strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter[l] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both (FE)to prison and (FF)to death.” 34 (FG)Jesus[m] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Scripture Must Be Fulfilled in Jesus
35 And he said to them, (FH)“When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” 36 He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that (FI)this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: (FJ)‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For (FK)what is written about me has its fulfillment.” 38 And they said, “Look, Lord, here are two (FL)swords.” And he said to them, (FM)“It is enough.”
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 (FN)And he came out and went, (FO)as was his custom, to (FP)the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 (FQ)And when he came to (FR)the place, he said to them, (FS)“Pray that you may not (FT)enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and (FU)knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, (FV)“Father, if you are willing, remove (FW)this cup from me. (FX)Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him (FY)an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And (FZ)being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.[n] 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and (GA)pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
47 (GB)While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called (GC)Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike (GD)with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant[o] of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51 But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and (GE)officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When (GF)I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is (GG)your hour, and (GH)the power of darkness.”
Peter Denies Jesus
54 (GI)Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, (GJ)and Peter was following at a distance. 55 (GK)And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of (GL)the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another (GM)insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and (GN)looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, (GO)“Before the rooster crows today, you will (GP)deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Jesus Is Mocked
63 (GQ)Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. 64 (GR)They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, (GS)“Prophesy! (GT)Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they said many other things against him, (GU)blaspheming him.
Jesus Before the Council
66 (GV)When day came, (GW)the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their (GX)council, and they (GY)said, 67 (GZ)“If you are (HA)the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, 68 and if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated (HB)at the right hand of the power of God.” 70 So they all said, “Are you (HC)the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, (HD)“You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
Jesus Before Pilate
23 (HE)Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man (HF)misleading our nation and (HG)forbidding us to give tribute to (HH)Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, (HI)a king.” 3 (HJ)And Pilate asked him, (HK)“Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, (HL)“You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, (HM)“I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, (HN)from Galilee even to this place.”
Jesus Before Herod
6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. 7 And when he learned that he belonged to (HO)Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, (HP)for he had long desired to see him, (HQ)because he had heard about him, and he was hoping (HR)to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers (HS)treated him with contempt and (HT)mocked him. Then, (HU)arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And (HV)Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.
13 Pilate then called together the chief priests and (HW)the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man (HX)as one who was misleading the people. And (HY)after examining him before you, behold, I (HZ)did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15 Neither did Herod, for (IA)he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. 16 (IB)I will therefore punish and release him.”[p]
Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified
18 (IC)But they all cried out together, (ID)“Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— 19 a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and (IE)for murder. 20 Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, 21 but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22 A third time he said to them, “Why? (IF)What evil has he done? (IG)I have found in him no guilt deserving death. (IH)I will therefore punish and release him.” 23 But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison (II)for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, (IJ)but he delivered Jesus over to their will.
The Crucifixion
26 (IK)And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were (IL)mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, (IM)the days are coming when they will say, (IN)‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 (IO)Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For (IP)if they do these things when (IQ)the wood is green, what will happen (IR)when it is dry?”
32 (IS)Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 (IT)And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, (IU)one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, (IV)forgive them, (IW)for they know not what they do.”[q] And they cast lots (IX)to divide his garments. 35 And (IY)the people stood by, watching, (IZ)but (JA)the rulers (JB)scoffed at him, saying, (JC)“He saved others; (JD)let him save himself, (JE)if he is (JF)the Christ of God, (JG)his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and (JH)offering him sour wine 37 and saying, (JI)“If you are (JJ)the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 (JK)There was also an inscription over him,[r] “This is (JL)the King of the Jews.”
39 (JM)One of the criminals who were hanged (JN)railed at him,[s] saying, “Are you not (JO)the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me (JP)when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in (JQ)paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 (JR)It was now about the sixth hour,[t] and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,[u] 45 while the sun's light failed. And (JS)the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, (JT)calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, (JU)into your hands I (JV)commit my spirit!” And having said this (JW)he breathed his last. 47 Now (JX)when the centurion saw what had taken place, (JY)he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home (JZ)beating their breasts. 49 And all (KA)his acquaintances and (KB)the women who had followed him from Galilee (KC)stood at a distance watching these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 (KD)Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he (KE)was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and (KF)laid him in a tomb cut in stone, (KG)where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of (KH)Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[v] 55 (KI)The women (KJ)who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and (KK)prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested (KL)according to the commandment.
The Resurrection
24 (KM)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, (KN)taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found (KO)the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, (KP)two (KQ)men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were (KR)frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, (KS)while he was still in Galilee, 7 (KT)that the Son of Man (KU)must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and (KV)be crucified and on (KW)the third day rise.” 8 And (KX)they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they (KY)told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was (KZ)Mary Magdalene and (LA)Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and (LB)they did not believe them. 12 But (LC)Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw (LD)the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
On the Road to Emmaus
13 That very day (LE)two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[w] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 (LF)But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was (LG)a prophet (LH)mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and (LI)how our chief priests and (LJ)rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was (LK)the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now (LL)the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. (LM)They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and (LN)when they did not find his body, they came back saying that (LO)they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 (LP)Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 (LQ)Was it not necessary that (LR)the Christ should suffer these things and enter into (LS)his glory?” 27 And (LT)beginning with (LU)Moses and (LV)all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. (LW)He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and (LX)the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and (LY)blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 (LZ)And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And (MA)he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, (MB)“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he (MC)opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they (MD)found the eleven and (ME)those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and (MF)has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and (MG)how he was known to them in (MH)the breaking of the bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 As they were talking about these things, (MI)Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were (MJ)startled and (MK)frightened and (ML)thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. (MM)Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, (MN)he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved (MO)for joy and were marveling, (MP)he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,[x] 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, (MQ)“These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, (MR)that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then (MS)he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus (MT)it is written, (MU)that the Christ should suffer and on the third day (MV)rise from the dead, 47 and that (MW)repentance for[y] the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed (MX)in his name (MY)to all nations, (MZ)beginning from Jerusalem. 48 (NA)You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending (NB)the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you (NC)are clothed with (ND)power (NE)from on high.”
The Ascension
50 And (NF)he led them out as far as (NG)Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, (NH)he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they (NI)worshiped him and (NJ)returned to Jerusalem (NK)with great joy, 53 and (NL)were continually in the temple (NM)blessing God.
The Word Became Flesh
1 (NN)In the beginning was (NO)the Word, and (NP)the Word was with God, and (NQ)the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 (NR)All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 (NS)In him was life,[z] and (NT)the life was the light of men. 5 (NU)The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man (NV)sent from God, whose name was (NW)John. 7 He came as a (NX)witness, to bear witness about the light, (NY)that all might believe through him. 8 (NZ)He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 (OA)The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet (OB)the world did not know him. 11 He came to (OC)his own,[aa] and (OD)his own people[ab] (OE)did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, (OF)who believed in his name, (OG)he gave the right (OH)to become (OI)children of God, 13 who (OJ)were born, (OK)not of blood (OL)nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And (OM)the Word (ON)became flesh and (OO)dwelt among us, (OP)and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[ac] from the Father, full of (OQ)grace and (OR)truth. 15 ((OS)John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, (OT)‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from (OU)his fullness we have all received, (OV)grace upon grace.[ad] 17 For (OW)the law was given through Moses; (OX)grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 (OY)No one has ever seen God; (OZ)the only God,[ae] who is at the Father's side,[af] (PA)he has made him known.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 And this is the (PB)testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, (PC)“Who are you?” 20 (PD)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? (PE)Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you (PF)the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am (PG)the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight[ag] the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, (PH)“Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, (PI)“I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even (PJ)he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Behold, the Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, (PK)the Lamb of God, who (PL)takes away the sin (PM)of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, (PN)‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but (PO)for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John (PP)bore witness: (PQ)“I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and (PR)it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but (PS)he who sent me to baptize (PT)with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, (PU)this is he who baptizes (PV)with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[ah] of God.”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, (PW)the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, (PX)“What are you seeking?” And they said to him, (PY)“Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[ai] 40 (PZ)One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[aj] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found (QA)the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of (QB)John. You shall be called (QC)Cephas” (which means (QD)Peter[ak]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 (QE)The next day Jesus decided (QF)to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now (QG)Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found (QH)Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom (QI)Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus (QJ)of Nazareth, (QK)the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, (QL)“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, (QM)an Israelite indeed, (QN)in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How (QO)do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, (QP)“Rabbi, (QQ)you are the Son of God! You are the (QR)King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[al] you will see (QS)heaven opened, and (QT)the angels of God ascending and descending on (QU)the Son of Man.”
The Wedding at Cana
2 On (QV)the third day there was a wedding at (QW)Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with (QX)his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, (QY)“Woman, (QZ)what does this have to do with me? (RA)My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there (RB)for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty (RC)gallons.[am] 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted (RD)the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested (RE)his glory. And (RF)his disciples believed in him.
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and (RG)his brothers[an] and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 (RH)The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus (RI)went up to Jerusalem. 14 (RJ)In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make (RK)my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, (RL)“Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, (RM)“What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, (RN)“Destroy this temple, and in three days (RO)I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple,[ao] and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about (RP)the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, (RQ)his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed (RR)the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name (RS)when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus (RT)on his part did not entrust himself to them, because (RU)he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for (RV)he himself knew what was in man.
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named (RW)Nicodemus, (RX)a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[ap] (RY)by night and said to him, (RZ)“Rabbi, (SA)we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do (SB)unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (SC)born (SD)again[aq] he cannot (SE)see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (SF)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 (SG)That which is born of the flesh is (SH)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[ar] 7 (SI)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[as] must be born (SJ)again.’ 8 (SK)The wind[at] blows (SL)where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, (SM)“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel (SN)and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (SO)we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but (SP)you[au] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (SQ)No one has (SR)ascended into heaven except (SS)he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[av] 14 And (ST)as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man (SU)be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes (SV)in him (SW)may have eternal life.[aw]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For (SX)God so loved (SY)the world,[ax] (SZ)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (TA)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (TB)God did not send his Son into the world (TC)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (TD)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (TE)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (TF)And this is the judgment: (TG)the light has come into the world, and (TH)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (TI)their works were evil. 20 (TJ)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (TK)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (TL)does what is true (TM)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (TN)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (TO)John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (TP)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (TQ)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (TR)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (TS)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (TT)“A person cannot receive even one thing (TU)unless it is given him (TV)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (TW)‘I am not the Christ, but (TX)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (TY)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (TZ)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (UA)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (UB)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[ay]
31 (UC)He who comes from above (UD)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (UE)speaks in an earthly way. (UF)He who comes from heaven (UG)is above all. 32 (UH)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (UI)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (UJ)sets his seal to this, (UK)that God is true. 34 For he whom (UL)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (UM)without measure. 35 (UN)The Father loves the Son and (UO)has given all things into his hand. 36 (UP)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (UQ)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (UR)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Jesus and the Woman of Samaria
4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and (US)baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), 3 he left Judea and departed (UT)again for Galilee. 4 (UU)And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field (UV)that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, (UW)wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.[az]
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, (UX)“Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” ((UY)For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you (UZ)living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 (VA)Are you greater than our father Jacob? (VB)He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but (VC)whoever drinks of the water that I will give him (VD)will never be thirsty again.[ba] The water that I will give him will become (VE)in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, (VF)give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, (VG)call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that (VH)you are (VI)a prophet. 20 (VJ)Our fathers worshiped on (VK)this mountain, but you say that (VL)in Jerusalem is (VM)the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, (VN)“Woman, believe me, (VO)the hour is coming when (VP)neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 (VQ)You worship what you do not know; (VR)we worship what we know, for (VS)salvation is (VT)from the Jews. 23 But (VU)the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father (VV)in spirit and (VW)truth, for the Father (VX)is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that (VY)Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, (VZ)he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, (WA)“I who speak to you am he.”
27 Just then (WB)his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man (WC)who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.
31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, (WD)“Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, (WE)“Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, (WF)“My food is (WG)to do the will of him who sent me and (WH)to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that (WI)the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that (WJ)sower and (WK)reaper (WL)may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, (WM)‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap (WN)that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, (WO)and you have entered into their labor.”
39 Many Samaritans (WP)from that town believed in him (WQ)because of (WR)the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed (WS)because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, (WT)and we know that this is indeed (WU)the Savior (WV)of the world.”
43 After (WW)the two days he departed for Galilee. 44 (For Jesus himself had testified (WX)that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) 45 So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, (WY)having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For (WZ)they too had gone to the feast.
Jesus Heals an Official's Son
46 So he came again to (XA)Cana in Galilee, (XB)where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. 47 When this man heard that Jesus (XC)had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, (XD)“Unless you[bb] see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down (XE)before my child dies.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. 51 As he was going down, his servants[bc] met him and told him that his son was recovering. 52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour[bd] the fever left him.” 53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, (XF)and all his household. 54 (XG)This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.
The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath
5 After this there was a (XH)feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by (XI)the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic[be] called Bethesda,[bf] which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and (XJ)paralyzed.[bg] 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, (XK)“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 (XL)And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
(XM)Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews[bh] said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and (XN)it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for (XO)Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! (XP)Sin no more, (XQ)that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews (XR)were persecuting Jesus, (XS)because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Jesus Is Equal with God
18 This was why the Jews (XT)were seeking all the more to kill him, (XU)because not only was he (XV)breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God (XW)his own Father, (XX)making himself equal with God.
The Authority of the Son
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (XY)the Son (XZ)can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father[bi] does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For (YA)the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And (YB)greater works than these will he show him, so that (YC)you may marvel. 21 For as the Father (YD)raises the dead and (YE)gives them life, so (YF)also the Son gives life (YG)to whom he will. 22 (YH)For the Father judges no one, but (YI)has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they (YJ)honor the Father. (YK)Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, (YL)whoever hears my word and (YM)believes him who sent me has eternal life. He (YN)does not come into judgment, but (YO)has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, (YP)an hour is coming, and is now here, when (YQ)the dead will hear (YR)the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear (YS)will live. 26 (YT)For as the Father has life in himself, (YU)so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he (YV)has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for (YW)an hour is coming when (YX)all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, (YY)those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Witnesses to Jesus
30 (YZ)“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and (ZA)my judgment is just, because (ZB)I seek not my own will (ZC)but the will of him who sent me. 31 (ZD)If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is (ZE)another who bears witness about me, and (ZF)I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 (ZG)You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that (ZH)the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and (ZI)shining lamp, and (ZJ)you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But (ZK)the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For (ZL)the works that the Father has given me (ZM)to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, (ZN)bear witness about me that (ZO)the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me (ZP)has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, (ZQ)his form you have never seen, 38 and (ZR)you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 (ZS)You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and (ZT)it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet (ZU)you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 (ZV)I do not receive glory from people. 42 But (ZW)I know that you do not have (ZX)the love of God within you. 43 I have come (ZY)in my Father's name, and (ZZ)you do not receive me. (AAA)If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and (AAB)do not seek the glory that comes from (AAC)the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, (AAD)on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for (AAE)he wrote of me. 47 But (AAF)if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.