Bible in 90 Days

Jesus Heals a Boy With a Demon

¹⁴ When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some experts in the law were arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as all the people in the crowd saw Jesus, they were very excited and ran to greet him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

¹⁷ One man from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. ¹⁸ Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

¹⁹ “O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied. “How long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.”

²⁰ They brought the boy to Jesus. As soon as the spirit saw him, it threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “It has often thrown him into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

²³ “If you can?”^[a] Jesus said to him. “All things are possible for the one who believes.”

²⁴ The child’s father immediately cried out and said with tears,^[b] “I do believe. Help me with my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit. “You mute and deaf spirit,” he said, “I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ The spirit screamed, shook the boy violently, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many of them said, “He’s dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him up, and he stood up.

²⁸ When Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able to drive it out?”

²⁹ He said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out, except by prayer and fasting.”^[c]

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection Again

³⁰ They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know this, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him. But three days after he is killed, he will rise.”

³² But they did not understand the statement and were afraid to ask him about it.

Who Is the Greatest?

³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” ³⁴ But they remained silent, because on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be the last of all and the servant of all.” ³⁶ Then he took a little child and placed him in their midst. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not just me but also him who sent me.”

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

³⁸ John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

³⁹ But Jesus said, “Do not try to stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil about me. ⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Amen I tell you: Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will certainly not lose his reward.

Do Not Cause Little Believers to Fall Into Sin

⁴² “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall into sin,^[d] it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around his neck. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed, than to have two hands and go into hell,^[e] into the unquenchable fire, ⁴⁴ ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’^{[f] 45} If your foot causes you to fall into sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell,^{[g] 46} ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to fall into sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{[h] 48} ‘where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ ⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good. But if the salt loses its flavor, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Marriage and Divorce

10 Jesus got up and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. Crowds gathered around him again and, as he usually did, he taught them. ² Some Pharisees came to test him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?”

³ He replied, “What did Moses command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.”^[i]

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of your hard hearts. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.^{[j] 7} For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two will become one flesh.^[k] So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

¹⁰ In the house his disciples asked him about this again. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹² If she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

Jesus Loves Little Children

¹³ Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

The Rich Young Ruler

¹⁷ As Jesus was setting out on a journey, one man ran up to him and knelt in front of him. He asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God. ¹⁹ You know the commandments. ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.’”^[l]

²⁰ The man replied, “Teacher, I have kept all these since I was a child.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When he heard this, he looked sad and went away grieving, because he had great wealth. ²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus told them again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They were even more astonished and said to one another, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “For people, it is impossible, but not for God, because all things are possible for God.”

²⁸ Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: There is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, ³⁰ who now at this time will fail to receive one hundred times as much: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields (along with persecutions)—and in the coming age: eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Again Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

³² They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was leading them. The disciples were amazed, and the others who followed were afraid. He took the Twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. ³³ “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ They will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. On the third day^[m] he will rise again.”

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we wish that you would do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ He said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”

³⁷ They said to him, “Promise that we may sit, one at your right and one at your left, in your glory.”

³⁸ But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink or be baptized with the baptism that I am going to be baptized with?”

³⁹ “We can,” they replied.

Jesus told them, “You will drink the cup that I am going to drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am going to be baptized with. ⁴⁰ But to sit at my right or at my left is not for me to give; rather, these places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard this, they were angry with James and John.

⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. ⁴³ But that is not the way it is to be among you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you will be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

⁴⁶ They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, a blind man, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” ⁴⁸ Many told him to be quiet, but he kept shouting all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

They called the blind man, saying, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!”

⁵⁰ He tossed aside his outer garment, jumped up, and went to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.

The blind man replied, “Rabboni,^[n] I want to see again.”

⁵² Jesus told him, “Go. Your faith has made you well.” Immediately he received his sight and began following Jesus on the road.

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

11 As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples ² and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. ³ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it, and he will send it back here without delay.’”

⁴ They left and found a colt on the street, tied at a door; and they untied it. ⁵ Some who were standing there asked them, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶ The disciples answered them just as Jesus had instructed them, and the men let them go.

⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their garments on the road. Others spread branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹ Those who went in front and those who followed were crying out,

¹¹ Jesus went into the temple courts in Jerusalem and looked around at everything. Since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree

¹² The next day, after they had set out from Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³ When he saw a fig tree in leaf in the distance, he went to see if he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, since it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ Jesus said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples were listening.

Jesus Cleanses His Father’s House

¹⁵ They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who were selling doves. ¹⁶ He would not allow anyone to carry any merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ He began to teach them: “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?^[q] But you have made it ‘a den of robbers’!”^[r]

¹⁸ The chief priests and the experts in the law heard this and were looking for a way to kill him. Indeed they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples would leave the city.

The Withered Fig Tree

²⁰ As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered down to the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

²² Jesus replied, “Have faith in God. ²³ Amen I tell you: Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, everything that you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ²⁶ But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.”^[s]

Jesus’ Authority Is Questioned

²⁷ They went into Jerusalem again. As he was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders came to him. ²⁸ They asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.”

³¹ They discussed this with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From men’. . . .” (They feared the crowd, because everybody held that John really was a prophet.) ³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

12 Jesus began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenant farmers and went on a journey. ² When it was time, he sent a servant to the tenants to receive his share of the vineyard’s produce. ³ They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again, he sent another servant to them. But they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ Then he sent another servant, but they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. ⁶ He still had one left, a dearly loved son. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ⁷ But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come on, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ They seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ So what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this Scripture:

¹² They were looking for a way to arrest him, because they knew that he had spoken the parable against them. But they feared the crowd, so they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹³ The Jewish leaders sent some Pharisees and some Herodians to Jesus to try to trap him in what he said. ¹⁴ They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest and do not play favorites, since you are not partial to anyone,^[u] but you teach the way of God on the basis of the truth. Is it lawful to pay a tax to Caesar or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay it or not?”

Since Jesus knew their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why do you keep testing me? Bring me a denarius so that I can look at it.”

¹⁶ So they brought one.

He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

“Caesar’s,” they answered him.

¹⁷ Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

And they were amazed at him.

The God of the Living

¹⁸ Next some Sadducees (who say that there will be no resurrection) came to him. They asked him a question: ¹⁹ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves behind a wife but no child, then his brother should take his wife and raise up children for his brother.’^[v]

²⁰ “Now there were seven brothers. The first one took a wife and died without leaving children. ²¹ The second one married her and died, leaving no children. The third one did the same. ²² The seven left no children. Last of all, the woman also died. ²³ So when they rise in the resurrection, whose wife will she be, since all seven had her as a wife?”

²⁴ Jesus said to them, “Isn’t this the reason you are mistaken: that you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? ²⁵ In fact, when people rise from the dead, they do not marry, and they are not given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven. ²⁶ But about the dead—that they are raised—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?^{[w] 27} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken.”

Love God and Your Neighbor

²⁸ One of the experts in the law approached after he heard their discussion. When he saw that Jesus had answered them well, he asked Jesus, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’^{[x] 31} The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[y] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

³² The expert in the law said to him, “Well said, teacher. You have spoken correctly on the basis of the truth that he is one, and there is no other besides him.^{[z] 33} To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^[aa]

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

David’s Son and David’s Lord

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he responded by saying, “How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is the Son of David? ³⁶ David himself said by the Holy Spirit:

³⁷ “David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.

Do Not Do What They Do

³⁸ He also said to them in his teaching, “Beware of the experts in the law who like to walk around in long robes and receive greetings in the marketplaces. ³⁹ They love the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰ They devour widows’ houses and offer long prayers to look good. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

The Poor Widow’s Offering

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the offering box and was watching how the crowd put money into it. Many rich people put in large amounts. ⁴² One poor widow came and put in two small bronze coins,^[ac] worth less than a penny.^{[ad] 43} He called his disciples together and said to them, “Amen I tell you: This poor widow put more into the offering box than all the others. ⁴⁴ For they all gave out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all that she had to live on.”

The Destruction of Jerusalem and the End of the World

13 As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look what impressive stones these are, and what impressive buildings!”

² Jesus said to him, “Do you see these large buildings? There will not be one stone here left on top of another. They will all be thrown down.”

³ As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?”

⁵ Jesus began by telling them, “Be careful that no one deceives you. ⁶ Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.

⁷ “Whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸ In fact, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. ⁹ But be on your guard! People will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand in the presence of rulers and kings for my sake as a witness to them. ¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ¹¹ Whenever they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what you should say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, because you will not be the ones speaking; instead it will be the Holy Spirit.

¹² “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father, his child. Children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. ¹³ You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ When you see the abomination that causes desolation^[ae] standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains. ¹⁵ The one who is on the housetop should not go down or enter to take anything out of his house. ¹⁶ The one who is in the field should not return to get his clothes. ¹⁷ How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that this will not happen in winter. ¹⁹ For in those days there will be distress of such a kind as has not happened from the beginning of the creation until now, and surely never will be again. ²⁰ If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened the days. ²¹ Then if someone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. ²² For false Christs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if it were possible. ²³ So be on your guard. I have told you everything in advance.

²⁴ “But after that distress in those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. ²⁵ The stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶ Then you will see the Son of Man coming on clouds with great power and glory.^{[af] 27} At that time he will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of the sky.

²⁸ “Learn from this illustration of the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also when you see these things happening, you will know that he is near—at the doors! ³⁰ Amen I tell you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Watch! Be Alert!

³² “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Watch! Be alert and pray, because you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going away on a journey. When he left his home, he put his servants in charge and assigned what each one was to do. He also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. ³⁵ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the owner of the house is coming: whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

14 It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in the law were looking for some deceptive way to arrest Jesus and kill him. ² “Certainly not during the Festival,” they said, “or there will be a riot among the people.”

Mary Anoints Jesus

³ While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made from pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it over his head. ⁴ But there were some who were indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? ⁵ Certainly this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii^[ag] and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her.

⁶ But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. ⁷ In fact, you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you are not always going to have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. ⁹ Amen I tell you: Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her.”

Judas Plans to Betray Jesus

¹⁰ Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹ When they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Jesus Celebrates the Passover

¹² On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³ He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house that the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

¹⁶ His disciples left and went into the city and found things just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷ When it was evening, he arrived with the Twelve.

One Will Betray Jesus

¹⁸ While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful and said to him one by one, “Surely not I?”

²⁰ He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me in the dish. ²¹ Indeed, the Son of Man is going to go just as it has been written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

The Lord’s Supper

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread. When he had blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take it.^[ah] This is my body.”

²³ Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. They all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, “This is my blood of the new testament,^[ai] which is poured out for many. ²⁵ Amen I tell you: I will certainly not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

²⁷ Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’^{[aj] 28} But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

²⁹ But Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

³⁰ Jesus said to him, “Amen I tell you: Today—this very night—before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

³¹ But Peter kept saying emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

Gethsemane

³² They went to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ Then he took Peter, James, and John along with him and began to be troubled and distressed. ³⁴ He said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, even to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

³⁵ Going forward a little, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ He also said, “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

³⁷ When he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not strong enough to keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

³⁹ Again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. ⁴⁰ When he returned, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what they should answer him. ⁴¹ He returned the third time and said to them, “Are you going to continue sleeping and resting? It is enough. The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Rise, let us go. Look, my betrayer is near.”

Jesus’ Arrest

⁴³ Just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. A crowd was with him, armed with swords and clubs. They were from the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now his betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.” ⁴⁵ He went right to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. ⁴⁶ They laid hands on him and arrested him. ⁴⁷ But one of those who stood nearby drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Jesus responded by saying to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to capture me as you would a criminal? ⁴⁹ Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But this happened so that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ Then the disciples all left him and fled.

⁵¹ A certain young man was following him, wearing just a linen cloth over his naked body. They seized him, ⁵² but he left behind the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

Jesus’ First Trial in the Sanhedrin

⁵³ They led Jesus away to the high priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the experts in the law gathered together. ⁵⁴ Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

⁵⁵ The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they did not find any. ⁵⁶ Many testified falsely against him, but their testimonies did not agree. ⁵⁷ Some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: ⁵⁸ “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” ⁵⁹ Yet even on this point, their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ The high priest stepped forward^[ak] and questioned Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is this they are testifying against you?”

⁶¹ But Jesus was silent and did not answer anything.

Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”

⁶² “I am,” Jesus said. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”^[al]

⁶³ The high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we need any more witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”

They all condemned him as being worthy of death. ⁶⁵ Then some began to spit on him. They covered his face and struck him with their fists, saying, “Prophesy!” The guards also took him and beat him.

Peter Denies Jesus

⁶⁶ While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came there. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, “You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus!”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know or understand what you are saying,” and he went out to the entryway. Then a rooster crowed.

⁶⁹ When the servant girl saw him, once more she began to tell those standing there, “This is one of them.”

⁷⁰ But again he denied it. After a little while those who were standing there said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, because you are a Galilean.”

⁷¹ But he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man you are talking about!” ⁷² Just then, the rooster crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Jesus’ Trial in Pilate’s Court

15 As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, the experts in the law, and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. ² Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

He answered him, “It is as you say.”

³ The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ Pilate questioned him again, “Are you not going to answer anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!”

⁵ But Jesus still did not answer anything, so Pilate was amazed.

Barabbas or Jesus?

⁶ At each Festival, Pilate used to release to the people one prisoner whom they requested. ⁷ There was one named Barabbas, who was imprisoned with the rebels and had committed murder in the rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ Pilate replied, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” ¹⁰ In fact, he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.

¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead.

¹² Again, Pilate replied to them, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”

¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted back.

¹⁴ But Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted even louder, “Crucify him!”

¹⁵ Since he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

Soldiers Mock Jesus

¹⁶ The soldiers led him away inside the palace, which is the Praetorium, and called together the whole cohort^[am] of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on him, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. ¹⁸ The soldiers began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ They kept hitting him on the head with a reed and spitting on him. They also kneeled down to pay homage to him.

The Crucifixion

²⁰ When they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothing on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

²¹ A certain man, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. ²² They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of a skull.” ²³ They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ They crucified him. And they divided his garments, casting lots for them to decide what each of them would take.

²⁵ Now it was the third hour^[an] when they crucified him. ²⁶ The superscription stating the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ They also crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.^[ao]

²⁹ Those who passed by ridiculed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself! Come down from the cross!”

³¹ In the same way, the chief priests along with the experts in the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said. “He cannot save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross so that we may see and believe!”

Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

Jesus’ Death

³³ When it was the sixth hour,^[ap] darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.^{[aq] 34} At the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^[ar]

³⁵ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah!”

³⁶ Someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. They said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

³⁷ Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. ³⁸ The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he cried out and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus’ Burial

⁴² It was already evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), ⁴³ Joseph from Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had been dead for a long time. ⁴⁵ When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he granted the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Joseph bought a linen cloth, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth. He laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where the body was laid.

The Resurrection

16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint Jesus. ² Very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. ³ They were saying to each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb for us?” ⁴ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. ⁶ He said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

⁸ They went out and hurried away from the tomb, trembling and perplexed. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

The Risen Savior Appears

⁹ After Jesus had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹ When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

¹² After these things, Jesus appeared in another form to two of them as they were walking along on their way to the country. ¹³ These two also returned and reported it to the rest. But they did not believe them either.

¹⁴ Later, he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

¹⁵ He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

¹⁷ “These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in new languages. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes. And if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them. They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well.”

¹⁹ Then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

²⁰ Those who went out preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.^[as]

Introduction

1 Many have undertaken to compile an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, ² an account like those handed down to us by those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word from the beginning. ³ For this reason, it seemed good to me also, since I followed everything closely from the beginning, to write an orderly account to you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you were taught.

The Angel Gabriel Appears to Zechariah

⁵ In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶ They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and righteous decrees of the Lord. ⁷ They did not have a child because Elizabeth was unable to bear children, and they were both well along in years. ⁸ On one occasion, while Zechariah was serving as priest before God and his division was on duty, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ The whole crowd of people were praying outside the temple during the hour of the incense offering.

¹¹ An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and overcome by fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ because he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, to turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare a people who are ready for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this, because I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years?”

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God and was sent to speak to you in order to tell you this good news. ²⁰ Now listen, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things happen, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the proper time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering what was taking him so long in the temple. ²² When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them and remained unable to speak.

²³ When the days of his priestly service were completed, he went back to his home.

²⁴ After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived. She kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, ²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me in the days when he looked with favor on me and took away my disgrace among the people.”

The Angel Gabriel Appears to the Virgin Mary

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”^[at]

²⁹ But she was greatly troubled by the statement and was wondering what kind of greeting this could be. ³⁰ The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God. ³¹ Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Listen, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her sixth month. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible for God.”

³⁸ Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant. May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ In those days Mary got up and hurried to the hill country, to a town of Judah. ⁴⁰ She entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ Just as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² She called out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ In fact, just now, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy! ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, because the promises spoken to her from the Lord will be fulfilled!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ Then Mary said,

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.

John the Baptist Is Born

⁵⁷ When the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they were rejoicing with her. ⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. They wanted to call him Zechariah after the name of the father. ⁶⁰ But his mother answered, “No. He will be called John.”

⁶¹ They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” ⁶² They made signs to his father, to see what he wanted to name him.

⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

⁶⁴ Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all who lived around them. In the entire hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ And everyone who heard this took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child be?” Clearly, the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁸⁰ The child continued to grow and became strong in spirit. He lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.