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Read the Gospels in 40 Days

Read through the four Gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--in 40 days.
Duration: 40 days
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Version
Luke 21-22

Chapter 21

The Poor Widow’s Contribution.[a] (A)When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold.(B) [b]While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”(C)

The Signs of the End. (D)Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’[c] Do not follow them!(E) When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(F) 11 There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

The Coming Persecution. 12 (G)“Before all this happens,[d] however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.(H) 13 It will lead to your giving testimony. 14 Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, 15 (I)for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking[e] that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. 16 (J)You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.(K) 17 You will be hated by all because of my name, 18 but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.(L) 19 By your perseverance you will secure your lives.(M)

The Great Tribulation.[f] 20 (N)“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand.(O) 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city,(P) 22 for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people.(Q) 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles[g] are fulfilled.(R)

The Coming of the Son of Man.(S) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.(T) 26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens[h] will be shaken.(U) 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(V) 28 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”(W)

The Lesson of the Fig Tree.(X) 29 He taught them a lesson. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; 31 in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.(Y) 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.(Z)

Exhortation to Be Vigilant. 34 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise(AA) 35 like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 36 Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”(AB)

Ministry in Jerusalem. 37 During the day, Jesus was teaching in the temple area, but at night he would leave and stay at the place called the Mount of Olives.(AC) 38 And all the people would get up early each morning to listen to him in the temple area.

VII. The Passion Narrative[i]

Chapter 22

The Conspiracy Against Jesus. (AD)Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover,[j] was drawing near, (AE)and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to put him to death, for they were afraid of the people. (AF)Then Satan entered into Judas,[k] the one surnamed Iscariot, who was counted among the Twelve,(AG) and he went to the chief priests and temple guards to discuss a plan for handing him over to them. They were pleased and agreed to pay him money. He accepted their offer and sought a favorable opportunity to hand him over to them in the absence of a crowd.

Preparations for the Passover.(AH) When the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb,(AI) he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” They asked him, “Where do you want us to make the preparations?” 10 And he answered them, “When you go into the city, a man will meet you carrying a jar of water.[l] Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and say to the master of the house, ‘The teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ 12 He will show you a large upper room that is furnished. Make the preparations there.” 13 Then they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them, and there they prepared the Passover.(AJ)

The Last Supper.(AK) 14 When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles. 15 He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover[m] with you before I suffer, 16 for, I tell you, I shall not eat it [again] until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”(AL) 17 Then he took a cup,[n] gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you [that] from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 [o](AM)Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.(AN)

The Betrayal Foretold. 21 “And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; 22 for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” 23 And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed.

The Role of the Disciples.(AO) 24 [p]Then an argument broke out among them(AP) about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. 25 [q](AQ)He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; 26 but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.(AR) 27 For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. 28 It is you who have stood by me in my trials; 29 and I confer a kingdom on you, just as my Father has conferred one on me,(AS) 30 that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.(AT)

Peter’s Denial Foretold.(AU) 31 [r]“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you[s] like wheat,(AV) 32 but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.” 33 He said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”(AW) 34 But he replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”(AX)

Instructions for the Time of Crisis. 35 (AY)He said to them, “When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?” “No, nothing,” they replied. 36 (AZ)He said to them,[t] “But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, namely, ‘He was counted among the wicked’; and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.”(BA) 38 Then they said, “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied, “It is enough!”[u]

The Agony in the Garden.(BB) 39 Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.”(BC) 41 After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed,(BD) 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”(BE) [v] [43 And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. 44 He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.] 45 When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. 46 He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”(BF)

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus.(BG) 47 While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. 48 Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49 His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?”(BH) 50 And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear.(BI) 51 [w]But Jesus said in reply, “Stop, no more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. 52 And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?(BJ) 53 Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”(BK)

Peter’s Denial of Jesus. 54 (BL)After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance.(BM) 55 They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. 56 When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said, “This man too was with him.” 57 But he denied it saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A short while later someone else saw him and said, “You too are one of them”; but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.” 59 About an hour later, still another insisted, “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, 61 and the Lord turned and looked at Peter;[x] and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”(BN) 62 He went out and began to weep bitterly. 63 (BO)The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” 65 And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.

Jesus Before the Sanhedrin.[y] 66 (BP)When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes,(BQ) and they brought him before their Sanhedrin.[z] 67 They said, “If you are the Messiah, tell us,” but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,(BR) 68 and if I question, you will not respond. 69 But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”(BS) 70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied to them, “You say that I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.