..GOSPEL OF MARK..
2:1When he entered again into Capernaum
after some days, it was heard that he was in the house.
3:1He entered again into the synagogue, and
there was a man there who had his hand withered. He came into a house. 4:1He began to teach by the seaside.
A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the
sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea. 5:1They came to the other side of the sea,
into the country of the Gadarenes. 5:9He asked him, "What
is your name?"
He said to him, "My name is Legion, for we are many." 5:10He begged him much
that he would not send them away out of the country. 5:11Now there was on
the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding. 5:12All the demons
begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them."
5:13At once Jesus gave them permission. The
unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two
thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the
sea. 5:14Those who fed them fled, and told it in
the city and in the country.
The people came to see what it was that had happened. 5:15They came to Jesus,
and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right
mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. 5:16Those who saw it
declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about
the pigs. 5:17They began to beg him to depart from
their region.
5:18As he was entering into the boat, he
who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 5:19He
didn't allow him, but said to him, "Go to your house, to
your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how
he had mercy on you."
5:20He went his way, and began to proclaim
in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
5:21When Jesus had crossed back over in the
boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the
sea. 5:22Behold, one of the rulers of the
synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, 5:23and begged him much, saying, "My little
daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that
she may be made healthy, and live."
5:24He went with him, and a great multitude
followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides. 5:25A certain woman,
who had an issue of blood for twelve years, 5:26and had suffered
many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no
better, but rather grew worse, 5:27having heard the things concerning
Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his clothes. 5:28For she said, "If I just touch his
clothes, I will be made well." 5:29Immediately the flow of her blood was
dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
5:30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in
himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd, and
asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
5:31His disciples said to him, "You see the
multitude pressing against you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"
5:32He looked around to see her who had
done this thing. 5:33But the woman, fearing and trembling,
knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him
all the truth.
5:34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured
of your disease."
5:35While he was still speaking, they came
from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the
Teacher any more?"
5:36But Jesus, when he heard the message
spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Don't be afraid, only believe." 5:37He allowed no one
to follow him, except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 5:38He
came to the synagogue ruler's house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great
wailing. 5:39When he had entered in, he said to
them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not
dead, but is asleep."
5:40They ridiculed him. But he, having put
them all out, took the father of the child and her mother and those who were
with him, and went in where the child was lying. 5:41Taking the child by
the hand, he said to her, "Talitha cumi;" which
means, being interpreted, "Girl, I tell you, get up."
5:42Immediately the girl rose up, and
walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. 5:43He
strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something
should be given to her to eat.
6:1
Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 7:1Then the Pharisees, and some of the
scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 7:2Now when they saw
some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they
found fault. 7:3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews,
don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of
the elders. 7:4They don't eat when they come from the
marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things,
which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels,
and couches.) 7:5The Pharisees and the scribes asked him,
"Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat
their bread with unwashed hands?"
7:6He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,
'This people honors me with their
lips, 7:14He called all the multitude to himself,
and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.
7:15There is nothing
from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things
which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. 7:16If anyone has ears
to hear, let him hear!"
7:17When he had entered into a house away
from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. 7:18He
said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also?
Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile
him, 7:19because it doesn't
go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all
foods clean?" 7:20He said, "That
which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. 7:21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, 7:22covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 7:23All these evil things come from within, and defile the
man."
7:24From there he arose, and went away into
the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone
to know it, but he couldn't escape notice. 7:25For a woman, whose
little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down
at his feet. 7:26Now the woman was a Greek, a
Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her
daughter. 7:27But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to
take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
7:28But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet
even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
7:29He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your
daughter."
7:30She went away to her house, and found
the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.
7:31Again he departed from the borders of
Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region
of Decapolis. 7:32They brought to him one who was deaf
and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him. 7:33He
took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears,
and he spat, and touched his tongue. 7:34Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and
said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!" 7:35Immediately his ears were opened, and
the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly. 7:36He
commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so
much the more widely they proclaimed it. 7:37They were astonished beyond measure,
saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute
speak!"
8:1In those days, when there was a very
great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to
himself, and said to them, 8:2"I have compassion
on the multitude, because they have stayed with me now three days, and have
nothing to eat. 8:3If I send them away
fasting to their home, they will faint on the way, for some of them have come a
long way."
8:4His disciples answered him, "From where
could one satisfy these people with bread here in a deserted place?"
8:5He asked them, "How
many loaves do you have?"
They said, "Seven."
8:6He commanded the multitude to sit down
on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude. 8:7They
had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also. 8:8They
ate, and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left
over. 8:9Those who had eaten were about four
thousand. Then he sent them away.
8:10Immediately he entered into the boat
with his disciples, and came into the region of Dalmanutha. 8:11The Pharisees came
out and began to question him, seeking from him a sign from heaven, and testing
him. 8:12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and
said, "Why does this generation seek a sign?
Most assuredly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."
8:13He left them, and again entering into
the boat, departed to the other side. 8:14They forgot to take bread; and they
didn't have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 8:15He charged them,
saying, "Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and
the yeast of Herod."
8:16They reasoned with one another, saying,
"It's because we have no bread."
8:17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them,
"Why do you reason that it's because you have no bread?
Don't you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
8:18Having eyes, don't
you see? Having ears, don't you hear? Don't you remember? 8:19When I broke the
five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did
you take up?"
They told him, "Twelve."
8:20"When the seven
loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you
take up?"
They told him, "Seven."
8:21He asked them, "Don't you understand, yet?"
8:22He came to Bethsaida. They brought a
blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. 8:23He took hold of the
blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spit on
his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.
8:24He looked up, and said, "I see men; for
I see them like trees walking."
8:25Then again he laid his hands on his
eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. 8:26He
sent him away to his house, saying, "Don't enter into the
village, nor tell anyone in the village."
8:27Jesus went out, with his disciples,
into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"
8:28They told him, "John the Baptizer, and
others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets."
8:29He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
8:30He charged them that they should tell
no one about him. 8:31He began to teach them that the Son of
Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests,
and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 8:32He
spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 8:33But he, turning around, and seeing his
disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan!
For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men."
8:34He called the multitude to himself with
his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 8:35For whoever wants
to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and
the Gospel's will save it. 8:36For what does it
profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 8:37For what will a man
give in exchange for his life? 8:38For whoever will be
ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son
of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father
with the holy angels."
9:1He said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, there are some standing here who will
in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power."
9:2After six days Jesus took with him
Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by
themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 9:3His
clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer
on earth can whiten them. 9:4Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and
they were talking with Jesus.
9:5Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good
for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah." 9:6For he didn't know what to say, for they
were very afraid.
9:7A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a
voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
9:8Suddenly looking around, they saw no one
with them any more, except Jesus only.
9:9As they were coming down from the
mountain, he charged them that they should tell no one what things they had
seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 9:10They kept this
saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from the dead" meant.
9:11They asked him, saying, "Why do the
scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
9:12He said to them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it
written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?
9:13But I tell you that
Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as
it is written about him."
9:14Coming to the disciples, he saw a great
multitude around them, and scribes questioning them. 9:15Immediately all the
multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted
him. 9:16He asked the scribes, "What are you asking them?"
9:17One of the multitude answered,
"Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; 9:18and wherever it
seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth,
and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able."
9:19He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long
shall I bear with you? Bring him to me."
9:20They brought him to him, and when he
saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground,
wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
9:21He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?"
He said, "From childhood. 9:22Often it has cast him both into the
fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have
compassion on us, and help us."
9:23Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who
believes."
9:24Immediately the father of the child
cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"
9:25When Jesus saw that a multitude came
running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and
never enter him again!"
9:26Having cried out, and convulsed
greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of
them said, "He is dead." 9:27But Jesus took him by the hand, and
raised him up; and he arose.
9:28When he had come into the house, his
disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?" 9:29He
said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by
prayer and fasting."
9:30They went out from there, and passed
through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it. 9:31For he was teaching
his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being
handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed,
on the third day he will rise again."
9:32But they didn't understand the saying,
and were afraid to ask him.
9:33He came to Capernaum, and when he was
in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among
yourselves on the way?"
9:34But they were silent, for they had
disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
9:35He sat down, and called the twelve; and
he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be
last of all, and servant of all." 9:36He took a little child, and set him in
the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 9:37"Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me,
and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."
9:38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw
someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade
him, because he doesn't follow us."
9:39But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work
in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 9:40For whoever is not against us is on our side. 9:41For whoever will
give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most
assuredly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward. 9:42Whoever will cause
one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for
him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
9:43If your hand causes
you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed,
rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the
unquenchable fire, 9:44'where their worm
doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.' 9:45If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for
you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into
Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched--9:46'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
9:47If your eye causes
you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of
God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of
fire, 9:48'where their worm
doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.' 9:49For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be
seasoned with salt. 9:50Salt is good, but
if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in
yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
10:1He arose from there and came into the
borders of Judea and beyond the Jordan. Multitudes came together to him again.
As he usually did, he was again teaching them. 10:2Pharisees came to
him testing him, and asked him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"
10:3He answered, "What
did Moses command you?"
10:4They said, "Moses allowed a certificate
of divorce to be written, and to divorce her."
10:5But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart, he wrote you this commandment.
10:6But from the
beginning of the creation, 'God made them male and female. 10:7For this cause a
man will leave his father and mother, and will join to his wife, 10:8and the two will
become one flesh,' so that they are no longer two, but one flesh. 10:9What therefore God
has joined together, let no man separate."
10:10In the house, his disciples asked him
again about the same matter. 10:11He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery
against her. 10:12If a woman herself
divorces her husband, and marries another, she commits adultery."
10:13They were bringing to him little
children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were
bringing them. 10:14But when Jesus saw it, he was moved
with indignation, and said to them, "Allow the little
children to come to me! Don't forbid them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to
such as these. 10:15Most assuredly I
tell you, whoever will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child, he
will in no way enter into it." 10:16He took them in his arms, and blessed
them, laying his hands on them.
10:17As he was going out into the way, one
ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that
I may inherit eternal life?"
10:18Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one-- God.
10:19You know the
commandments: 'Do not murder,' 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not
give false testimony,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.'"
10:20He said to him, "Teacher, I have
observed all these things from my youth."
10:21Jesus looking 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; and come,
follow me, taking up the cross."
10:22But his face fell at that saying, and
he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. 10:23Jesus looked around, and said to his
disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to
enter into the Kingdom of God!"
10:24The disciples were amazed at his
words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it
for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God! 10:25It is easier for a
camel to go through a
needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
10:26They were exceedingly astonished,
saying to him, "Then who can be saved?"
10:27Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are
possible with God."
10:28Peter began to tell him, "Behold, we
have left all, and have followed you."
10:29Jesus said, "Most
assuredly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or
sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and
for the Gospel's sake, 10:30but he will
receive one hundred times more now in this time, houses, brothers, sisters,
mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal
life. 10:31But many who are
first will be last; and the last first."
10:32They were on the way, going up to
Jerusalem; and Jesus was going in front of them, and they were amazed; and those
who followed were afraid. He again took the twelve, and began to tell them the
things that were going to happen to him. 10:33"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be
delivered to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death,
and will deliver him to the Gentiles. 10:34They will mock him, spit on him, scourge him, and kill him. On the
third day he will rise again."
10:35James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
came near to him, saying, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we will
ask."
10:36He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"
10:37They said to him, "Grant to us that we
may sit, one at your right hand, and one at your left hand, in your glory."
10:38But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup
that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized
with?"
10:39They said to him, "We are able."
Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink the cup that
I drink, and you shall be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with;
10:40but to sit at my
right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been
prepared."
10:41When the ten heard it, they began to
be indignant towards James and John.
10:42Jesus summoned them, and said to them,
"You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the
Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
10:43But it shall not
be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your
servant. 10:44Whoever of you
wants to become first among you, shall be bondservant of all. 10:45For the Son of Man
also came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many."
10:46They came to Jericho. As he went out
from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus,
Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 10:47When he heard that
it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, "Jesus, you son of
David, have mercy on me!" 10:48Many rebuked him, that he should be
quiet, but he cried out much more, "You son of David, have mercy on me!"
10:49Jesus stood still, and said, "Call him."
They called the blind man, saying to him, "Cheer up! Get up. He is calling
you!"
10:50He, casting away his cloak, sprang up,
and came to Jesus.
10:51Jesus asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man said to him, "Rhabboni, that I may see
again."
10:52Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your faith has made you well." Immediately he
received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
11:1When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethsphage and Bethany,
at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 11:2and said to them,
"Go your way into the village that is opposite you.
Immediately as you enter into it, you will find a young donkey tied, on which no
one has sat. Untie him, and bring him. 11:3If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs
him;' and immediately he will send him back here."
11:4They went away, and found a young
donkey tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied him. 11:5Some of those who stood there asked
them, "What are you doing, untying the young donkey?" 11:6They said to them
just as Jesus had said, and they let them go.
11:7They brought the young donkey to Jesus,
and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. 11:8Many spread their
garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from the trees, and
spreading them on the road. 11:9Those who went in front, and those who
followed, cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
11:10Blessed is the kingdom of our father
David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
11:11Jesus entered into the temple in
Jerusalem. When he had looked around at everything, it being now evening, he
went out to Bethany with the twelve.
11:12The next day, when they had come out
from Bethany, he was hungry. 11:13Seeing a fig tree afar off having
leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to
it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 11:14Jesus told it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" and his
disciples heard it.
11:15They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus
entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the
seats of those who sold the doves. 11:16He would not allow anyone to carry a
container through the temple. 11:17He taught, saying to them, "Isn't it written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for
all the nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers!"
11:18The chief priests and the scribes
heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because
all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
11:19When evening came, he went out of the
city. 11:20As they passed by in the morning, they
saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 11:21Peter,
remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has
withered away."
11:22Jesus answering said to them, "Have faith in God. 11:23For most assuredly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, 'Be
taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes
that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. 11:24Therefore I tell
you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you receive them,
and you shall have them. 11:25Whenever you stand
praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who
is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. 11:26But if you do not
forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions."
11:27They came again to Jerusalem, and as
he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders
came to him, 11:28and they began saying to him, "By what
authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these
things?"
11:29Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by
what authority I do these things. 11:30The baptism of John -- was it from heaven, or from men? Answer
me."
11:31They reasoned with themselves, saying,
"If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe
him?' 11:32If we should say, 'From men'"--they
feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet. 11:33They answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what
authority I do these things."
12:1He began to speak to them in parables.
"A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit
for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into
another country. 12:2When it was time,
he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of
the vineyard. 12:3They took him, beat
him, and sent him away empty. 12:4Again, he sent
another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head,
and sent him away shamefully treated. 12:5Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others,
beating some, and killing some. 12:6Therefore still
having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will
respect my son.' 12:7But those farmers
said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the
inheritance will be ours.' 12:8They took him,
killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 12:9What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and
destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. 12:10Haven't you even
read this Scripture:
'The stone which the builders
rejected, 12:12They tried to seize him, but they
feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them.
They left him, and went away. 12:13They sent some of the Pharisees and of
the Herodians to him, that they might trap him with words. 12:14When they had
come, they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and don't defer to
anyone; for you aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it
lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 12:15Shall we give, or shall we not give?"
But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do
you test me? Bring me a denarius, that I may see it."
12:16They brought it.
He said to them, "Whose is this image and
inscription?"
They said to him, "Caesar's."
12:17Jesus answered them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the
things that are God's."
They marveled greatly at him.
12:18There came to him Sadducees, who say
that there is no resurrection. They asked him, saying, 12:19"Teacher, Moses
wrote to us, 'If a man's brother dies, and leaves a wife behind him, and leaves
no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring for
his brother.' 12:20There were seven brothers. The first
took a wife, and dying left no offspring. 12:21The second took
her, and died, leaving no children behind him. The third likewise; 12:22and the seven took her and left no
children. Last of all the woman also died. 12:23In the
resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them? For the seven had
her as a wife."
12:24Jesus answered them, "Isn't this because you are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures,
nor the power of God? 12:25For when they will
rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like
angels in heaven. 12:26But about the
dead, that they are raised; haven't you read in the book of Moses, about the
Bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob?' 12:27He is not the God
of the dead, but of the living. You are therefore badly mistaken."
12:28One of the scribes came, and heard
them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him,
"Which commandment is the greatest of all?"
12:29Jesus answered, "The greatest is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is
one: 12:30you shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 12:31The second is like
this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment
greater than these."
12:32The scribe said to him, "Truly,
teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 12:33and to love him with all the heart,
and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength,
and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt
offerings and sacrifices."
12:34When Jesus saw that he answered
wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of
God."
No one dared ask him any question after that. 12:35Jesus responded,
as he taught in the temple, "How is it that the scribes say
that the Christ is the son of David? 12:36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit,
'The Lord said to my Lord, The common people heard him gladly. 12:38In his teaching he said to them, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get
greetings in the marketplaces, 12:39and the best seats
in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts: 12:40those who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long
prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."
12:41Jesus sat down opposite the treasury,
and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast
in much. 12:42A poor widow came, and she cast in two
small brass coins,
which equal a quadrans
coin. 12:43He called his disciples to himself,
and said to them, "Most assuredly I tell you, this poor
widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 12:44for they all gave
out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to
live on."
13:1As he went out of the temple, one of
his disciples said to him, "Teacher, see what kind of stones and what kind of
buildings!"
13:2Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one
stone on another, which will not be thrown down."
13:3As he sat on the Mount of Olives
opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 13:4"Tell us, when will these things be?
What is the sign that these things are all about to be fulfilled?"
13:5Jesus, answering, began to tell them,
"Be careful that no one leads you astray. 13:6For many will come
in my name, saying, 'I am
he!' and will lead many astray.
13:7"When you hear of
wars and rumors of wars, don't be troubled. For those must happen, but the end
is not yet. 13:8For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in
various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the
beginning of birth pains. 13:9But watch
yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils. You will be beaten in
synagogues. You will stand before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony
to them. 13:10The Gospel must
first be preached to all the nations. 13:11When they lead you away and deliver you up, don't be anxious
beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you
in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
13:12"Brother will
deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up
against parents, and cause them to be put to death. 13:13You will be hated by all men for my name's sake, but he who
endures to the end, the same will be saved. 13:14But when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by
Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand),
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, 13:15and let him who is
on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house.
13:16Let him who is in
the field not return back to take his cloak. 13:17But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babies
in those days! 13:18Pray that your
flight won't be in the winter. 13:19For in those days
there will be oppression, such as there has not been the like from the beginning
of the creation which God created until now, and never will be. 13:20Unless the Lord
had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the sake of the
chosen ones, whom he picked out, he shortened the days. 13:21Then if anyone
tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there!' don't believe it.
13:22For there will
arise false christs and false prophets, and will show signs and wonders, that
they may lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. 13:23But you watch.
"Behold, I have told you all things beforehand. 14:1It was now two days before the feast of
the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes
sought how they might sieze him by deception, and kill him. 14:2For they said, "Not
during the feast, because there might be a riot of the people."
14:3While he was at Bethany, in the house
of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster jar
of ointment of pure nard-- very costly. She broke the jar, and poured it over
his head. 14:4But there were some who were indignant
among themselves, saying, "Why has this ointment been wasted? 14:5For this might have been sold for more
than three hundred
denarii, and given to the poor." They grumbled against her.
14:6But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work
for me. 14:7For you always have
the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will
not always have me. 14:8She has done what
she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 14:9Most assuredly I
tell you, wherever this Gospel may be preached throughout the whole world, that
which this woman has done will also be spoken of for a memorial of her."
14:10Judas Iscariot, who was one of the
twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. 14:11They, when they heard it, were glad,
and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.
14:12On the first day of unleavened bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover, his disciples asked him, "Where do you want
us to go and make ready that you may eat the Passover?"
14:13He sent two of his disciples, and said
to them, "Go into the city, and there you will meet a man
carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, 14:14and wherever he enters in, tell the master of the house, 'The
Teacher says, "Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my
disciples?"' 14:15He will himself
show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make ready for us
there."
14:16His disciples went out, and came into
the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the
Passover.
14:17When it was evening he came with the
twelve. 14:18As they sat and were eating, Jesus
said, "Most assuredly I tell you, one of you will betray me
-- he who eats with me."
14:19They began to be sorrowful, and to ask
him one by one, "Surely not I?" And another said, "Surely not I?"
14:20He answered them, "It is one of the twelve, he who dips with me in the dish.
14:21For the Son of Man
goes, even as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of
Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been
born."
14:22As they were eating, Jesus took bread,
and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body."
14:23He took the cup, and when he had given
thanks, he gave to them. They all drank of it. 14:24He said to them,
"This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out
for many. 14:25Most assuredly I
tell you, I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I
drink it anew in the Kingdom of God." 14:26When they had sung
a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
14:27Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it
is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
14:28However, after I
am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
14:29But Peter said to him, "Although all
will be offended, yet I will not."
14:30Jesus said to him, "Most assuredly I tell you, that you today, even this night,
before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."
14:31But he spoke all the more, "If I must
die with you, I will not deny you." They all said the same thing.
14:32They came to a place which was named
Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I
pray." 14:33He took with him Peter, James, and
John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. 14:34He said to them,
"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here,
and watch."
14:35He went forward a little, and fell on
the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from
him. 14:36He said, "Abba,
Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However,
not what I desire, but what you desire."
14:37He came and found them sleeping, and
said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you watch
one hour? 14:38Watch and pray,
that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak."
14:39Again he went away, and prayed, saying
the same words. 14:40Again he returned, and found them
sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn't know what to answer
him. 14:41He came the third time, and said to
them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The
hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
14:42Arise, let us be
going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."
14:43Immediately, while he was still
speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came--and with him a multitude with swords
and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 14:44Now he who betrayed him had given them
a sign, saying, "Whoever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away
safely." 14:45When he had come, immediately he came
to him, and said, "Rabbi! Rabbi!" and kissed him. 14:46They laid their
hands on him, and seized him. 14:47But a certain one of those who stood
by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his
ear.
14:48Jesus answered them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to
seize me? 14:49I was daily with
you in the temple teaching, and you didn't arrest me. But this is so that the
Scriptures might be fulfilled."
14:50They all left him, and fled. 14:51A certain young man followed him,
having a linen cloth thrown around himself, over his naked body. The young men
grabbed him, 14:52but he left the linen cloth, and fled
from them naked. 14:53They led Jesus away to the high
priest. All the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes came together with
him.
14:54Peter had followed him from a
distance, until he came into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with
the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. 14:55Now the chief
priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to
death, and found none. 14:56For many gave false testimony against
him, and their testimony didn't agree with each other. 14:57Some stood up, and
gave false testimony against him, saying, 14:58"We heard him say,
'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will
build another made without hands.'" 14:59Even so, their testimony did not
agree.
14:60The high priest stood up in the midst,
and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it which these testify against
you?" 14:61But he stayed quiet, and answered
nothing. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the
Blessed?"
14:62Jesus said, "I AM.
You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with
the clouds of the sky."
14:63The high priest tore his clothes, and
said, "What further need have we of witnesses? 14:64You have heard the
blasphemy! What do you think?" They all condemned him to be worthy of death. 14:65Some began to spit on him, and to
cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, "Prophesy!" The
officers struck him with the palms of their hands.
14:66As Peter was in the courtyard below,
one of the maids of the high priest came, 14:67and seeing Peter
warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You were also with the Nazarene,
Jesus!"
14:68But he denied it, saying, "I neither
know, nor understand what you are saying." He went out on the porch, and the
rooster crowed.
14:69The maid saw him, and began again to
tell those who stood by, "This is one of them." 14:70But he again
denied it. After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, "You
truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." 14:71But he began to curse, and to swear,
"I don't know this man of whom you speak!" 14:72The rooster crowed
the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three
times." When he thought about that, he wept.
15:1Immediately in the morning the chief
priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a
consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to
Pilate. 15:2Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of
the Jews?"
He answered, "So you say."
15:3The chief priests accused him of many
things. 15:4Pilate again asked him, "Have you no
answer? See how many things they testify against you!"
15:5But Jesus made no further answer, so
that Pilate marveled.
15:6Now at the feast he used to release to
them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. 15:7There was one
called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the
insurrection had committed murder. 15:8The multitude, crying aloud, began to
ask him to do as he always did for them. 15:9Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you
want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" 15:10For he perceived
that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. 15:11But the chief
priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them
instead. 15:12Pilate again asked them, "What then
should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?"
15:13They cried out again, "Crucify him!"
15:14Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil
has he done?"
But they cried out exceedingly, "Crucify him!"
15:15Pilate, wishing to please the
multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged
him, to be crucified. 15:16The soldiers led him away within the
court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. 15:17They clothed him with purple, and
weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 15:18They began to
salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 15:19They struck his head with a reed, and
spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. 15:20When they had
mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him.
They led him out to crucify him. 15:21They compelled one passing by, coming
from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with
them, that he might bear his cross. 15:22They brought him to the place called
Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, "The place of a skull." 15:23They offered him wine mixed with myrrh
to drink, but he didn't take it.
15:24Crucifying him, they parted his
garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. 15:25It was the third hour, and they
crucified him. 15:26The superscription of his accusation
was written over him, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." 15:27With him they
crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. 15:28The Scripture was fulfilled, which
says, "He was numbered with transgressors."
15:29Those who passed by blasphemed him,
wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it
in three days, 15:30save yourself, and come down from the
cross!"
15:31Likewise, also the chief priests
mocking among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others. He can't save
himself. 15:32Let the Christ, the King of Israel,
now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him." Those who were
crucified with him insulted him.
15:33When the sixth hour had come,
there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 15:34At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"
which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?"
15:35Some of those who stood by, when they
heard it, said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah."
15:36One ran, and filling a sponge full of
vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Let him be.
Let's see whether Elijah comes to take him down."
15:37Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and
gave up the spirit. 15:38The veil of the temple was torn in two
from the top to the bottom. 15:39When the centurion, who stood by
opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said,
"Truly this man was the Son of God!"
15:40There were also women watching from
afar, among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less
and of Joses, and Salome; 15:41who, when he was in Galilee, followed
him, and served him; and many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
15:42When evening had now come, because it
was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 15:43Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent
council member who also himself was looking for the Kingdom of God, came. He
boldly went in to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. 15:44Pilate marveled if
he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had
been dead long. 15:45When he found out from the centurion,
he granted the body to Joseph. 15:46He bought a linen cloth, and taking
him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been
cut out of a rock. He rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 15:47Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of
Joses, saw where he was laid.
16:1When the Sabbath was past, Mary
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they
might come and anoint him. 16:2Very early on the first day of the
week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 16:3They were saying
among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for
us?" 16:4for it was very big. Looking up, they
saw that the stone was rolled back.
16:5Entering into the tomb, they saw a
young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were
amazed. 16:6He said to them, "Don't be amazed. You
seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here.
Behold, the place where they laid him! 16:7But go, tell his disciples and Peter,
'He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.'"
16:8They went out,*
and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They
said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. 16:9Now when he had
risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
from whom he had cast out seven demons. 16:10She went and told those who had been
with him, as they mourned and wept. 16:11When they heard that he was alive, and
had been seen by her, they disbelieved. 16:12After these things he was revealed in
another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. 16:13They went away and told it to the
rest. They didn't believe them, either.
16:14Afterward he was revealed to the
eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their
unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn't believe those who had seen
him after he had risen. 16:15He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to the whole
creation. 16:16He who believes
and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
16:17These signs will
accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will
speak with new languages; 16:18they will take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they
will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
16:19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had
spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of
God. 16:20They went out, and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs
that followed. Amen.
CHAPTER 1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.
He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
This messenger was John the Baptist.
He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized
to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John.
And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.
For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
John announced:
“Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am,
so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.
As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart
and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.
And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days.
He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced.
“The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
The First Disciples
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.
He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.
When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered.
At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened.
“What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.
Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.
So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.
The whole town gathered at the door to watch.
So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Later Simon and the others went out to find him.
When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”
So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:
“Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you.
Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.
This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened.
As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere.
He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.
CHAPTER 2
2:2Immediately many
were gathered together, so that there was no more room,
not even around the
door; and he spoke the word to them.
2:3Four people came, carrying a paralytic
to him.
2:4When they could not come near to him for
the crowd,
they removed the roof where he was. When they had broken it up,
they
let down the mat that the paralytic was lying on.
2:5Jesus, seeing their
faith, said to the paralytic,
"Son, your sins are forgiven
you."
2:6But there were some of the scribes
sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
2:7"Why does this man
speak blasphemies like that?
Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
2:8Immediately Jesus, perceiving
that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them,
"Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
2:9Which is easier, to
tell the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven;'
or to say, 'Arise, and take up
your bed, and walk?'
2:10But that you may
know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"
--he said
to the paralytic--
2:11"I tell you, arise,
take up your mat, and go to your house."
2:12He arose, and immediately took up the
mat,
and went out in front of them all;
so that they were all amazed, and
glorified God, saying,
"We never saw anything like this!"
2:13He went out again by the seaside.
All
the multitude came to him, and he taught them.
2:14As he passed by, he
saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax office,
and he said to him,
"Follow me."
And he arose and followed him.
2:15It happened, that he was reclining at
the table in his house,
and many tax collectors and sinners sat down with Jesus
and his disciples,
for there were many, and they followed him.
2:16The scribes and the Pharisees, when
they saw that he was eating with the sinners
and tax collectors, said to his
disciples,
"Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"
2:17When Jesus heard it, he said to them,
"Those who are healthy have no need for a physician,
but
those who are sick.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance."
2:18John's disciples and the Pharisees were
fasting, and they came and asked him,
"Why do John's disciples and the disciples
of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?"
2:19Jesus said to them,
"Can the groomsmen fast while the bridegroom is with them?
As long
as they have the bridegroom with them, they can't fast.
2:20But the days will
come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them,
and then will they fast
in that day.
2:21No one sews a piece
of unshrunk cloth on an old garment,
or else the patch shrinks and the new tears
away from the old,
and a worse hole is made.
2:22No one puts new wine into old wineskins,
or else the new wine will
burst the skins,
and the wine pours out, and the skins will be destroyed;
but
they put new wine into fresh wineskins."
2:23It happened that he was going on the
Sabbath day through the grain fields,
and his disciples began, as they went, to
pluck the ears of grain.
2:24The Pharisees said to him, "Behold, why
do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"
2:25He said to them,
"Did you never read what David did, when he had need, and was
hungry-
-he, and they who were with him?
2:26How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high
priest,
and ate the show bread, which it is not lawful to eat
except for the
priests, and gave also to those who were with him?"
2:27He said to them,
"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
2:28Therefore the Son
of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
CHAPTER 3
3:2They watched him,
whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.
3:3He
said to the man who had his hand withered, "Stand
up."
3:4He said to them, "Is
it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to
kill?" But they were silent.
3:5When he had looked around at them with
anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand
was restored as healthy as the other.
3:6The Pharisees went out, and immediately
conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
3:7Jesus withdrew to the sea with his
disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
3:8from
Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and
Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
3:9He
spoke to his disciples that a little boat should stay near him because of the
crowd, so that they wouldn't press on him.
3:10For he had healed
many, so that as many as had diseases pressed on him that they might touch him.
3:11The unclean spirits, whenever they saw
him, fell down before him, and cried, "You are the Son of God!"
3:12He
sternly warned them that they should not make him known.
3:13He went up into the mountain, and
called to himself those whom he wanted, and they went to him.
3:14He
appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them out
to preach,
3:15and to have authority to heal
sicknesses and to cast out demons:
3:16Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
3:17James the son of Zebedee; John, the
brother of James, and he surnamed them Boanerges, which means, Sons of Thunder;
3:18Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew;
Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot;
3:19and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed
him.
3:20The multitude came together again, so
that they could not so much as eat bread.
3:21When his friends
heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, "He is insane."
3:22The scribes who came down from
Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the prince of the demons he casts
out the demons."
3:24If a kingdom is
divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
3:25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
3:26If Satan has risen
up against himself, and is divided, he can't stand, but has an end.
3:27But no one can
enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the
strong man; and then he will plunder his house.
3:28Most assuredly I tell you, all of the children of men's sins will
be forgiven them, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme;
3:29but whoever may
blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an
eternal sin"
3:30-- because they said, "He has an
unclean spirit."
3:31His mother and his brothers came, and
standing outside, they sent to him, calling him.
3:32A multitude was
sitting around him, and they told him, "Behold, your mother, your brothers, and
your sisters are
outside looking for you."
3:33He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?"
3:34Looking around at
those who sat around him, he said, "Behold, my mother and my
brothers!
3:35For whoever does
the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
Chapter 4
4:2He
taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,
4:3"Listen! Behold, the
farmer went out to sow,
4:4and it happened, as
he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds* came and devoured it.
4:5Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and
immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.
4:6When the sun had
risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
4:7Others fell among
the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
4:8Others fell into the
good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some brought forth
thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much."
4:9He
said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."
4:10When he was alone, those who were
around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.
4:11He said to them,
"To you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to
those who are outside, all things are done in parables,
4:12that 'seeing they
may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest
perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.'"
4:13He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How will you understand all of
the parables?
4:14The farmer sows the
word.
4:15These are the ones
by the road, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan
comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
4:16These in like
manner are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the
word, immediately receive it with joy.
4:17They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When
oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.
4:18Others are those
who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,
4:19and the cares of
this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
4:20These are those
which were sown on the good ground: such as hear the word, and accept it, and
bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred
times."
4:21He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed?
Isn't it put on a lampstand?
4:22For there is
nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made
secret, but that it should come to light.
4:23If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."
4:24He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it
will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.
4:25For whoever has, to
him will more be given, and he who doesn't have, from him will be taken away
even that which he has."
4:26He said, "The
Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,
4:27and should sleep
and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know
how. 4:28For the earth bears
fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
4:29But when the fruit
is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has
come."
4:30He said, "How will
we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?
4:31It's like a grain
of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all
the seeds that are on the earth,
4:32yet when it is
sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great
branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow."
4:33With many such parables he spoke the
word to them, as they were able to hear it.
4:34Without a parable
he didn't speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained all
things.
4:35On that day, when evening had come, he
said to them, "Let's go over to the other side."
4:36Leaving the multitude, they took him
with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.
4:37There arose a great wind storm, and the
waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.
4:38He
himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told
him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"
4:39He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and
said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased,
and there was a great calm.
4:40He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"
4:41They were greatly afraid, and said to
one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
CHAPTER 5
5:2When he had come out of the boat,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 5:3who
had his dwelling in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with
chains, 5:4because he had been often bound with
fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters
broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. 5:5Always, night and
day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself
with stones. 5:6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and
bowed down to him, 5:7and crying out with a loud voice, he
said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure
you by God, don't torment me." 5:8For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"
CHAPTER 6
2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?”
3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon.
And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”
5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.
7 And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.
8 He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money.
9 He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
10 “Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town.
11 But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have left those people to their fate.”
12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.
13 And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
The Death of John the Baptist
14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying,
“This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.”
15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”
16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”
17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.
18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”
19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless,
20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him.
Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.
22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests.
“Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”
23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”
24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”
Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”
25 So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”
26 Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.
27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him.
The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.
29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.
31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them.
34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.
36 Send the crowds away so they can go to the nearby farms and villages and buy something to eat.”
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!”
38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus told the disciples to have the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of fifty or a hundred.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.
Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.
He also divided the fish for everyone to share.
42 They all ate as much as they wanted,
43 and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44 A total of 5,000 men and their families were fed.
Jesus Walks on Water
45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home.
46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land.
48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them,
49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost.
50 They were all terrified when they saw him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”
51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,
52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out.
The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces.
They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
CHAPTER 7
But their heart is far from me.
Teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.'
7:8"For you set aside
the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of
pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things." 7:9He said to them,
"Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you
may keep your tradition. 7:10For Moses said,
'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or
mother, let him be put to death.' 7:11But you say, 'If a
man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received
from me is Corban,
that is to say, given to God;"' 7:12then you no longer
allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 7:13making void the
word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things
like this."
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
The same was made the head of
the corner.
It is marvelous in our
eyes'?"
Sit
at my right hand,
Until I make your
enemies the footstool of your feet.'
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16