The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 20

(39)And going out, he went as he was wont to the mount of the Olives; and his disciples also followed him. (40)And when he was at the place, he said to them: Pray that ye enter not into temptation. (41)And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw; and kneeling down, he prayed, (42)saying: Father, if thou art willing to remove this cup from me! Yet, not my will but thine be done.

(43)And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

(44)And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

(45)And rising up from prayer, and coming to the disciples, he found them sleeping, from sorrow. (46)And he said to them: Why sleep ye?

Arise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

(47)While he was yet speaking, behold a mult.i.tude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. (48)But Jesus said to him: Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (49)And they who were about him, seeing what would follow, said to him: Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

(50)And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and took off his right ear. (51)And Jesus answering said: Suffer thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

(52)And Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who were come to him: Have ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves? (53)When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

(54)And they took him, and led him away, and brought him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed afar off.

(55)And they having kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. (56)And a certain maid seeing him as he sat by the fire, and looking intently upon him, said: This man also was with him. (57)And he denied him, saying: Woman, I do not know him.

(58)And after a little while, another seeing him said: Thou also art of them. And Peter said: Man, I am not.

(59)And about the s.p.a.ce of one hour after, another confidently affirmed, saying: Of a truth this one also was with him; for he is a Galilaean. (60)And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, a c.o.c.k crowed.

(61)And the Lord turning looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him: Before a c.o.c.k crows this day, thou wilt deny me thrice. (62)And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

(63)And the men who held Jesus mocked him, beating him; (64)and having blindfolded him they asked him, saying: Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? (65)And many other things they said, reviling him.

(66)And when it was day, the elders of the people[22:66], and the chief priests and scribes, came together; and they brought him up into their council, saying: (67)If thou art the Christ, tell us. And he said to them: If I tell you, ye will not believe. (68)And if I ask, ye will not answer. (69)But henceforth shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of G.o.d. (70)And they all said: Art thou then the Son of G.o.d? And he said to them: Ye say it; for I am. (71)And they said: Why need we any further witness? For we ourselves heard it from his own mouth.

XXIII.

AND the whole mult.i.tude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. (2)And they began to accuse him, saying: We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king. (3)And Pilate asked him, saying: Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said to him: Thou sayest it.

(4)And Pilate said to the chief priests and the mult.i.tudes: I find no fault in this man. (5)And they were the more violent, saying: He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, unto this place.

(6)When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the man is a Galilaean.

(7)And learning that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him up to Herod, who also was himself in Jerusalem at that time.

(8)And Herod, when he saw Jesus, rejoiced greatly; for he had desired for a long time to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by him. (9)And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. (10)And the chief priests and scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. (11)And Herod with his men of war set him at naught, and mocked him, and arraying him in a gorgeous robe sent him back to Pilate. (12)And Pilate and Herod on that day became friends with each other; for before they were at enmity between themselves.

(13)And Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14)said to them: Ye brought to me this man, as one perverting the people; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him. (15)No, nor yet Herod; for I sent you up to him; and behold, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. (16)I will therefore chastise, and release him. (17)[23:17] (18)And they cried out all at once, saying: Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas! (19)(who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

(20)Again, therefore, Pilate spoke to them, desiring to release Jesus.

(21)But they cried, saying: Crucify, crucify him. (22)And a third time he said to them: What evil then has this man done? I found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise, and release him. (23)And they were urgent with loud voices, requiring that he should be crucified.

And their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed. (24)And Pilate gave sentence, that what they required should be done. (25)And he released him who for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they required; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.

(26)And as they led him away, they laid hold of one Simon a Cyrenian, coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. (27)And there followed him a great company of the people, and of women who also bewailed and lamented him. (28)But Jesus turning to them said: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (29)For, behold, days are coming in which they shall say: Happy the barren, and wombs that never bore, and b.r.e.a.s.t.s that never gave suck. (30)Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: Fall on us; and to the hills: Cover us. (31)For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

(32)And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. (33)And when they had gone away to the place which is called A Skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (34)And Jesus said: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they divided his garments, casting lots.

(35)And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed, saying: Others he saved; let him save himself, if he is the Christ, the chosen of G.o.d. (36)And the soldiers also coming to him mocked him, offering him vinegar, (37)and saying: If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.

(38)And there was an inscription written over him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(39)And one of the malefactors who were hanged railed at him, saying: If thou art the Christ, save thyself and us. (40)But the other answering rebuked him, saying: Dost thou not even fear G.o.d, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (41)And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man did nothing amiss. (42)And he said to Jesus: Remember me, when thou comest in thy kingdom. (43)And Jesus said to him: Verily I say to thee, to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise.

(44)And it was about the sixth hour; and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. (45)And the sun was darkened; and the vail of the temple was rent in the midst. (46)And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said: Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he expired.

(47)And the centurion, seeing what was done, glorified G.o.d, saying: Verily, this man was righteous! (48)And all the mult.i.tudes who had come together to that sight, having beheld the things that were done, returned, beating their b.r.e.a.s.t.s. (49)And all his acquaintance were standing afar off, and women who had followed him from Galilee, beholding these things.

(50)And, behold, a man named Joseph, a counselor, a good and just man, (51)(he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of G.o.d, (52)this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. (53)And taking it down, he wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in the rock, where no one was yet laid. (54)And it was the day of preparation, and the sabbath drew on. (55)And the women also, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and viewed the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. (56)And returning, they prepared spices and ointments; and on the sabbath they rested, according to the commandment.

XXIV.

NOW on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they prepared. (2)And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3)And entering in, they found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4)And it came to pa.s.s, that as they were much perplexed concerning this, behold two men stood by them in s.h.i.+ning garments. (5)And they being afraid and bowing their faces to the earth, they said to them: Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6)He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was yet in Galilee, (7)saying: The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. (8)And they remembered his words.

(9)And returning from the sepulchre, they reported all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest. (10)And it was Mary the Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who said these things to the apostles. (11)And their words seemed to them as idle talk, and they believed them not.

(12)But Peter rose up, and ran to the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beholds the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pa.s.s.

(13)And, behold, two of them were going on that same day to a village called Emmaus, distant sixty furlongs from Jerusalem. (14)And they were conversing together concerning all these things that had taken place. (15)And it came to pa.s.s, that while they were conversing and reasoning, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. (16)But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

(17)And he said to them: What communications are these, that ye have one with another, as ye walk, and are sad? (18)And one, whose name was Cleopas, answering said to him: Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things that have come to pa.s.s there in these days?

(19)And he said to them: What things? And they said to him: The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before G.o.d and all the people; (20)and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. (21)But we were hoping that it was he who was to redeem Israel.

But indeed, beside all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done. (22)Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, who were early at the sepulchre; (23)and not finding his body, came saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that he is alive. (24)And some of those who were with us went away to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women said; but him they saw not.

(25)Then he said to them: O foolish, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26)Was it not necessary, that the Christ should suffer these things, and enter into his glory? (27)And beginning from Moses, and all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

(28)And they drew near to the village, whither they were going; and he made as though he would go further. (29)But they constrained him, saying: Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day has declined. And he went in to abide with them.

(30)And it came to pa.s.s, that as he was reclining at table with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and breaking, gave to them. (31)And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. (32)And they said one to another: Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked to us in the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?

(33)And rising up in the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, (34)saying: The Lord is risen indeed, and he appeared to Simon.

(35)And they related what things were done in the way, and how he became known by them in the breaking of bread.

(36)And while they were speaking these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and says to them: Peace be to you. (37)But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.

(38)And he said to them: Why are ye troubled? And wherefore do thoughts arise in your hearts? (39)See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (40)And having said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (41)And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said to them: Have ye here anything to eat? (42)And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. (43)And he took, and ate it before them. (44)And he said to them: These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and psalms, concerning me. (45)Then he opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. (46)And he said to them: Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and should rise from the dead on the third day; (47)and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48)Ye are witnesses of these things.

(49)And, behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you. But do ye tarry in the city, until ye are endued with power from on high.

(50)And he led them out as far as to Bethany; and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. (51)And it came to pa.s.s, while he blessed them, that he parted from them, and was borne up into heaven. (52)And they, having wors.h.i.+ped him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy; (53)and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing G.o.d.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN.

I.