Mark 12 Cross References - Twentieth_Century

¹ And Jesus began to speak to them in parables: "A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. ² At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the vintage; ³ But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty- handed. ⁴ A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted. ⁵ He sent another, but him they killed; and so with many others- -some they beat and some they killed. ⁶ He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. 'They will respect my son,' he said. ⁷ But those tenants said to one another 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.' ⁸ So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you never read this passage of Scripture?--'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner- stone; ¹¹ This corner-stone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.'" ¹² After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away. ¹³ Afterwards they sent to Jesus some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to set a trap for him in the course of conversation. ¹⁴ These men came to him and said: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and are not afraid of any one, for you pay no regard to a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly; are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not? ¹⁵ Should we pay, or should we not pay?" Knowing their hypocrisy, Jesus said to them: "Why are you testing me? Bring me a florin to look at." ¹⁶ And, when they had brought it, he asked: "Whose head and title are these?" "The Emperor's," they said; ¹⁷ And Jesus replied: "Pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." And they wondered at him. ¹⁸ Next came some Sadducees--the men who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this-- ¹⁹ "Teacher, in our Scriptures Moses decreed that, should a man's brother die, leaving a widow but no child, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother. ²⁰ There were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest took a wife, but died and left no family; ²¹ And the second took her, and died without family; and so did the third. ²² All the seven died and left no family. The woman herself died last of all. ²³ At the resurrection whose wife will she be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?" ²⁴ "Is not the reason of your mistake," answered Jesus, "your ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God? ²⁵ When men rise from the dead, there is no marrying or being married; but they are as angels in Heaven. ²⁶ As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him thus--'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? ²⁷ He is not God of dead men, but of living. You are greatly mistaken." ²⁸ Then came up one of the Teachers of the Law who had heard their discussions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question: "What is the first of all the commandments?" ²⁹ "The first," answered Jesus, "is--'Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is the one Lord; ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' ³¹ The second is this--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost love thyself.' There is no commandment greater than these." ³² "Wisely answered, Teacher!" exclaimed the Teacher of the Law. "It is true, as you say, that 'there is one God,' and that 'there is no other besides him'; ³³ And to 'love him with all one's heart, and with all one's understanding, and with all one's strength,' and to 'love one's neighbor as one loves oneself' is far beyond all 'burnt-offerings and sacrifices.'" ³⁴ Seeing that he had answered with discernment, Jesus said to him: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." After that no one ventured to question him further. ³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the Temple Courts, he asked: "How is it that the Teachers of the Law say that the Christ is to be David's son? ³⁶ David said himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit-- 'The Lord said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, Until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet.'" ³⁷ David himself calls him 'lord,' how comes it, then, that he is to be his son?" The mass of the people listened to Jesus with delight. ³⁸ In the course of his teaching, Jesus said: "See that you are on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and to be greeted in the streets with respect, ³⁹ And to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honor at dinner. ⁴⁰ They are the men that rob widows of their homes, and make a pretense of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier." ⁴¹ Then Jesus sat down opposite the chests for the Temple offerings, and watched how the people put money into them. Many rich people were putting in large sums; ⁴² But one poor widow came and put in two farthings, which make a half-penny. ⁴³ On this, calling his disciples to him, Jesus said: "I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests; ⁴⁴ For every one else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had--everything that she had to live on."

²³ 'Behold! the virgin shall be with child and shall give birth to a son, And they will give him the name Immanuel'--a word which means 'God is with us.'

³ When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem. ⁴ He called together all the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ "At Bethlehem in Judea," was their answer; "for it is said in the Prophet-- ⁶ 'And thou, Bethlehem in Judah's land, Art in no way least among the chief cities of Judah; For out of thee will come a Chieftain- - One who will shepherd my people Israel.'" ⁷ Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained from them the date of the appearance of the star; ⁸ And, sending them to Bethlehem, he said: "Go and make careful inquiries about the child, and, as soon as you have found him, bring me word, that I, too, may go and do homage to him." ⁹ The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then continued their journey. And the star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached, and stood over, the place where the child was. ¹⁰ At the sight of the star they were filled with joy. ¹¹ Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and did homage to him. Then they unpacked their treasures, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road. ¹³ After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said: "Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death."

¹⁶ When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighborhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers.

⁹ And do not think that you can say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! ¹⁰ Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but He who is Coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."

¹⁷ And from the heavens there came a voice which said: "This is my son, the Beloved, in whom I delight."

¹² Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in Heaven will be great; for so men persecuted the Prophets who lived before you.

¹⁹ Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least- esteemed in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

⁵ And, when you pray, you are not to behave as hypocrites do. They like to pray standing in the Synagogues and at the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. There, I tell you, is their reward!

⁷ When praying, do not repeat the same words over and over again, as is done by the Gentiles, who think that by using many words they will obtain a hearing.

¹² Do to others whatever you would wish them to do to you; for that is the teaching of both the Law and the Prophets.

¹¹ Yes, and many will come in from East and West and take their places beside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; ¹² While the heirs to the Kingdom will be 'banished into the darkness' outside; there, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." ¹³ Then Jesus said to the Captain: "Go now, and it shall be according to your faith." And the man was cured that very hour.

¹³ Go and learn what this means--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

²⁷ As Jesus was passing on from there, he was followed by two blind men, who kept calling out: "Take pity on us, Son of David!"

¹⁷ Be on your guard against your fellow men, for they will betray you to courts of law, and scourge you in their Synagogues;

³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

⁴² And, if any one gives but a cup of cold water to one of these lowly ones because he is a disciple, I tell you that he shall assuredly not lose his reward."

⁵ The blind recover their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are made clean and the deaf hear, the dead, too, are raised to life, and the good news is told to the poor.

²² Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the 'Day of Judgment' than yours. ²³ And you, Capernaum! Will you 'exalt yourself to Heaven'? 'You shall go down to the Place of Death.' For, if the miracles which have been done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing to this day. ²⁴ Yet, I tell you, the doom of Sodom will be more bearable in the 'Day of Judgment' than yours." ²⁵ At that same time Jesus uttered the words: "I thank thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that, though thou has hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou hast revealed them to the child-like!

²⁷ Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does any one fully know the Son, except the Father, or fully know the Father, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him.

³ "Have not you read," replied Jesus, "what David did, when he and his companions were hungry--

⁷ And had you learned the meaning of the words--'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned those who are not guilty.

²⁰ A bruised reed he will not break, And a smoldering wick he will not quench, Till he has brought the judgment to a victorious issue,

⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first. So, too, will it be with this wicked generation."

¹⁰ Afterwards his disciples came to him, and said: "Why do you speak to them in parables?" ¹¹ "To you," answered Jesus, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of Heaven has been imparted, but not to those. ¹² For, to all who have, more will be given, and they shall have abundance; but, from all who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ¹³ That is why I speak to them in parables, because, though they have eyes, they do not see, and though they have ears, they do not hear or understand. ¹⁴ And in them is being fulfilled that prophecy of Isaiah which says--'You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, And, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving, ¹⁵ For the mind of this nation has grown dense, And their ears are dull of hearing, Their eyes also have they closed; Lest some day they should perceive with their eyes, And with their ears they should hear, And in their mind they should understand, and should turn--And I should heal them.'

³⁴ Of all this Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables; indeed to them he used never to speak at all except in parables, ³⁵ in fulfillment of these words in the Prophet--'I will speak to them in parables; I will utter things kept secret since the foundation of the world.'

⁶ Presently Jesus said to them: "Take care and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and there was a voice from the cloud that said-- "This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight; him you must hear."

²⁵ "Yes," answered Peter. But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take taxes or tribute? From their sons, or from others?" ²⁶ "From others," answered Peter. "Well then," continued Jesus, "their sons go free. ²⁷ Still, that we may not shock them, go and throw a line into the Sea; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth, and you will find in it a piece of money. Take that, and give it to the collectors for both of us."

⁴ "Have not you read," replied Jesus, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,'

¹⁸ "What commandments?" asked the man. "These," answered Jesus:-- "'Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others.

¹⁸ "What commandments?" asked the man. "These," answered Jesus:-- "'Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not say what is false about others. ¹⁹ Honor thy father and thy mother.' And 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself."

¹⁶ And said to him: "Do you hear what these boys are saying?" "Yes," answered Jesus; "but did you never read the words--'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings thou hast called forth perfect praise'?"

²⁶ But if we say 'human,' we are afraid of the people, for every one regards John as a Prophet."

²⁸ What do you think of this? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the elder and said 'Go and work in the vineyard to-day my son.'

³³ Listen to another parable. A man, who was an employer, once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. ³⁴ When the time for the vintage drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to receive his share of the produce. ³⁵ But the tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. ³⁶ A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way.

³⁹ So they seized him, and threw him outside the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" ⁴¹ "Miserable wretches!" they exclaimed, "he will put them to a miserable death, and he will let out the vineyard to other tenants, who will pay him his share of the produce at the proper times." ⁴² Then Jesus added: "Have you never read in the Scriptures?-- 'The very stone which the builders despised--Has now itself become the corner-stone; This corner-stone has come from the Lord, And is marvelous in our eyes.' ⁴³ And that, I tell you, is why the Kingdom of God will be taken from you, and given to a nation that does produce the fruit of the Kingdom.

⁴⁵ After listening to these parables, the Chief Priests and the Pharisees saw that it was about them that he was speaking; ⁴⁶ Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

⁴⁶ Yet, although eager to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, who regarded him as a Prophet.

⁶ While the rest, seizing his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. ⁷ The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire.

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position. ¹⁷ Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?"

¹⁷ Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?" ¹⁸ Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?

¹⁸ Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin with which the tax is paid." And, when they had brought him a florin, ²⁰ He asked: "Whose head and title are these?" ²¹ "The Emperor's," they answered: on which he said to them: "Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." ²² They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away.

²² They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away. ²³ That same day some Sadducees came up to Jesus, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Their question was this:-- ²⁴ "Teacher, Moses said--'Should a man die without children, the man's brother shall become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.' ²⁵ Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother.

²⁵ Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother. ²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven.

²⁶ The same thing happened to the second and the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven. ²⁷ The woman herself died last of all.

²⁷ The woman herself died last of all. ²⁸ At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having had her?"

²⁸ At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having had her?" ²⁹ "Your mistake," replied Jesus, "is due to your ignorance of the Scriptures, and of the power of God.

²⁹ "Your mistake," replied Jesus, "is due to your ignorance of the Scriptures, and of the power of God. ³⁰ For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven.

³⁰ For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven. ³¹ As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God--

³¹ As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God--

³¹ As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God-- ³² 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead men, but of living."

³² 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead men, but of living." ³³ The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly struck with his teaching.

³³ The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly struck with his teaching. ³⁴ When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they collected together. ³⁵ Then one of them, a Student of the Law, to test him, asked this question-- ³⁶ "Teacher, what is the great commandment in the Law?" ³⁷ His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' ³⁸ This is the great first commandment. ³⁹ The second, which is like it, is this--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'

³⁹ The second, which is like it, is this--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.' ⁴⁰ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." ⁴¹ Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this question to them-- ⁴² "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "David's," they said. ⁴³ "How is it, then," Jesus replied, "that David, speaking under inspiration, calls him 'lord,' in the passage- ⁴⁴ 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, Until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet"'? ⁴⁵ Since, then, David calls him 'lord,' how is he David's son?" ⁴⁶ No one could say a word in answer; nor did any one after that day venture to question him further.

¹ Then Jesus speaking to the crowds and to his disciples, said: ² "The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees now occupy the chair of Moses. ³ Therefore practice and lay to heart everything that they tell preach but do not practice. ⁴ While they make up heavy loads and pile them on other men's shoulder's they decline, themselves, to lift a finger to move them. ⁵ All their actions are done to attract attention. They widen their phylacteries, and increase the size of their tassels, ⁶ and like to have the place of honor at dinner, and the best seats in the Synagogues, ⁷ and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody.

⁹ And do not call any one Father, the heavenly Father.

¹³ But alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You turn the key of the Kingdom of Heaven in men's faces. For you do not go in yourselves, nor yet allow those who try to go in to do so.

²³ Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first.

³³ You serpents and brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to the Pit? ³⁴ That is why I send you Prophets, wise men, and Teachers of the Law, some of whom you will crucify and kill, and some of whom you will scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from town to town;

³⁴ That is why I send you Prophets, wise men, and Teachers of the Law, some of whom you will crucify and kill, and some of whom you will scourge in your Synagogues, and persecute from town to town; ³⁵ in order that upon your heads may fall every drop of innocent 'blood split on earth,' from the blood of innocent Abel down to that of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar.

³⁵ in order that upon your heads may fall every drop of innocent 'blood split on earth,' from the blood of innocent Abel down to that of Zechariah, Barachiah's son, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar. ³⁶ All this, I tell you, will come home to the present generation.

³⁶ All this, I tell you, will come home to the present generation. ³⁷ Jerusalem! Jerusalem! She who slays the Prophets and stones the messengers sent to her--Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not came!

³⁷ Jerusalem! Jerusalem! She who slays the Prophets and stones the messengers sent to her--Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not came!

³⁷ Jerusalem! Jerusalem! She who slays the Prophets and stones the messengers sent to her--Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not came! ³⁸ Verily, your house is left to you desolate!

¹⁴ For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge.

⁵⁵ Jesus at the same time said to the crowds: "Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me? I have sat teaching day after day in the Temple Courts, and yet you did not arrest me."

⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. On this the High Priest said to him: "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

⁶ The Chief Priests took the pieces of silver, but they said: "We must not put them into the Temple treasury, because they are blood-money."

¹¹ And from the heavens came a voice--"Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight."

²⁵ "Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions--

⁶ Immediately on leaving the Synagogue, the Pharisees and the Herodians united in laying a plot against Jesus, to put him to death.

² Then he taught them many truths in parables; and in the course of his teaching he said to them:

¹¹ And he said: "To you the hidden truth of the Kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables, that-- ¹² 'Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; And though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; Lest some day they should turn and be forgiven.' ¹³ You do not know the meaning of this parable!" he went on; "Then how will you understand all the other parables?

³³ With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his Message, as far as they were able to receive it; ³⁴ And to them he never used to speak except in parables; but in private to his own disciples he explained everything.

¹⁵ So Jesus gave them this warning. "Take care," he said, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

⁷ Then a cloud came down and enveloped them; and from the cloud there came a voice--"This is my Son, the Beloved; him you must hear."

¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as Scripture says of him."

² Presently some Pharisees came up and, to test him, asked: "Has a husband the right to divorce his wife?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them, and answered: "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God."

¹⁸ Now the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law heard this and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching.

²⁷ They came to Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors came up to him.

³² Yet can we say 'human'?"--They were afraid of the people, for everyone regarded John as undoubtedly a Prophet.

¹ And Jesus began to speak to them in parables: "A man once planted a vineyard, put a fence round it, dug a wine-press, built a tower, and then let it out to tenants and went abroad. ² At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the vintage; ³ But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty- handed. ⁴ A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted. ⁵ He sent another, but him they killed; and so with many others- -some they beat and some they killed. ⁶ He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. 'They will respect my son,' he said. ⁷ But those tenants said to one another 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and his inheritance will be ours.' ⁸ So they seized him, and killed him, and threw his body outside the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and put the tenants to death, and he will let the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you never read this passage of Scripture?--'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner- stone;

¹⁰ Have you never read this passage of Scripture?--'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner- stone; ¹¹ This corner-stone has come from the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.'" ¹² After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away.

¹² After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away.

²⁴ "Is not the reason of your mistake," answered Jesus, "your ignorance of the Scriptures and of the power of God?

²⁶ As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him thus--'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

²⁹ "The first," answered Jesus, "is--'Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is the one Lord; ³⁰ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.'

³² "Wisely answered, Teacher!" exclaimed the Teacher of the Law. "It is true, as you say, that 'there is one God,' and that 'there is no other besides him'; ³³ And to 'love him with all one's heart, and with all one's understanding, and with all one's strength,' and to 'love one's neighbor as one loves oneself' is far beyond all 'burnt-offerings and sacrifices.'"

¹⁴ As soon, however, as you see 'the Foul Desecration' standing where he ought not" (the reader must consider what this means) "then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains;

³⁴ It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge--each having his special duty--and orders the porter to watch.

⁸ She has done what she could; she has perfumed my body beforehand for my burial.

⁴⁵ As soon as Judas came, he went up to Jesus at once, and said: "Rabbi!" and kissed him.

³⁷ For no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled."

²² And the Holy Spirit descended, in a visible form, like a dove, upon him, and from the heavens came a voice--"Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight."

³ Jesus' answer was: "Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions--

²² Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they expel you from among them, and taunt you, and reject your Name as an evil thing--on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Then indeed you may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in Heaven will be great; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets.

³⁶ Learn to be merciful--even as your Father is merciful.

¹⁰ "To you," he said, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that 'though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.'

⁴³ And a woman, who had suffered from hemorrhage for twelve years, and whom no one could cure,

³⁵ And from the cloud came a voice which said--"This is my Son, the Chosen One; him you must hear."

²⁵ Just then a Student of the Law came forward to test Jesus further. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do if I am to 'gain Immortal Life'?" ²⁶ "What is said in the Law?" answered Jesus. "What do you read there?" ²⁷ His reply was--"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'"

²⁷ His reply was--"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'" ²⁸ "You have answered right," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

³⁶ Now which, do you think, of these three men," asked Jesus, "proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?" ³⁷ "The one that took pity on him," was the answer; on which Jesus said: "Go and do the same yourself."

⁴² But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first. ⁴³ Alas for you Pharisees! You delight to have the front seat in the Synagogues, and to be greeted in the markets with respect.

⁴⁷ Alas for you! You build the monuments of the Prophets whom your ancestors killed. ⁴⁸ You are actually witnesses to your ancestors' acts and show your approval of them, because, while they killed the Prophets, you build tombs for them. ⁴⁹ That is why the Wisdom of God said--"I will send to them Prophets and Apostles, ⁵⁰ Some of whom they will persecute and kill, in order that the 'blood' of all the prophets 'that has been spilt' since the creation of the world may be exacted from this generation-- ⁵¹ From the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the House of God." Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation.

⁵⁴ Laying traps for him, so as to seize upon anything that he might say.

⁴⁷ The servant who knows his master's wishes and yet does not prepare and act accordingly will receive many lashes; ⁴⁸ while one who does not know his master's wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.

⁴⁸ while one who does not know his master's wishes, but acts so as to deserve a flogging, will receive but few. From every one to whom much has been given much will be expected, and from the man to whom much has been entrusted the more will be demanded.

⁶ And Jesus told them this parable-- "A man, who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, came to look for fruit on it, but could not find any. ⁷ So he said to his gardener 'Three years now I have come to look for fruit on this fig tree, without finding any! Cut it down. Why should it rob the soil?' ⁸ 'Leave it this one year more, Sir,' the man answered, 'till I have dug round it and manured it. ⁹ Then, if it bears in future, well and good; but if not, you can have it cut down.'"

³³ But to-day and to-morrow and the day after I must go on my way, because it cannot be that a Prophet should meet his end outside Jerusalem. ³⁴ Jerusalem! Jerusalem! she who slays the Prophets and stones the messengers sent to her--Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen takes her brood under her wings, and you would not come!

⁷ Observing that the guests were choosing the best places for themselves, Jesus told them this parable-- ⁸ "When you are invited by any one to a wedding banquet, do not seat yourself in the best place, for fear that some one of higher rank should have been invited by your host; ⁹ And he who invited you both will come and say to you 'Make room for this man,' and then you will begin in confusion to take the lowest place. ¹⁰ No, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place, so that, when he who has invited you comes, he may say to you 'Friend, come higher up'; and then you will be honored in the eyes of all your fellow-guests. ¹¹ For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹² And the younger of them said to his father 'Father, give me my share of the inheritance.' So the father divided the property between them. ¹³ A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life.

³⁰ But, no sooner has this son of yours come, who has eaten up your property in the company of prostitutes, than you have killed the fattened calf for him.'

¹² He said: "A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a Kingdom and then return.

²⁷ But as for my enemies, these men who would not have me as their King, bring them here and put them to death in my presence.'"

⁴¹ When he drew near, on seeing the city, he wept over it, and said: ⁴² "Would that you had known, while yet there was time--even you--the things that make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your sight. ⁴³ For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will surround you with earthworks, and encircle you, and hem you in on all sides; ⁴⁴ They will trample you down and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know 'the time of your visitation.'"

⁴⁷ Jesus continued to teach each day in the Temple Courts; but the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law were eager to take his life, and so also were the leading men. ⁴⁸ Yet they could not see what to do, for the people all hung upon his words.

¹ On one of these days, when Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple Courts and telling the Good News, the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law, joined by the Councillors, confronted him,

⁶ But, if we say 'human,' the people will all stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a Prophet."

⁹ But Jesus began to tell the people this parable-- "A man once planted a vineyard, and then let it out to tenants, and went abroad for a long while. ¹⁰ At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him a share of the produce of the vineyard. The tenants, however, beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

¹⁰ At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him a share of the produce of the vineyard. The tenants, however, beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

¹⁰ At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, that they should give him a share of the produce of the vineyard. The tenants, however, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ The owner afterwards sent another servant; but the tenants beat and insulted this man too, and sent him away empty-handed.

¹¹ The owner afterwards sent another servant; but the tenants beat and insulted this man too, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² He sent a third; but they wounded this man also, and threw him outside.

¹² He sent a third; but they wounded this man also, and threw him outside. ¹³ 'What shall I do?' said the owner of the vineyard. 'I will send my son, who is very dear to me. Perhaps they will respect him.' ¹⁴ But, on seeing him, the tenants consulted with one another. 'Here is the heir!' they said. 'Let us kill him, and then the inheritance will become ours.' ¹⁵ So they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

¹⁵ So they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

¹⁵ So they threw him outside the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and put those tenants to death, and will let the vineyard to others." "Heaven forbid!" they exclaimed when they heard it.

¹⁶ He will come and put those tenants to death, and will let the vineyard to others." "Heaven forbid!" they exclaimed when they heard it. ¹⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said: "What then is the meaning of this passage?-- 'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner-stone.'

¹⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said: "What then is the meaning of this passage?-- 'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner-stone.' ¹⁸ Every one who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces, while any one on whom it falls--it will scatter him as dust."

¹⁸ Every one who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces, while any one on whom it falls--it will scatter him as dust." ¹⁹ After this the Teachers of the Law and the Chief Priest were eager to lay hands on Jesus then and there, but they were afraid of the people; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed this parable.

¹⁹ After this the Teachers of the Law and the Chief Priest were eager to lay hands on Jesus then and there, but they were afraid of the people; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed this parable. ²⁰ Having watched their opportunity, they afterwards sent some spies, who pretended to be good men, to catch Jesus in the course of conversation, and so enable them to give him up to the Governor's jurisdiction and authority. ²¹ These men asked Jesus a question. They said: "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly; ²² Are we right in paying tribute to the Emperor or not?"

²² Are we right in paying tribute to the Emperor or not?" ²³ Seeing through their deceitfulness, Jesus said to them:

²³ Seeing through their deceitfulness, Jesus said to them: ²⁴ "Show me a florin. Whose head and title are on it?" ²⁵ "The Emperor's," they said; and Jesus replied: "Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God." ²⁶ They could not lay hold of this answer before the people; and, in their wonder at his reply, they held their tongues. ²⁷ Presently there came up some Sadducees, who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this-- ²⁸ "Teacher, Moses laid down for us in his writings that-- 'Should a man's married brother die, and should he be childless, the man should take the widow as his wife, and raise up a family for his brother.' ²⁹ Well, there were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest, after taking a wife, died childless.

²⁹ Well, there were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest, after taking a wife, died childless. ³⁰ The second and third brothers both took her as their wife;

³⁰ The second and third brothers both took her as their wife; ³¹ And so, too, did all seven--dying without children.

³¹ And so, too, did all seven--dying without children. ³² The woman herself was the last to die.

³² The woman herself was the last to die. ³³ About the woman, then--at the resurrection, whose wife is she to be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?"

³³ About the woman, then--at the resurrection, whose wife is she to be, all seven brothers having had her as their wife?" ³⁴ "The men and women of this world," said Jesus, "marry and are given in marriage; ³⁵ But, for those who are thought worthy to attain to that other world and the resurrection from the dead, there is no marrying or being married,

³⁵ But, for those who are thought worthy to attain to that other world and the resurrection from the dead, there is no marrying or being married, ³⁶ Nor indeed can they die again, for they are like angels and, having shared in the resurrection, they are God's Sons.

³⁶ Nor indeed can they die again, for they are like angels and, having shared in the resurrection, they are God's Sons. ³⁷ As to the fact that the dead rise, even Moses indicated that, in the passage about the Bush, when he calls the Lord--'The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

³⁷ As to the fact that the dead rise, even Moses indicated that, in the passage about the Bush, when he calls the Lord--'The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' ³⁸ Now he is not God of dead men, but of living. For in his sight all are alive." ³⁹ "Well said, Teacher!" exclaimed some of the Teachers of the Law,

³⁹ "Well said, Teacher!" exclaimed some of the Teachers of the Law, ⁴⁰ For they did not venture to question him any further.

⁴⁰ For they did not venture to question him any further. ⁴¹ But Jesus said to them: "How is it that people say that the Christ is to be David's son? ⁴² For David, in the Book of Psalms, says himself--'The Lord said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, ⁴³ Until I put they enemies as a stool for thy feet."' ⁴⁴ David, then, calls him 'lord,' so how is he David's son?" ⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to the disciples: ⁴⁶ "Be on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and like to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honor at dinner. ⁴⁷ These are the men who rob widows of their houses, and make a pretense of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier."

⁴⁷ These are the men who rob widows of their houses, and make a pretense of saying long prayers. Their sentence will be all the heavier."

¹ Looking up, Jesus saw the rich people putting their gifts into the chests for the Temple offerings. ² He saw, too, a widow in poor circumstances putting two farthings into them. ³ On this he said: "I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others; ⁴ For every one else here put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, has put in all she had to live upon."

³⁷ During the days, Jesus continued to teach in the Temple Courts, but he went out and spent the nights on the hill called the 'Mount of Olives.' ³⁸ And all the people would get up early in the morning and come to listen to him in the Temple Courts.

⁹ "Where do you wish us to make preparations?" they asked.

² And they began to accuse him: "This is a man whom we found misleading our people, preventing them from paying taxes to the Emperor, and giving out that he himself is 'Christ, a King.'"

¹⁴ And the Word became Man, and dwelt among us, (We saw his glory--the glory of the Only Son sent from the Father), full of love and truth.

¹⁸ No man has ever yet seen God; God the Only Son, who is ever with the Father--He has revealed him.

³⁴ This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God."

⁴⁹ "Rabbi," Nathanael exclaimed, "you are the Son of God, you are King of Israel!"

²⁴ But Jesus did not trust himself to them, since he could read every heart, ²⁵ And because he did not need that others should tell him what men were; for he could of himself read what was in men.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that every one who believes in him may not be lost, but have Immortal Life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ He who believes in him escapes condemnation, while he who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the only Son of God.

³⁵ The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands.

²³ So that all men may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son fails to honor the Father who sent him.

³⁹ You search the Scriptures, because you think that you find in them Immortal Life;

¹⁸ The man who speaks on his own authority seeks honor for himself; but the man who seeks the honor of him that sent him is sincere, and there is nothing false in him.

²⁵ At this some of the people of Jerusalem exclaimed: "Is not this the man that they are seeking to put to death?

³⁰ So they sought to arrest him; but no one touched him, for his time was not come yet.

⁴² Is not it said in Scripture that it is of the race of David, and from Bethlehem, the village to which David belonged, that the Christ is to come?"

⁴⁴ Some of them wanted to arrest him, and yet no one touched him.

⁴⁶ "No man ever spoke as he speaks!" they answered. ⁴⁷ "What! Have you been led astray too?" the Pharisees replied. ⁴⁸ "Have any of our leading men believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? ⁴⁹ As for these people who do not know the Law--they are cursed!"

²⁰ These statements Jesus made in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple Courts. Yet no one arrested him, for his time had not then come.

⁴⁷ Upon this the Chief Priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the High Council, and said: "What are we to do, now that this man is giving so many signs? ⁴⁸ If we let him alone as we are doing, every one will believe in him; and the Romans will come and will take from us both our City and our Nationality." ⁴⁹ One of them, however, Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, said to them: ⁵⁰ "You are utterly mistaken. You do not consider that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, rather than the whole nation should be destroyed."

⁹ Now great numbers of the Jews found out that Jesus was at Bethany; and they came there, not solely on his account, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

¹ I am the True Vine, and my Father is the Vine-grower. ² Any unfruitful branch in me he takes away, and he cleanses every fruitful branch, that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean because of the Message that I have given you. ⁴ Remain united to me, and I will remain united to you. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains united to the vine; no more can you, unless you remain united to me. ⁵ I am the Vine, you are the branches. He that remains united to me, while I remain united to him--he bears fruit plentifully; for you can do nothing apart from me. ⁶ If any one does not remain united to me, he is thrown away, as a branch would be, and withers up. Such branches are collected and thrown into the fire, and are burnt. ⁷ If you remain united to me, and my teaching remains in your hearts, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be yours. ⁸ It is by your bearing fruit plentifully, and so showing yourselves my disciples, that my Father is honored.

²⁰ "For my part," answered Jesus, "I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in some Synagogue, or in the Temple Courts, places where all the Jews assemble, and I never spoke of anything in secret.

⁹ For they did not then understand the passage of Scripture which says that Jesus must rise again from the dead.

¹⁷ The third time, Jesus said to him: "Simon, son of John, are you my friend?" Peter was hurt at his third question being 'Are you my friend?'; and exclaimed: "Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend." "Feed my sheep," said Jesus.

¹⁶ "Brothers," he said, "it was necessary that the prediction of Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit made by the lips of David about Judas, who acted as guide to the men that arrested Jesus,

¹² They were all utterly amazed and bewildered. "What does it mean?" they asked one another.

²³ He, I say, in accordance with God's definite plan and with his previous knowledge, was betrayed, and you, by the hands of lawless men, nailed him to a cross and put him to death.

³² It was this Jesus, whom God raised to life; and of that we are ourselves all witnesses. ³³ And now that he has been exalted to the right hand of God, and has received from the Father the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, he has begun to pour out that gift, as you yourselves now see and hear. ³⁴ It was not David who went up into Heaven; for he himself says- -'The Lord said to my master: "Sit on my right hand, ³⁵ Till I put your enemies as a footstool under they feet."' ³⁶ So let the whole nation of Israel know beyond all doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ--this very Jesus whom you crucified."

¹² On seeing this, Peter said to the people: "Men of Israel, why are you surprised at this? and why do you stare at us, as though we, by any power or piety of our own, had enabled this man to walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has done honor to his Servant Jesus--him whom you gave up and disowned before Pilate, when he had decided to set him free. ¹⁴ You, I say, disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for the release of a murderer! ¹⁵ The very Guide to Life you put to death! But God raised him from the dead--and of that we are ourselves witnesses. ¹⁶ And it is by faith in the Name of Jesus, that this man, whom you all see and know, has--by his Name--been made strong. Yes, it is the faith inspired by Jesus that has made this complete cure of the man, before the eyes of you all.

¹ While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the Chief Priest, with the Officer in charge at the Temple and the Sadducees, came up to them, ² Much annoyed because they were teaching the people, and because, through Jesus, they were preaching the resurrection from the dead.

¹¹ Jesus is 'the stone which, scorned by you the builders, has yet become the corner stone.' ¹² And Salvation is in him alone; for there is no other Name in the whole world, given to men, to which we must look for our Salvation."

¹⁹ But Peter and John replied: "Whether it is right, in the sight of God, to listen to you rather than to him-- ²⁰ Judge for yourselves, for we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard."

⁹ Then Peter said: "How did you come to agree to provoke the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The foot-steps of those who have buried your husband are at the door; and they will carry you out too."

²⁸ "We gave you strict orders," he said, "not to teach in this Name. Yet you have actually flooded Jerusalem with your teaching, and you want to make us responsible for the death of this man."

³⁰ Forty years had passed when there appeared to him, in the Desert of Mount Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he was astonished at the vision; but on his going nearer to look at it more closely, the voice of the Lord was heard to say-- ³² 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses trembled, and did not dare to look.

³⁸ He, too, it was who was present at the assembly in the Desert, with the angel who talked to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and who received living truths to impart to you.

⁴⁶ David found favor with God, and prayed that he might find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a House for God.

⁵² Which of the Prophets escaped persecution at their hands? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One; of whom you, in your turn, have now become the betrayers and murderers--

²⁹ So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.

²⁷ The people of Jerusalem and their leading men, failing to recognize Jesus, and not understanding the utterances of the Prophets that are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. ²⁸ They found no ground at all for putting him to death, and yet demanded his execution from Pilate;

⁴⁰ Beware, therefore, that what is said in the Prophets does not come true of you-- ⁴¹ 'Look, you despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I am doing a deed in your days--a deed which, though told you in full, you will never believe'."

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out fearlessly, and said: "It was necessary that the Message of God should be told to you first; but, since you reject it and reckon yourselves not worthy of the Immortal Life--we turn to the Gentiles! ⁴⁷ For this is the Lord's command to us--'I have destined thee for a Light to the Gentiles, a means of Salvation to the ends of the earth'." ⁴⁸ On hearing this, the Gentiles were glad and extolled God's Message; and all those who had been enrolled for Immortal Life became believers in Christ;

¹¹ These Jews of Beroea were better disposed than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the Message with great readiness, and daily examined the Scriptures to see if what was said was true.

⁶ Noticing that some of those present were Sadducees and others Pharisees, Paul called out in the Council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee and a son of Pharisees. It is on the question of hope for the dead and of their resurrection that I am on my trial." ⁷ As soon as he said this, a dispute arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and there was a sharp division of opinion among those present. ⁸ (For Sadducees say there is no such thing as a resurrection, and that there is neither angel nor spirit, while Pharisees believe in both.) ⁹ So a great uproar ensued, and some of the Teaches of the Law belonging to the Pharisees' party stood up and hotly protested: "We find nothing whatever wrong in this man. Suppose a spirit did speak to him, or an angel--"

²³ They then fixed a day with him, and came to the place where he was staying, in even larger numbers, when Paul proceeded to lay the subject before them. He bore his testimony to the Kingdom of God, and tried to convince them about Jesus, by arguments drawn from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets--speaking from morning till evening. ²⁴ Some were inclined to accept what he said; others, however, rejected it. ²⁵ So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only--"True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah to your ancestors--

²⁵ So, as they disagreed among themselves, they began to disperse, Paul adding only--"True, indeed, was the declaration made by the Holy Spirit, through the Prophet Isaiah to your ancestors-- ²⁶ 'Go to this nation and say--"You will hear with your ears without ever understanding, and, though you have eyes, you will see without ever perceiving." ²⁷ For the mind of this nation has grown dense, and their ears are dull of hearing, their eyes also have they closed; lest some day they should see with their eyes, and with their ears they should hear, and in their mind they should understand, and should turn--and I should heal them.' ²⁸ Understand, then, that this Salvation of God was sent for the Gentiles; and they will listen."

³ Concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord; who, as to his human nature, was descended from David, ⁴ But, as to the spirit of holiness within him, was miraculously designated Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

¹ What is the advantage, then, of being a Jew? or what is the good of circumcision? ² Great in every way. First of all, because the Jews were entrusted with God's utterances.

¹⁹ Now we know that everything said in the Law is addressed to those who are under its authority, in order that every mouth may be closed, and the whole world become liable to the judgment of God. ²⁰ For 'no human being will be pronounced righteous before God' as the result of obedience to Law; for it is Law that shows what sin is.

³⁰ Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is only one God, and he will pronounce those who are circumcised righteous as the result of faith, and also those who are uncircumcised on their showing the same faith.

¹⁷ As Scripture says-'I have made thee the Father of many nations.') And this they do in the sight of that God in whom Abraham had faith, and who gives life to the dead, and speaks of what does not yet exist as if it did.

¹³ Do not offer any part of your bodies to Sin, in the cause of unrighteousness, but once for all offer yourselves to God (as those who, though once dead, now have Life), and devote every part of your bodies to the cause of righteousness.

⁹ There was a time when I myself, unconscious of Law, was alive; but when the Commandment was brought home to me, sin sprang into life, while I died!

⁴ For they are Israelites, and theirs are the adoption as Sons, the visible Presence, the Covenants, the revealed Law, the Temple worship, and the Promises. ⁵ They are descended from the Patriarchs; and, as far as his human nature was concerned, from them came the Christ-he who is supreme over all things, God for ever blessed. Amen.

⁵ They are descended from the Patriarchs; and, as far as his human nature was concerned, from them came the Christ-he who is supreme over all things, God for ever blessed. Amen.

³⁰ What are we to say, then? Why, that Gentiles, who were not in search of righteousness, secured it-a righteousness which was the result of faith; ³¹ While Israel, which was in search of a Law which would ensure righteousness, failed to discover one. ³² And why? Because they looked to obedience, and not to faith, to secure it. They stumbled over 'the Stumbling-block.' ³³ As Scripture says-'See, I place a Stumbling-block in Zion-- a Rock which shall prove a hindrance; and he who believes in him shall have no cause for shame.'

³³ As Scripture says-'See, I place a Stumbling-block in Zion-- a Rock which shall prove a hindrance; and he who believes in him shall have no cause for shame.'

²⁰ And Isaiah says boldly--'I was found by those who were not seeking me; I made myself known to those who were not inquiring of me.

¹⁷ Some, however, of the branches were broken off, and you, who were only a wild olive, were grafted in among them, and came to share with them the root which is the source of the richness of the cultivated olive. ¹⁸ Yet do not exult over the other branches. But, if you do exult over them, remember that you do not support the root, but that the root supports you. ¹⁹ But branches, you will say, were broken off, so that I might be grafted in. ²⁰ True; it was because of their want of faith that they were broken off, and it is because of your faith that you are standing. Do not think too highly of yourself, but beware. ²¹ For, if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² See, then, both the goodness and the severity of God--his severity towards those who fell, and his goodness towards you, provided that you continue to confide in that goodness; otherwise you, also, will be cut off. ²³ And they, too, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has it in his power to graft them in again. ²⁴ If you were cut off from your natural stock--a wild olive-- and were grafted, contrary to the course of nature, upon a good olive, much more will they--the natural branches--be grafted back into their parent tree.

¹ I entreat you, then, Brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, for this is your rational worship.

⁶ This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God's officers, devoting themselves to this special work. ⁷ In all cases pay what is due from you--tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honor where honor is due. ⁸ Owe nothing to any one except brotherly love; for he who loves his fellow men has satisfied the Law. ⁹ The commandments, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet,' and whatever other commandment there is, are all summed up in the words--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'

⁹ The very purpose for which Christ died and came back to life was this--that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.

⁴ Whatever was written in the Scriptures in days gone by was written for our instruction, so that, through patient endurance, and through the encouragement drawn from the Scriptures, we might hold fast to our hope.

¹⁹ Again, do not you know that your body is a shrine of the Holy Spirit that is within you-the Spirit which you have from God? ²⁰ Moreover, you are not your own masters; you were bought, and the price was paid. Therefore, honor God in your bodies.

⁴ With reference, then, to eating food that has been offered to idols-we are aware that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no God but one.

⁹ Nor let us try the patience of the Lord too far, as some of them tried it, with the result that they 'were, one after another, destroyed by the snakes.'

¹ Though I speak in the 'tongues' of men, or even of angels, yet have not Love, I have become mere echoing brass, or a clanging cymbal! ² Even though I have the gift of preaching, and fathom all hidden truths and all the depths of knowledge; even though I have such faith as might move mountains, yet have not Love, I am nothing! ³ Even though I dole my substance to the poor, even though I sacrifice my body, that I may boast, yet have not Love, it avails me nothing! ⁴ Love is long-suffering, and kind; Love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly; ⁵ Love is never self-seeking, never provoked, never reckons up her wrongs; ⁶ Love never rejoices at evil, but rejoices in the triumph of Truth; ⁷ Love bears with all things, every trustful, ever hopeful, ever patient. ⁸ Love never fails. But, whether it be the gift of preaching, it will be done with; whether it be the gift of 'tongues,' it will cease; whether it be knowledge, it, too, will be done with.

²⁴ While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or a man without the gift, comes in, he is convinced of his sinfulness by them all, he is called to account by them all; ²⁵ The secrets of his heart are revealed, and then, throwing himself on his face, he will worship God, and declare 'God is indeed among you!'

¹³ But, if there is no such thing as a resurrection of the dead, then even Christ has not been raised; ¹⁴ And, if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without meaning, and our faith without meaning also! ¹⁵ Yes, and we are being proved to have borne false testimony about God; for we testified of God that he raised the Christ, whom he did not raise, if, indeed, the dead do not rise! ¹⁶ For, if the dead do not rise, then even Christ himself has not been raised, ¹⁷ And, if Christ has not been raised, your faith is folly-your sins are on you still! ¹⁸ Yes, and they, who have passed to their rest in union with Christ, perished!

²⁵ For he must reign until God 'has put all his enemies under his feet.'

⁴² It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. Sown a mortal body, it rises immortal; sown disfigured, it rises beautiful; ⁴³ Sown weak, it rises strong; sown a human body, it rises a spiritual body. ⁴⁴ As surely as there is a human body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ That is what is meant by the words-'Adam, the first man, became a human being'; the last Adam became a Life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ That which comes first is not the spiritual, but the human; afterwards comes the spiritual; ⁴⁷ The first man was from the dust of the earth; the second man from Heaven. ⁴⁸ Those who are of the dust are like him who came from the dust; and those who are of Heaven are like him who came from Heaven. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the likeness of him who came from the dust, so let us bear the likeness of him who came from Heaven. ⁵⁰ This I say, Brothers-Flesh and blood can have no share in the Kingdom of God, nor can the perishable share the imperishable. ⁵¹ Listen, I will tell you God's hidden purpose! We shall not all have passed to our rest, but we shall all be transformed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, ⁵² At the last trumpet-call; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will rise immortal, and we, also, shall be transformed. ⁵³ For this perishable body of ours must put on an imperishable form, and this dying body a deathless form. ⁵⁴ And, when this dying body has put on its deathless form, then indeed will the words of Scripture come true-

² If it is I who cause you pain, why, who is there to cheer me, except the very person whom I am paining?

¹⁷ Unlike many people, we are not in the habit of making profit out of God's Message; but in all sincerity, and bearing God's commission, we speak before him in union with Christ.

¹ Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.

¹¹ Therefore, because we know the fear inspired by the Lord, it is true that we are trying to win men, but our motives are plain to God; and I hope that in your inmost hearts they are plain to you also.

¹⁴ It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ And that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them. ¹⁶ For ourselves, then, from this time forward, we refuse to regard any one from the world's standpoint. Even if we once thought of Christ from the standpoint of the world, yet now we do so no longer.

² How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity.

² How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity. ³ I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously,

¹² For, where there is willingness, a man's gift is valued by its comparison with what he has, and not with what he has not.

⁶ Remember the saying--'Scanty sowing, scanty harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.' ⁷ Let every one give as he has determined before hand, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves 'a cheerful giver.' ⁸ God has power to shower all kinds of blessings upon you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all occasions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits upon others.

¹⁰ Is this, I ask, trying to conciliate men, or God? Am I seeking to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

⁶ Of those who are thought somewhat highly of--what they once were makes no difference to me; God does not recognize human distinctions--those, I say, who are thought highly of added nothing to my Message.

¹¹ But, when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face; for he stood self-condemned. ¹² Before certain persons came from James, he had been in the habit of eating with the Gentile converts; but, when they came, he began to withdraw and hold aloof, for fear of offending those who still held to circumcision. ¹³ The rest of the Jewish converts were guilty of the same hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led away by it. ¹⁴ But, when I saw that they were not dealing straightforwardly with the Truth of the Good News, I said to Peter, before them all, "If you, who were born a Jew, adopt Gentile customs, instead of Jewish, why are you trying to compel the Gentile converts to adopt Jewish customs?"

¹⁹ I, indeed, through Law became dead to Law, in order to live for God.

²⁰ Now mediation implies more than one person, but God is one only.

¹⁴ Indeed, the whole Law has been summed up in this one precept- -'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'

¹⁹ And the transcendent greatness of the power which he is able to exercise in dealing with us who believe in him.

²⁰ You have been built up upon the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets, Christ Jesus himself being 'the corner- stone.' ²¹ United in him, every part of the building, closely joined together, will grow into a Temple, consecrated by its union with the Lord. ²² And, through union in him, you also are being built up together, to be a dwelling-place for God through the Spirit.

⁸ Yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ's People, was this charge entrusted!--to tell the Gentiles the Good News of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ, ⁹ And to make clear what is God's way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things; ¹⁰ So that now to the Archangels and to all the Powers on high should be made known, through the Church, the all-embracing wisdom of God, ¹¹ In accordance with that purpose which runs through all the ages and which he has now accomplished in Jesus, the Christ, our Master.

²¹ Who, by the exercise of his power to bring everything into subjection to himself, will make this body that we have in our humiliation like to that body which he has in his Glory.

¹⁰ It was a matter of great joy to me, as one in union with the Lord, that at length your interest in me had revived. The interest indeed you had, but not the opportunity. ¹¹ Do not think that I am saying this under the pressure of want. For I, however I am placed, have learned to be independent of circumstances. ¹² I know how to face humble circumstances, and I know how to face prosperity. Into all and every human experience I have been initiated--into plenty and hunger, into prosperity and want. ¹³ I can do everything in the strength of him who makes me strong! ¹⁴ Yet you have acted nobly in sharing my troubles. ¹⁵ And you at Philippi know, as well as I, that in the early days of the Good News--at the time when I had just left Macedonia--no Church, with the one exception of yourselves, had anything to do with me as far as giving and receiving are concerned. ¹⁶ Indeed, even while I was still in Thessalonica, you sent more than once to relieve my wants. ¹⁷ It is not that I am anxious for your gifts, but I am anxious to see the abundant return that will be placed to your account. I have enough of everything, and to spare.

²⁷ To whom it was his pleasure to make known the surpassing glory of that hidden Truth when proclaimed among the Gentiles--'Christ among you! Your Hope of glory!'

⁶ Let your conversation always be kindly, and seasoned, as it were, with salt; that you may know in each case what answer you ought to give.

⁴ But, having been found worthy by God to be entrusted with the Good News, therefore we tell it; with a view to please, not men, but God who proves our hearts.

¹⁵ The men who killed both the Lord Jesus and the Prophets, and persecuted us also. They do not try to please God, and they are enemies to all mankind,

⁵ The object of all instruction is to call forth that love which comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.

⁵ There is but one God, and one mediator between God and men--the man, Christ Jesus,

¹⁶ Yes, and confessedly wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for-- 'He was revealed in our nature, pronounced righteous in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up into glory.'

¹⁸ They have gone completely astray as regards the Truth; they say that a resurrection has already taken place, and so upset some people's faith. ¹⁹ Yet God's firm foundation still stands unmoved, and it bears this inscription-- 'THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS'; and this-- 'LET ALL THOSE WHO USE THE NAME OF THE LORD TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS.'

⁶ For among them are to be found those who creep into homes and captivate weak women--women who, loaded with sins, and slaves to all kinds of passions,

¹⁵ and that, from your childhood, you have known the Sacred Writings, which can give you the wisdom that, through belief in Christ Jesus, leads to Salvation. ¹⁶ Everything that is written under divine inspiration is helpful for teaching, for refuting error, for giving guidance, and for training others in righteousness;

¹⁶ Everything that is written under divine inspiration is helpful for teaching, for refuting error, for giving guidance, and for training others in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the Servant of God may be perfect himself, and perfectly equipped for every good action.

⁹ who holds doctrine that can be relied on as being in accordance with the accepted Teaching; so that he may be able to encourage others by sound teaching, as well as to refute our opponents. ¹⁰ There are, indeed, many unruly persons--great talkers who deceive themselves, principally converts from Judaism, ¹¹ whose mouths ought to be stopped; for they upset whole households by teaching what they ought not to teach, merely to make questionable gains.

¹ God, who, of old, at many times and in many ways, spoke to our ancestors, by the Prophets,

¹ God, who, of old, at many times and in many ways, spoke to our ancestors, by the Prophets, ² has in these latter days spoken to us by the Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

⁶ And again, when God brought the First-born into the world, he said-- 'Let all the angels of God bow down before him.'

¹³ To which of the angels has God ever said-- 'Sit thou at my right hand until I put thy enemies as a stool for thy feet'?

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says-- 'If to-day you hear God's voice, ⁸ Harden not your hearts, as when Israel provoked me on the day when they tried my patience in the desert,

¹⁰ Therefore I was sorely vexed with that generation, And I said-- "Their hearts are always straying; They have never learned my ways";

⁷ again God fixed a day. 'To-day,' he said, speaking after a long interval through the mouth of David, in the passage already quoted-- 'If to-day you hear God's voice harden not your hearts.'

¹³ There is no created thing that can hide itself from the sight of God. Everything is exposed and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we have to give account.

⁸ First come the words-- 'Thou dost not desire, nor dost thou take pleasure in, sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sacrifices for sin' (offerings regularly made under the Law),

¹² But, this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, which should serve for all time, 'took his seat at the right hand of God,' ¹³ and has since then been waiting 'for his enemies to be put as a stool for his feet.'

¹³ All these died sustained by faith. They did not obtain the promised blessings, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed the sight, and they acknowledged themselves to be only aliens and strangers on the earth. ¹⁴ Those who speak thus show plainly that they are seeking their fatherland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they could have found opportunities to return. ¹⁶ But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he had already prepared them a city.

³⁶ Others had to face taunts and blows, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned to death, they were tortured, they were swan asunder, they were put to the sword; they wandered about clothed in the skins of sheep or goats, destitute, persecuted, ill-used--

²² No, but it is to Mount Zion that you have drawn near, the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless hosts of angels, ²³ to the festal gathering and assemblage of God's Eldest Sons whose names are enrolled in Heaven, to God the Judge of all men, to the spirits of the righteous who have attained perfection,

¹¹ The bodies of those animals whose blood is brought by the High Priest into the Sanctuary, as an offering for sin, are burnt outside the camp. ¹² And so Jesus, also, to purify the People by his own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go out to him 'outside the camp,' bearing the same reproaches as he;

² Suppose a man should enter your Synagogue, with gold rings and in grand clothes, and suppose a poor man should come in also, in shabby clothes, ³ And you are deferential to the man who is wearing grand clothes, and say--"There is a good seat for you here," but to the poor man--"You must stand; or sit down there by my footstool,"

⁵ Listen, my dear Brothers. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the things of this world to be rich through their faith, and to possess the Kingdom which he has promised to those who love him?

⁸ Yet, if you keep the royal law which runs--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself,' you are doing right; ⁹ But, if you worship rank, you commit a sin, and stand convicted by that same law of being offenders against it. ¹⁰ For a man who has laid the Law, as a whole, to heart, but has failed in one particular, is liable for breaking all its provisions. ¹¹ He who said 'Thou shalt not commit adultery' also said 'Thou shalt not murder.' If, then, you commit murder but not adultery, you are still an offender against the Law. ¹² Therefore, speak and act as men who are to be judged by the 'Law of Freedom.' ¹³ For there will be justice without mercy for him who has not acted mercifully. Mercy triumphs over Justice.

¹⁹ It is a part of your Faith, is it not, that there is one God? Good; yet even the demons have that faith, and tremble at the thought.

¹¹ as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the sufferings that would befall Christ, and the glories that would follow.

⁷ It is to you, then, who believe in him that he is precious, but to those who do not believe he is 'a stone which, though rejected by the builders, has now itself become the corner-stone,' ⁸ and 'a stumbling-block, and a rock which shall prove a hindrance.' They stumble because they do not accept the Message. This was the fate destined for them.

¹⁷ Show honour to every one, Love the Brotherhood, 'revere God, honour the emperor.'

²¹ for no prophetic teaching ever came in the old days at the mere wish of man, but men, moved by the Holy Spirit, spoke direct from God.

² Dear friends, we are God's Children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is that, when it is revealed, we shall be like Christ; because we shall see him as he is.

¹⁷ But, if any one has worldly possessions, and yet looks on while his Brother is in want, and steels his heart against him, how can it be said that the love of God is within him?

¹⁷ But, if any one has worldly possessions, and yet looks on while his Brother is in want, and steels his heart against him, how can it be said that the love of God is within him? ¹⁸ My children, do not let our love be mere words, or end in talk; let it be true and show itself in acts. ¹⁹ By that we shall know that we are on the side of the Truth; and we shall satisfy ourselves in God's sight,

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, because Love comes from God; and every one who loves has received the new Life from God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love has not learned to know God; for God is Love. ⁹ The love of God was revealed to us by his sending his only Son into the world, that we might find Life through him.

²¹ Indeed, we have this Command from God-- 'He who loves God must also love his Brother.'

¹¹ And that testimony is that God gave us Immortal Life, and that this Life is in his Son. ¹² He who finds the Son finds Life; he who does not find the Son of God does not find Life.

⁹ I wrote a few lines to the Church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, declines to recognize us.

²⁵ to the one God, our Saviour, be ascribed, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, glory, majesty, power, and dominion, as it was before time began, is now, and shall be for all time to come. Amen.

²³ I will also put her children to death; and all the Churches shall learn that I am he who 'looks into the hearts and souls of men'; and I will give to each one of you what his life deserves.

¹² He who conquers--I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God; and never more shall he leave it; and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven from my God, and I will write on him my new name.

⁹ And they are singing a new song--'Thou art worthy to take the book and break its seals, for thou wast sacrificed, and with thy blood thou didst buy for God men of every tribe, and language, and people, and nation, ¹⁰ and didst make them a Kingdom of Priests in the service of our God, and they are reigning upon the earth.' ¹¹ Then, in my vision, I heard the voices of many angels round the throne, and of the Creatures, and of the Councillors. In number they were 'ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands,' ¹² and they cried in a loud voice--'Worthy is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive all power, and wealth, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and praise, and blessing.' ¹³ And I heard every created thing in the air, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all that is in them crying--'To him who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb be ascribed all blessing, and honour, and praise, and dominion for ever and ever.'

¹⁶ 'I, Jesus, sent my angel to bear testimony to you about these things before the Churches. I am the Scion and the Offspring of David, the bright Star of the Morning.'