privately, saying: Tell us, when will these things be, and what is the
sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? (4)And Jesus answering
said to them: Take heed, lest any one lead you astray. (5)For many
will come in my name, saying: I am the Christ; and will lead astray
many. (6)And ye will hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Take heed, be
not troubled; for all must come to pass[24:6]; but not yet is the end!
(7)For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
and there will be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers
places. (8)But all these are the beginning of sorrows. (9)Then will
they deliver you up unto affliction, and will kill you; and ye will be
hated by all nations for my name's sake. (10)And then will many be
offended, and will deliver up one another, and will hate one another.
(11)And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.
(12)And because iniquity abounds, the love of the many will become
cold. (13)But he that has endured to the end, the same shall be saved.
(14)And this good news of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world, for a testimony to all nations; and then shall come the end.
(15)When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of
through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that
reads mark!) (16)then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains; he
that is upon the house, (17)let him not come down to take the things
out of his house; (18)and he that is in the field, let him not turn
back to take his garments. (19)But woe to those who are with child,
and to those who give suck in those days! (20)And pray that your
flight be not in winter, nor on a sabbath. (21)For then will be great
affliction, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until
now, no nor shall be. (22)And unless those days were shortened, no
flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the chosen, those days shall
be shortened. (23)Then if any one say to you: Lo, here is the Christ,
or, Here, believe it not. (24)For there will arise false Christs, and
false prophets, and will show great signs and wonders; so as, if
possible, to lead even the chosen astray. (25)Behold, I have told you
before.
(26)If therefore they say to you: Behold, he is in the desert, go not
forth; Behold, he is in the secret chambers, believe it not. (27)For
as the lightning comes forth from the east, and shines even unto the
west, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. (28)For wherever the
carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
(29)And immediately, after the affliction of those days, the sun shall
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars
shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
(30)And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and
then shall all the tribes of the earth[24:30] mourn, and shall see the
Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
(31)And he will send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet,
and they shall gather together his chosen from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other.
(32)And learn the parable from the fig-tree: When its branch is
already become tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that the summer
is near. (33)So also ye, when ye see all these things, know that it is
near, at the doors.
(34)Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pass, till all
these things are done. (35)Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my
words shall not pass away.
(36)But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of
heaven, but my Father only. (37)But as the days of Noah, so shall be
also the coming of the Son of man. (38)For as they were in the days
before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (39)and knew
not until the flood came, and took all away; so shall be also the
coming of the Son of man. (40)Then shall there be two men in the
field, one is taken, and one is left; (41)two women grinding at the
mill, one is taken, and one is left.
(42)Watch therefore; for ye know not in what day[24:42] your Lord
comes. (43)But know this, that if the master of the house had known in
what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not
have suffered his house to be broken through. (44)Therefore be ye also
ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man comes.
(45)Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord set over
his household, to give them their food in due season? (46)Happy that
servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing! (47)Verily I
say to you, that he will set him over all his goods. (48)But if that
evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord delays his coming;
(49)and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and
drink with the drunken; (50)the lord of that servant will come in a
day when he looks not for it, and in an hour when he is not aware;
(51)and will cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the
hypocrites. There will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!
XXV.
THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took
their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2)And five of them
were wise, and five foolish. (3)The foolish, taking their lamps, took
no oil with them; (4)but the wise took oil in their vessels with their
lamps. (5)While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
(6)And at midnight a cry was made: Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to
meet him. (7)Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
(8)And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our
lamps are going out. (9)But the wise answered, saying: Not so; there
will not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell, and
buy for yourselves. (10)And while they went to buy, the bridegroom
came; and they who were ready went in with him to the marriage; and
the door was shut. (11)And afterward come also the rest of the
virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us. (12)But he answering said:
Verily I say to you, I know you not.
(13)Watch, therefore; because ye know not the day, nor the hour!
(14)For as a man going abroad called his own servants, and delivered
to them his goods; (15)and to one gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and
straightway went abroad. (16)And he that received the five talents
went and traded with them, and gained other five talents. (17)Likewise
also he that received the two gained other two. (18)But he that
received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's
money. (19)After a long time the lord of those servants comes, and
reckons with them. (20)And he that received the five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou deliveredst to me five
talents; behold, I gained other five talents beside them. (21)His lord
said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; thou wast faithful
over a little, I will set thee over much. Enter thou into the joy of
thy lord. (22)And he also that received the two talents came and said:
Lord, thou deliveredst to me two talents; behold, I gained other two
talents beside them. (23)His lord said to him: Well done, good and
faithful servant; thou wast faithful over a little, I will set thee
over much. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24)And he also that
received the one talent came and said: Lord, I knew thee that thou art
a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou
strewedst not. (25)And fearing, I went and hid thy talent in the
earth. Lo, thou hast thine own. (26)And his lord answering said to
him: Wicked and slothful servant! Thou knewest that I reap where I did
not sow, and gather where I strewed not? (27)Thou oughtest therefore
to have put my money to the exchangers; and when I came, I should have
received my own with interest. (28)Take therefore the talent from him,
and give to him that has the ten talents. (29)For to every one that
has shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that has
not, even what he has shall be taken away. (30)And cast forth the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be the
weeping, and the gnashing of teeth!
(31)And when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the
angels with him, then will he sit on his throne of glory. (32)And
before him shall be gathered all the nations; and he will divide them
one from another, as the shepherd divides the sheep from the goats.
(33)And he will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
(34)Then will the King say to those on his right hand: Come, blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. (35)For I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was
thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in,
(36)naked and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in
prison, and ye came to me.
(37)Then will the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when saw we thee
hungering and fed thee, or thirsting and gave thee drink? (38)And when
saw we thee a stranger and took thee in, or naked and clothed thee?
(39)And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee? (40)And
the King will answer and say to them: Verily I say to you, inasmuch as
ye did it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it to me.
(41)Then will he say also to those on the left hand: Depart from me,
accursed, into the everlasting fire; prepared for the Devil and his
angels. (42)For I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was
thirsty, and ye did not give me drink; (43)I was a stranger, and ye
did not take me in; naked, and ye did not clothe me; sick, and in
prison, and ye did not visit me.
(44)Then will they also answer, saying: Lord, when saw we thee
hungering, or thirsting, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in
prison, and did not minister to thee? (45)Then will he answer them,
saying: Verily I say to you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the
least of these, ye did it not to me.
(46)And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the
righteous into everlasting life.
XXVI.
AND it came to pass, when Jesus finished all these sayings, he said to
his disciples: (2)Ye know that after two days comes the passover, and
the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.
(3)Then assembled together the chief priests, and the elders of the
people, in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
(4)and consulted together that they might take Jesus by craft, and put
him to death. (5)But they said: Not at the feast, that there may not
be a tumult among the people.
(6)And Jesus being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
(7)there came to him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious
ointment, and poured it on his head as he reclined at table. (8)And
his disciples seeing it were displeased, saying: To what purpose is
this waste? (9)For this might have been sold for much, and given to
the poor. (10)And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why trouble ye the
woman? For she wrought a good work upon me. (11)For the poor ye have
always with you; but me ye have not always. (12)For she, in pouring
this ointment on my body, did it to prepare me for burial. (13)Verily
I say to you, wherever this good news shall be preached in the whole
world, this also that she did shall be told, for a memorial of her.
(14)Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests, (15)and said: What will ye give me, and I will deliver him to
you? And they weighed out to him thirty pieces of silver. (16)And from
that time he sought opportunity to deliver him up.
(17)And on the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the
disciples came to Jesus, saying to him: Where wilt thou that we
prepare for thee to eat the passover? (18)And he said: Go into the
city to such a man, and say to him: The Teacher says, my time is at
hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. (19)And
the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and made ready the passover.
(20)And when evening was come, he reclined at table with the twelve.
(21)And as they were eating, he said: Verily I say to you, that one of
you will betray me. (22)And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and began
to say to him, each one: Lord, is it I? (23)And he answering said: He
that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same will betray me.
(24)The Son of man goes indeed, as it is written of him; but woe to
that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It were good for
him, if that man had not been born.
(25)And Judas, his betrayer, answering said: Rabbi, is it I? He says
to him: Thou saidst it.
(26)And as they were eating, Jesus took the loaf[26:26], and blessed,
and broke, and gave to the disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my
body. (27)And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them,
saying: Drink all ye of it. (28)For this is my blood of the new
covenant[26:28], which is shed for many, for remission of sins.
(29)And I say to you, that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit
of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you, in the
kingdom of my Father.
(30)And having sung, they went out into the mount of the Olives.
(31)Then Jesus says to them: All ye will be offended because of me
this night. For it is written: I will smite the Shepherd, and the
sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. (32)But after I have
risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
(33)Peter answering said to him: Though all shall be offended because
of thee, I will never be offended. (34)Jesus said to him: Verily I say
to thee, that this night, before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny
me. (35)Peter says to him: Even though I should die with thee, I will
not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
(36)Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and says
to the disciples: Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. (37)And
taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be
sorrowful, and to be troubled. (38)Then says he to them: My soul is
exceedingly sorrowful, unto death. Tarry ye here, and watch with me.
(39)And going forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and
saying: My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me.
But yet, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (40)And he comes to the
disciples, and finds them sleeping; and he says to Peter: Were ye so
unable to watch with me one hour? (41)Watch and pray, that ye enter
not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak.
(42)Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, saying: My Father,
if this can not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be
done. (43)And coming he again found them sleeping; for their eyes were
heavy.
(44)And leaving them, he went away again, and prayed the third time,
saying the same words. (45)Then he comes to his disciples, and says to
them: Do ye sleep the remaining time, and take your rest[26:45]!
Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners. (46)Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand
that betrays me.
(47)And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve,
came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the
chief priests and elders of the people. (48)And his betrayer gave them
a sign, saying: Whom I shall kiss, that is he; hold him fast. (49)And
forthwith he came to Jesus, and said: Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
(50)And Jesus said to him: Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then they
came, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him fast. (51)And, behold, one
of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his
sword, and striking the servant of the high priest took off his ear.
(52)Then says Jesus to him: Put back thy sword into its place; for all
they who take the sword shall perish with the sword. (53)Thinkest thou
that I can not now pray to my Father, and he will send[26:53] me more
than twelve legions of angels? (54)How then shall the Scriptures be
fulfilled, that thus it must be?
(55)In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes: Are ye come out as
against a robber, with swords and staves, to take me? I sat daily with
you teaching in the temple, and ye did not lay hold of me. (56)But all
this has been done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be
fulfilled. Then the disciples all forsook him, and fled.
(57)And they who laid hold of Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high
priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. (58)And Peter
followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest; and entering
in, he sat with the servants, to see the end.
(59)And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council, sought
false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; (60)and
found none, though many false witnesses came. But at last came two,
(61)and said: This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God,
and to build it in three days. (62)And the high priest arose, and said
to him: Answerest thou nothing? What do these witness against thee?
(63)But Jesus was silent. And the high priest answering said to him: I
adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the
Christ, the Son of God. (64)Jesus says to him: Thou saidst it. But I
say to you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right
hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. (65)Then the high
priest rent his clothes, saying: He blasphemed! What further need have
we of witnesses? Behold, ye now heard his blasphemy. (66)What think
ye? They answering said: He is guilty of death. (67)Then they spit in
his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him, (68)saying: Prophesy
to us, O Christ, who is he that struck thee?
(69)And Peter was sitting without, in the court. And a damsel came to
him, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean. (70)But he
denied before all, saying: I know not what thou sayest. (71)And he
having gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said to
those who were there: This man also was with Jesus the Nazarene.
(72)And again he denied, with an oath: I do not know the man. (73)And
after a little while, they that stood by came and said to Peter:
Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrays thee.
(74)Then he began to invoke curses, and to swear: I do not know the
man. And immediately a cock crowed. (75)And Peter remembered the word
of Jesus when he said: Before a cock crows, thou wilt thrice deny me.
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
XXVII.
AND when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the
people took counsel against Jesus, so as to put him to death. (2)And
having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius
Pilate the governor.
(3)Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned,
repenting brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief
priests and the elders, (4)saying: I sinned in betraying innocent
blood. And they said: What is it to us? Look thou to it. (5)And
casting down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he
went away and hanged himself. (6)And the chief priests took the silver
pieces, and said: It is not lawful to put them into the treasury,
since it is the price of blood. (7)And they took counsel, and bought
with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. (8)Wherefore that
field was called the field of blood, unto this day.
(9)Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the
prophet, saying:
And they took the thirty pieces of silver,
The price of him that was priced,
Whom they of the sons of Israel did price,
(10)And gave them for the potter's field,
as the Lord appointed to me.
(11)And Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor questioned
him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said to him:
Thou sayest it. (12)And when he was accused by the chief priests and
the elders, he made no answer. (13)Then says Pilate to him: Hearest
thou not what things they witness against thee? (14)And he made him no
answer, not even to one word; so that the governor greatly wondered.
(15)Now at the feast the governor was wont to release to the multitude
one prisoner, whom they would. (16)And they had then a noted prisoner,
called Barabbas. (17)When therefore they were assembled, Pilate said
to them: Whom will ye that I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is
called Christ? (18)For he knew that through envy they delivered him
up.
(19)And as he sat on the judgment-seat, his wife sent to him, saying:
Have nothing to do with that just man; for I suffered much this day,
in a dream, because of him.
(20)And the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes,
that they should ask for Barabbas, and should destroy Jesus. (21)And
the governor answering said to them: Which of the two will ye that I
release to you? And they said: Barabbas. (22)Pilate says to them: What
then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ? They all say to him:
Let him be crucified. (23)And the governor said: What evil then did
he? But they cried the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
(24)And Pilate, seeing that it avails nothing, but rather that a
tumult is made, took water and washed his hands before the multitude,
saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look ye to it.
(25)And all the people answering said: His blood be on us, and on our
children. (26)Then he released to them Barabbas; but Jesus, having
scourged him, he delivered up to be crucified.
(27)Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Pretorium,
and gathered to him the whole band. (28)And they stripped him, and put
on him a scarlet robe. (29)And having platted a crown of thorns, they
put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and bowing the knee
before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! (30)And
they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
(31)And when they had mocked him, they took off the robe from him, and
put on him his own garments, and led him away to crucify him. (32)And
as they came out they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they
compelled to bear his cross.
(33)And having come to a place called Golgotha (which is called, Place
of a skull), (34)they gave him vinegar to drink[27:34], mingled with
gall; and tasting it, he would not drink. (35)And having crucified
him, they divided his garments among them, casting lots. (36)And
sitting down, they watched him there. (37)And they set up over his
head his accusation, written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
(38)Two robbers are then crucified with him, one on the right hand,
and one on the left. (39)And those passing by reviled him, wagging
their heads, (40)and saying: Thou that destroyest the temple, and
buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou art the Son of God,
come down from the cross. (41)Likewise also the chief priests mocking,
with the scribes and elders, said: (42)Others he saved, himself he can
not save. If he is King of Israel, let him now come down from the
cross, and we will believe on him. (43)He trusts in God; let him now
deliver him, if he desires him; for he said I am the Son of God.
(44)And also the robbers, who were crucified with him, reproached him
with the same thing.
(45)And from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land,
unto the ninth hour. (46)And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a
loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? That is: My God, my
God, why didst thou forsake me? (47)Some of those standing there,
hearing it, said: This man calls for Elijah[27:47]. (48)And
straightway one of them ran and took a sponge, and having filled it
with vinegar and put it on a reed, gave him to drink. (49)But the rest
said: Let alone; let us see whether Elijah comes to save him.
(50)And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(51)And behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top
to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were rent; (52)and
the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who have fallen
asleep arose, (53)and coming out of the tombs, after his resurrection,
went into the holy city, and appeared to many.
(54)And the centurion, and they that with him were watching Jesus, on
seeing the earthquake, and the things that were done, were exceedingly
afraid, saying: Truly this was the Son of God.
(55)And many women were there, beholding afar off, they who followed
Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; (56)among whom was Mary the
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of
the sons of Zebedee.
(57)And evening having come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea,
named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus. (58)This man
went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded
that the body should be given up. (59)And taking the body, Joseph
wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (60)and laid it in his own new
tomb, which he hewed out in the rock. And having rolled a great stone
to the door of the tomb, he departed. (61)And Mary the Magdalene was
there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.