treasury. Then He noticed a poor widow casting in two small coins. He
said to His disciples, this widow has cast in more than all the rest
put together. The rich have given out of their abundance, but she, out
of her poverty, cast in all the living she had.
Then some spoke about the temple and how it was adorned with golden
tones and beautiful gifts. Jesus said, As for these things which ye
behold, the days will come, when every stone shall be thrown down and
there shall not be left one stone upon another. Then His disciples
asked Him, Master, when shall these things happen? And what sign will
there be when these things shall come to pass?
Jesus said, Take heed so you are not deceived, for many shall come in
my name, saying, I am Christ. Do not go after them. When ye hear of
wars and commotions, do not be terrified for these things must first
come to pass. But the end is not yet come.
Then He said, Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilence in
divers places. There will be fearful sights and great signs from
heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute
you. They shall deliver you up to the synagogues, and into prisons,
and before kings and rulers for my name's sake. It will fall on you to
give a testimony. Settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand
about what ye shall answer. I will give you the words and wisdom which
your adversaries shall not be able to refute or deny.
You shall be betrayed by parents, brethren, kinsfolks, and friends;
some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated
by all men for my name's sake. But there shall not be a hair on your
head that will perish.
In your patience carefully guard your souls, and when ye see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation is near. Then let
those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let those who are
in the midst of it get away; and do not let those out in the country
enter in. These are the days of vengeance, when all things that are
written will be fulfilled.
There shall be great distress in the land and wrath upon the people.
They shall fall by the sword, and shall be led away as captives into
all nations. Jerusalem shall be trodden down until the time of the
Gentiles is fulfilled.
There shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars. The
entire earth shall be in distress, nations will be in crisis as the
sea and the waves roar. Hearts shall fail from fear and from looking
after those things that are happening on the earth, for the powers of
heaven will be shaken.
And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power
and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then
look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
Then Jesus told a parable. He said, Behold the fig tree, and all the
trees. When new shoots come forth, you see and, inside you know, that
summer is close at hand. So, likewise, when ye see these things come
to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near at hand. I say to you,
This generation shall not pass away, until all this is fulfilled.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
And watch yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
self-indulgence, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day
comes and you are unaware and unprepared. For, as a snare, it shall
come on all who dwell on the face of the earth. Watch, therefore, and
pray always, so you may be counted worthy to escape these things that
shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
During the day Jesus taught in the temple. At night He went out of the
city and abode in the mount called the mount of Olives. People came to
the temple early in the morning to hear Him.
22 The feast of unleavened bread, which is called the Passover,
was near. The chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill
Him; for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas
Iscariot who was one of the twelve. He approached the chief priests
and captains and said he was willing to betray Jesus to them. They
were glad and agreed to give him money. He gave a promise and then
sought an opportunity to betray Him.
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be
killed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare the passover
that we may eat. They said to Him, Where do you want us to go to
prepare? Jesus said, When you enter the city, a man, bearing a pitcher
of water, will meet you, follow him into the house he enters. Say to
the good man of the house, The Master says to thee, Where is the
guestchamber where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? He
shall show you a large furnished upper room. Prepare everything there.
They went and found everything as He said to them. And there they
prepared the passover.
When the hour came, Jesus sat down with the twelve apostles. He said
to them, I have looked forward to sharing this passover with you
before I suffer, for I tell you, I will not eat again until the
kingdom of God is fulfilled. He took a cup, gave thanks, and said,
Take this, and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not
drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
Then He took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, This is my body which is given for you. Do this in
remembrance of me. Likewise, after supper, He took a cup, saying, This
cup is the new testament, my blood which is shed for you.
But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me at the table.
The Son of man goes as it was determined, but woe to that man by whom
He is betrayed! They began to enquire among themselves, which of them
it was that could do this thing. There was also a strife among them
about which of them should be counted the greatest.
Jesus said, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and
they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But,
among you this shall not be so for he that is greatest among you, let
him be as the younger; and he that is chief, let him be as he that
serves. Which is greater, he that sits at the table or he that serves?
Is it not he that sits at the table? Yet I am among you as He that
serves.
You are the ones who have stood by me in my temptations. I appoint to
you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to me, so you may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel.
The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you,
that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your
faith would not fail. When you are converted, strengthen your
brothers. Peter said, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into
prison, and to death. And Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the cock
shall not crow this day before you shall three times deny that you
know me.
Then He said to them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and
shoes, did you lack anything? And they said, Nothing. Then He said,
But now, he that has a purse let him take it, and likewise, his scrip,
and he that has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I
say to you, this that is written must yet be accomplished in me: He
was reckoned among the transgressors.
The things concerning me have an end. They said to Him, Lord, look,
here are two swords. And Jesus said to them, It is enough. He went out
and up into the mount of Olives; and His disciples followed Him.
At a certain spot He said to them, Pray that you do not enter into
temptation. He withdrew, about a stone's cast, and knelt down, and
prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me;
nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.
There appeared an angel from heaven to strengthen Him because He was
in agony. He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like great drops
of blood falling on the ground. When He rose up from prayer and
returned to His disciples, He found them sleeping. Jesus said to them,
Why sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation.
And while He yet spoke, a crowd appeared, and he that was called
Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to
kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, do you betray the Son of man
with a kiss?
When the disciples saw what was going to happen, they said to Him,
Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them smote the
servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said,
Enough. No more of this. He touched the servant's ear and healed him.
Then Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and
the elders in the crowd, Why do you come out armed with staves and
swords as against a thief when I was daily with you in the temple and
you could have stretched forth your hands against me? But this is your
hour, and the power of darkness. Then they took Him, and led Him into
the high priest's house.
Peter followed from afar. As they had kindled a fire in the midst of
the hall and warmed themselves, Peter sat down among them. But a
certain maid noticed him. She looked closely at him and said, This man
was also with Him. Peter denied Him, saying, Woman, I know Him not.
After a little while another saw him and said, Thou art one of them.
Peter said, No, I am not.
About an hour later, another person said, Of a truth, this fellow was
with Him for he is a Galilaean. Peter said, I know not what thou
sayest. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.
The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, how He said to him, Before the cock crows, thou shalt
deny me three times. Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him. and when they had
blindfolded Him, they struck Him in the face, and said, Prophesy, who
is it that smote thee? And they said many other blasphemies against
Him.
As soon as it was day, the elders and the chief priests and scribes
came together. They led Him into their council, saying, Art thou the
Christ? Tell us. Jesus said, If I tell you, you will not believe, and
if I also ask you, you will not answer me or let me go. Hereafter
shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God. Then
they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And He said to them, Ye
say that I am. Then they said, What need we of any further witness? We
ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.
23 The whole multitude arose and led Him to Pilate. They began
to accuse Him, saying, We found this man misleading the people,
opposing the tribute tax to Caesar, saying that He is Christ, a king.
Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Thou
sayest it. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, I
find no fault in this man. They became fierce, saying, He stirs up the
people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this
place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man was a
Galilaean. As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's
jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.
When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad. Herod had wanted to see
Him for a long time because he had heard many things about Him. Herod
hoped to see some miracle done by Him. Then he asked Jesus many
questions but He answered nothing. The chief priests and scribes stood
and vehemently accused Him. Herod and his soldiers treated Him
spitefully and mocked Him. They arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and
sent Him back to Pilate.
Pilate and Herod, who had been bitter enemies, became friends that
day. When he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and
the people, Pilate said to them, You have brought this man to me as
one who stirs up the people, and, having examined Him before you, I
have found no fault in this man regarding those things of which you
accuse Him, nor did Herod for he sent Him back. I will, therefore,
chastise Him and release Him. (For of necessity he must release one to
them at the feast.)
They cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man. Release
Barabbas to us. Pilate therefore, wanting to release Jesus, spoke
again to them. But they cried louder, saying, Crucify Him, crucify
Him. Pilate said to them the third time, Why, what evil has He done? I
have found no cause to put Him to death. I will chastise Him and let
Him go.
Immediately and with loud voices, they demanded that He be crucified.
The voices of the chief priests prevailed and Pilate gave sentence
that it be as they demanded. He released to them Barabbas, who was in
prison for sedition and murder, and turned Jesus over to them. And as
they led Him away, they laid hold upon a man named Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming out of the country. They laid the cross on him to carry
for Jesus.
Many women followed Jesus, crying and lamenting. Jesus turned to them
and said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for
yourselves and your children. The days are coming, in which they shall
say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the
breasts that never nursed. Then they shall say to the mountains, Fall
on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if these things happen when the
wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? There were also two
others, both criminals, who were led with Him to be put to death.
When they came to the place called Calvary, they crucified Him and the
two criminals, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then
Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. They
divided His garments by casting lots. The people who stood looking on,
and the rulers with them, derided Him, saying, He saved others. Let
Him save Himself, if He is Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers
mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar. They said, If thou
be the king of the Jews, save thyself. Over Him, they hung a sign
written in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF
THE JEWS.
One of the criminals said to Him, If thou be Christ, save thyself and
us. But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, Have you no fear of
God for you are in the same condemnation? We have been justly
condemned for our deeds but this man has done nothing. He said to
Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus
said to him, Today you will be with me in paradise.
It was about the sixth hour. There was a darkness over all the earth
until the ninth hour. The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple
was torn in the middle when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Father,
into thy hands I commend my spirit, and He took His last breath.
When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying,
Certainly this was a righteous man. All the people that came together
to that sight, beholding the things which were done, returned home
beating their breasts. And the women that followed Him from Galilee,
stood far off and watched these things.
There was a just and good man named Joseph, a member of the council
who did not consent to this deed. He was from the Jewish city of
Arimathaea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and
asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph took the body down, wrapped it in
linen, and laid it in a new sepulchre that was hewn in stone. It was
the day of preparation and the sabbath was about to begin. The women
who came with Jesus from Galilee followed along. They beheld the
sepulchre and how His body was laid. They returned and prepared spices
and ointments, then rested on the sabbath day according to the
commandment.
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they
went to the sepulchre with the spices they had prepared, and certain
others were with them. They found the stone rolled away and they went
in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. The women were
perplexed and, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. In
fear, they bowed down their heads. Then the two said to them, Why do
you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.
Remember how He spoke to you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, The
Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be
crucified, and the third day rise again? And they remembered His
words. They left the sepulchre and told all these things to the
eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene; Joanna; Mary, the
mother of James; and other women that were with them who told these
things to the apostles. Their words seemed like idle tales and they
did not believe them.
Then Peter arose and ran to the sepulchre. Stooping down, he saw the
linen clothes laid by themselves and he left, wondering about what
could have happened.
That same day two of them went to a village called Emmaus, which was a
few miles from Jerusalem. They talked over the things that had
happened. And, while they were talking, Jesus drew near and walked
with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. Jesus
said to them, What were you discussing as you walked along that made
you look so sad? One of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Him, Are
you a stranger in Jerusalem and do not know the things that have come
to pass these days? He said to them, What things?
They said, About Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and
our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him.
We trusted that He would redeem Israel and, besides all this, today is
the third day after these things were done. Some of the women of our
group astonished us. They went early to the sepulchre and, when they
did not find His body, they came back and said they had also seen a
vision of angels who said that He was alive. Then some of those who
were with us went to the sepulchre and found it was as the women said,
but they did not see Him.
Then He said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that
the prophets have spoken. Should the Messiah not have suffered these
things and not enter into His glory? Beginning with Moses and all the
prophets, He pointed out to them all the things in the scriptures
concerning Himself.
They drew near the village where they were going and He made as though
He would have gone further. But they said, Stay with us. It is almost
evening and the day is far spent. Jesus went in with them. As He sat
with them, He took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to
them. Their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished out of
their sight. They said to eachother, Did our hearts not burn within us
while He talked with us along the way and while He opened the
scriptures to us?
They rose up right away and returned to Jerusalem. They found the
eleven and those who were with them, saying, The Lord is risen indeed,
and has appeared to Simon. Then they told what happened to them and
how they recognized Him by the breaking of the bread.
Then, as they spoke, Jesus stood in the midst of them and said, Peace
be to you. But they were terrified and supposed they saw a spirit. But
He said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your
hearts? Behold my hands and my feet. Touch me and see me; for a spirit
does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.
When He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. And
while they were still astonished, He said to them, Have you anything
to eat? They gave Him a piece of broiled fish and a piece of a
honeycomb. He took it and ate it before them. He said, These are the
words I spoke to you while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets,
and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then He opened their understanding, that they might know the
scriptures. He said to them, Thus it is written that the Messiah would
suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance for
the forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name among all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses to these things. Behold, I send the promise of my
Father upon you. Stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are filled
with power from on high. He led them out as far as Bethany, and He
lifted up His hands, and blessed them.
While He blessed them, He was parted from them and taken up into
heaven. They worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.
Amen.
_________________________________________________________________
edited by Lightheart
www.PracticeGodsPresence.com
End of Project Gutenberg's The Gospel of Luke for Readers, by Lightheart