Amplified Bible (AMP)

Zaccheus Converted

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

2 And there was a man called Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector [a superintendent to whom others reported], and he was rich.

3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not seebecause of the crowd, for he was short in stature.

4 So he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

5 When Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him,“Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

6 So Zaccheus hurried and came down, and welcomed Jesus with joy.

7 When the people saw it, they allbeganmuttering [in discontent], “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a [notorious] sinner.”

8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “See, Lord, I am [now] giving half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

9 Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this household, because he, too, is a[spiritual]son of Abraham;

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Parable of Money Usage

11 While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they assumed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately [as soon as He reached the city].

12 So He said,“A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and[then]to return.

13 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas[one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days’ wages]and said to them, ‘Do business[with this]until I return.’

14 But his citizens[the residents of his new kingdom]hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be a king over us.’

15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done.

16 The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’

17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithfulandtrustworthy in a very little thing, you shall[now]have authority over ten cities[in my kingdom].’

18 The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’

19 And he said to him also, ‘And you shall take charge over five cities.’

20 Then another came and said, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept laid up in a handkerchief[for safekeeping].

21 ~‘I was[always]afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.’

22 He said to the servant, ‘I will judgeandcondemn you by your own words, you worthless servant! Did you[really]know that I was a stern man, picking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?

23 ~‘Then why did you not[at the very least]put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’

24 Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minasalready!’

26 [Jesus explained,]‘I tell you that to everyone who has[because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely],morewill be given; but from the one who does not have[because he disregarded his gifts from God],even what he has will be taken away.’

27 [The king ended by saying,]‘But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence.’”

The Triumphal Entry

28 After saying these things, Jesus went on ahead [of them], going up to Jerusalem.

29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples,

30 saying,“Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a[donkey’s]colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here.

31 If anybody asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 So those who were sent left and found the colt just as He had told them.

33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They said, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, andthey threw their robes over the colt and put Jesus on it.

36 As He rode along, people were spreading their coats on the road [as an act of homage before a king].

37 As soon as He was approaching [Jerusalem], near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the entire multitude of the disciples [all those who were or claimed to be His followers] began praising God [adoring Him enthusiastically and] joyfully with loud voices for all the miraclesandworks of power that they had seen,

38 shouting,

“Blessed(celebrated, praised)istheKing who comes in the name of theLord!

Peace in heaven and glory (majesty, splendor) in the highest [heaven]!”

39 Some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples [for shouting these Messianic praises].”

40 Jesus replied,“I tell you, if these[people]keep silent, the stones will cry out[in praise]!”

41 As He approachedJerusalem,He saw the city and wept over it [and the spiritual ignorance of its people],

42 saying,“If[only]you had known on this day[of salvation],even you, the things which make for peace[and on which peace depends]!But now they have been hidden from your eyes.

43 For a time[of siege]is coming when your enemies will put up a barricade[with pointed stakes]against you, and surround you[with armies]and hem you in on every side,

44 and they will level you to the ground, you[Jerusalem]and your children within you. They will not leave in you one stone on another, all because you did not[come progressively to]recognize[from observation and personal experience]the time of your visitation[when God was gracious toward you and offered you salvation].”

Traders Driven from the Temple

45 Jesus went into the temple [enclosure] and began driving out those who were selling,

46 saying to them,“It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it arobbers’ den.”

47 He was teaching day after day in the temple [porches and courts]; but the chief priests and scribes and the leading men among the people were seeking [a way] to put Him to death,

48 and they could not find anything that they could do, for all the people [stayed close to Him and] were hanging on toevery word He said.

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

1 On one of the days, as Jesus was instructing the people in the temple [area] and preaching the good news (gospel),the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders confrontedHim,

2 and said to Him, “Tell us by whatkind ofauthority You are doing these things? Or who is the one who gave You this authority?”

3 Jesus replied,“I will also ask you a question. You tell Me:

4 The baptism of John[the Baptist]–was it from heaven[that is, ordained by God]or from men?”

5 They discussedanddebated it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they arefirmlyconvinced that John was a prophet.”

7 So they replied that they did not know from whereit came.

8 Then Jesus said to them,“Nor am I telling you by what[kind of]authority I do these things.”

Parable of the Vineyard Owner

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable:“A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time[to another country].

10 Atharvesttime he sent a servant[as his representative]to the tenants, so that they would give himhis shareof the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

11 So he again sent another servant; they also beat him and dishonoredandtreated him disgracefully and sent him away empty-handed.

12 And he sent yet a third; and this one too they wounded and threw out[of the vineyard].

13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will have respect for him.’

14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves, saying, ‘This[man]is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’

15 So they threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and put these tenants to death and will give the vineyard to others.”When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders heard this, they said, “May it never be!”

17 But Jesus looked at them and said,“What then is[the meaning of]this that is written:

‘The[very]Stone which the builders rejected,

this became the chiefCornerstone’?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be brokenandshattered in pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”

Tribute to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests tried to [find a way to] arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people; because they understood that He spoke this parable against them.

20 So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be uprightandsincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

21 They asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality to anyone, but teach the way of God truthfully.

22 Is it lawful [according to Jewish law and tradition] for us to pay taxes (tribute money) toCaesar or not?”

23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them,

24 “Show Me a[Roman]denarius. Whose image and inscription does the coin have?”They answered, “[the Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s.”

25 He said to them,“Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 They were not able to seize on anything He said in the presence of the people; and being unnerved at His reply, they were silent.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 Now some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him

28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us [a law that]if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wifeand no children,his brother shouldmarry the wife and raise children for his brother.

29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless.

30 And the second,

31 and the third married her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.

32 Finally the woman also died.

33 So in the [life after] resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them,“The sons of this[world and present]age marry and[the women]are given in marriage;

35 but those who are considered worthy to gain that[other world and that future]age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

36 and they cannot die again, because they are[immortal]like the angels (equal to, angel-like). And they arechildren of God, beingparticipants in the resurrection.

37 But[as for the fact]that the dead are raised[from death],even Moses showed, in thepassage about the burningbush, when he calls the LordtheGod ofAbraham,theGod ofIsaac,and theGod ofJacob.

38 Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living[so these forefathers will be among the resurrected];for all live[in a definite relationship]to Him.”

39 Some of the scribes replied, “Teacher, you have spoken well [so that there is no room for blame].”

40 And they did not dare to question Him further about anything [because of the wisdom He displayed in His answers].

41 Then He said to them,“Howis it thatpeople say that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is David’s son?

42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘TheLord(the Father)said to myLord(the Son, the Messiah),

“Sit atMy right hand,

43 UntilImakeYour enemies a footstool forYour feet.”’

44 So David calls Him (the Son) ‘Lord,’ and howthenis He David’s son?”

45 And with all the people listening, He said to His disciples,

46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes[displaying their prominence],and love respectful greetings in the[crowded]market places, andchief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.

47 These[men]who confiscateanddevour widows’ houses, and for a pretense[to appear devout]offer long prayers. These[men]will receive the greater[sentence of]condemnation.”

The Widow’s Gift

1 Looking up, He saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And He saw a poor widow putting in twosmall copper coins.

3 He said,“Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in[proportionally]more than allof them;

4 for they all put in gifts from their abundance; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

5 As some were talking about thetemple, that it was decorated with beautiful stones and consecrated offerings [of magnificent gifts of gold which were displayed on the walls and hung in the porticoes], He said,

6 “As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not betorn down.”

7 They asked Him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”

8 He said,“Be carefulandsee to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name[appropriating for themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me alone],saying, ‘I amHe,’and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.

9 When you hear of wars and disturbances[civil unrest, revolts, uprisings],do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will notcomeimmediately.”

Things to Come

10 Then Jesus told them,“Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.

11 There will be violent earthquakes, and in various places famines and[deadly and devastating]pestilences (plagues, epidemics); and there will be terrible sights and great signs from heaven.

12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

13 This will be a timeandan opportunity for you to testify[about Me].

14 So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

15 for I will give you[skillful]words and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

16 But you will be betrayedandhanded over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will putsomeof you to death,

17 and you will becontinuallyhated by everyone because of[your association with]My name.

18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

19 By your[patient]endurance[empowered by the Holy Spirit]you will gain your souls.

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by[hostile]armies, then understand[with confident assurance]that her complete destruction is near.

21 At that time, those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are inside the city (Jerusalem) must get out, and those who are[out]in the country must not enter the city;

22 for these are days of vengeance[of rendering full justice or satisfaction],so that all things which are written will be fulfilled.

23 Woe to those women who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For great troubleandanguish will be on the land, and wrathandretribution on this people[Israel].

24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed).

The Return of Christ

25 “There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth[there will be]distressandanguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaringandtossing of the sea and the waves,

26 people fainting from fear and expectation of the[dreadful]things coming on the world; for the[very]powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 Then they will seetheSon ofMan coming in a cloudwith[transcendent, overwhelming]power[subduing the nations]and with great glory.

28 Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads[in joy],because[suffering ends as]your redemption is drawing near.”

Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Then He told them a parable:“Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

30 as soon as they put out leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is near.

31 So you too, when you see these things happening, know[without any doubt]that the kingdom of God is near.

32 I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, this generation[those living at that definite period of time preceding the second coming]will not pass away untileverything takes place.

33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

34 “But be on guard, so that your hearts are not weighed downanddepressed with the giddiness of debauchery and the nausea of self-indulgence and the worldly worries of life, and then that day[when the Messiah returns]will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

35 for it will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth.

36 But keep alert at all times[be attentive and ready],praying that you may have the strengthandability[to be found worthy and]to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man[at His coming].”

37 Now in the daytime Jesus was teaching in [the porches and courts of] the temple, but at night He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet.

38 And early in the morning all the people would come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.

Preparing the Passover

1 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching.

2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people [who listened devotedly to His teaching, and who respected His spiritual wisdom].

3 Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve [disciples].

4 And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Himandhand Him over to them.

5 They were delighted and agreed with him to give him money.

6 So he consented, andbeganlooking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].

7 Then came thepreparationday ofUnleavened Bread on which the Passoverlambhad to be sacrificed.

8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying,“Go and prepare the Passover meal for us, so that we may eat it.”

9 They asked Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”

10 He replied,“When you have entered the city, aman carrying anearthenjar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.

11 And say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’

12 Then he will show you a large upstairs room, furnished[with carpets and dining couches];prepare the meal there.”

13 They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

The Lord’s Supper

14 When the hour [for the meal] had come, Jesus reclinedat the table,and the apostles with Him.

15 He said to them,“I have earnestly wanted to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

16 for I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 And when He had taken a cup andgiven thanks, He said,“Take this and share it among yourselves;

18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And when He had taken bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying,“This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 And in the same wayHe tookthe cup after they had eaten, saying,“This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant[ratified]in My blood.

21 But listen, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.

22 For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe (judgment is coming) to that man by whom He is betrayedandhanded over!”

23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this.

Who Is Greatest?

24 Now a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was regarded to be the greatest.

25 Jesus said to them,“The kings of the Gentiles have absolute powerandlord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’

26 But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest[and least privileged],and the[one who is the]leader, like the servant.

27 For who is the greater, the one who reclinesat the tableor the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclinesat the table?But I am among you as the one who serves.

28 “You are those who have remainedandhave stood by Me in My trials;

29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you[the privilege]

30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demandedpermissionto sift[all of]you like grain;

32 but I have prayed[especially]for you[Peter],that your faith[and confidence in Me]may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again[to Me],strengthenandsupport your brothers[in the faith].”

33 And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

34 Jesus said,“I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will[utterly]deny three times that you know Me.”

35 And He said to them,“When I sent you out without a money belt and[provision]bag and[extra]sandals, did you lack anything?”They answered, “Nothing.”

36 Then He said to them,“But now, he who has a money belt is to take it along, and also his[provision]bag, and he who has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one.

37 For I tell you that this[Scripture]which is written must be completedandfulfilled in Me: ‘AndHe was counted with the criminals’; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment[and is settled].”

38 They said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.” And He said to them,“It is enough.”

The Garden of Gethsemane

39 And He came out and went, as was His habit, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed Him.

40 When He arrived at the place [called Gethsemane], He said to them,“Praycontinuallythat you may not fall into temptation.”

41 And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

42 saying,“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup[of divine wrath]from Me; yet not My will, but[always]Yours be done.”

43 Now an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

44 And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and Hissweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow,

46 and He said to them,“Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not fall into temptation.”

Judas Betrays Jesus

47 While He was still speaking, a crowdcame,and the man called Judas, one of the twelve [disciples], was leading the way for them. He approached Jesus tokiss Him.

48 And Jesus said to him,“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When those who were around Him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with the sword?”

50 Andone of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus replied,“Stop! No more of this.”And He touched the ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders [of the Sanhedrin] who had come out against Him,“Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a robber?

53 Day after day when I was with you in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the powerandauthority of darkness are yours.”

Peter’s Denials

54 Then they seized Him, and led Himawayand brought Him to the [elegant] house of the [Jewish]high priest. And Peter was following at a [safe] distance.

55 After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.

56 And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.”

57 But Peter denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him!”

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

59 After about an hour had passed, another manbeganto insist, “This man was with Him, for he is a Galilean too.”

60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.

61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him,“Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

62 And he went out and wept bitterly [deeply grieved and distressed].

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mockingandridiculing Him [and treating Him with contempt] and beating Him.

64 They blindfolded Him and asked, “Prophesy, who is it that struck You?”

65 And they were saying many other [evil and slanderous] things against Him, blaspheming [speaking sacrilegiously and abusively about] Him.

Jesus before the Sanhedrin

66 When day came, the Council of the elders of the people (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) assembled, both chief priests and scribes; and they led Jesus away to the councilchamber,saying,

67 “If You are the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us.” But He said to them,“If I tell you, you will not believe[what I say],

68 and if I ask a question, you will not answer.

69 But from now on,theSon ofMan will be seated at the right handof the powerofGod.”

70 And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” He replied,“It is just asyou say.”

71 Then they asked, “What further need of testimony do we have? For we ourselves have heard it from His own mouth.”

Jesus before Pilate

1 Then the whole assembly got up and brought Him before Pilate.

2 They began to accuse Jesus, asserting, “We found this Man misleadingandperverting our nation and forbidding us to pay taxes to Caesar, and claiming that He Himself is Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), a King.”

3 So Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him,“It is just asyou say.”

4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this Man.”

5 But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people [to rebel], teaching throughout Judea, starting from Galilee even as far as here [in Jerusalem].”

6 When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

7 And when he learned that He belonged to the jurisdiction ofHerod [Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee], he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Jesus before Herod

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time because of what he had heard about Him, and was hoping to see some [miraculous] sign [even something spectacular] done by Him.

9 And he questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no reply.

10 The chief priests and the scribes were standing there,continuallyaccusing Him heatedly.

11 And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mockingandridiculing Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

12 Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other–before this they had been enemies.

Pilate Seeks Jesus’ Release

13 Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14 and said to them, “You brought this man before me as one who corruptsandincites the people to rebellion. After examining Him before you, I have found no guilt in this Man regarding the charges which you make against Him.

15 No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and indeed, He has done nothing to deserve death.

16 Therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.”

17 [Now he was obligated to release to them one prisoner at the Feast.]

18 But they [loudly] shouted out all together, saying, “Away with this Man, and release Barabbas to us!”

19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection that happened in the city, and for murder.)

20 Pilate addressed them again, wanting to release Jesus,

21 but they kept shouting out, “Crucify, crucify Him!”

22 A third time he said to them, “Why, what wrong has He done? I have found no guilt [no crime, no offense] in Himdemandingdeath; therefore I will punish Him [to teach Him a lesson] and release Him.”

23 But they were insistentandunrelenting, demanding with loud voices that Jesus be crucified. And their voicesbeganto prevailandaccomplish their purpose.

24 Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted.

25 And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, but he handed over Jesus to their will.

Simon Bears the Cross

26 When they led Him away, they seized a man,Simon ofCyrene, who was coming in [to the city] from the country, andplaced on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

27 Following Him was a large crowd of the people, including women who were mourning and wailing for Him.

28 But Jesus, turning toward them, said,“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not given birth, and the breasts that have never nursed.’

30 Then they will begintosay to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’

31 For if they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

32 Two others also, who were criminals, were being led away to be executed with Him.

The Crucifixion

33 When they came to the place calledThe Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left.

34 And Jesus was saying,“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”And they cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves.

35 Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculedandsneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine,

37 and sarcastically saying, “If you are [really] the King of the Jews, save Yourself [from death]!”

38 Now there was also an inscription above Him: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 One of the criminals who had been hanged [on a cross beside Him] kept hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us [from death]!”

40 But the other one rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 Weare sufferingjustly, because we are getting what we deserve for what we have done; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

42 And he was saying, “Jesus, [please] remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

43 Jesus said to him,“I assure youandmost solemnly say to you, today you will be with Me inParadise.”

44 It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),

45 because the sun wasobscured; and the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple wastorn in two [from top to bottom].

46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,“Father,intoYour handsIcommitMy spirit!”Having said this, He breathed His last.

47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, hebeganpraisingandhonoring God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent.”

48 All the crowds who had gathered for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened,beganto return [to their homes], beating their breasts [as a sign of mourning or repentance].

49 And all His acquaintances and the women who had accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, watching these things.

Jesus Is Buried

50 A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man

51 (he had not consented to the Council’s plan and action)a manfrom Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting forandexpecting the kingdom of God;

52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 And [after receiving permission] he took it down and wrapped it in a linen [burial] cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid.

54 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning.

55 Now the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed [closely], and saw the tomb and how His body was laid.

56 Then they went back and prepared spices and ointmentsandsweet-smelling herbs.

And on the Sabbath they rested in accordance with the commandment [forbidding work].

The Resurrection

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body].

2 And they found the [large, circular] stone rolled back from the tomb,

3 but when they went inside, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were perplexedandwondering about this, suddenly, two men in dazzling clothing stood near them;

5 and as the women were terrified and were bowing their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why are you looking for the living One among the dead?

6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee,

7 saying that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise [from death to life].”

8 And they remembered His words,

9 and after returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven [apostles] and to all the rest.

10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna [the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward] and Mary themotherof James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles.

11 But their report seemed to them like idle talkandnonsense, and they would not believe them.

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping [at the small entrance] and looking in, he saw only the linenwrappings; and he went away, wondering about what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus

13 And then, that very day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was aboutseven miles from Jerusalem.

14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.

15 While they were talking and discussing it, Jesus Himself came up andbeganwalking with them.

16 But their eyes were [miraculously] prevented from recognizing Him.

17 Then Jesus asked them,“What are you discussing with one another as you walk along?”And they stood still, looking brokenhearted.

18 Oneof them,named Cleopas, answered Him, “Are you the only stranger visiting Jerusalem who is unaware of the things which have happened here in these [recent] days?”

19 He asked,“What things?”And they replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,

20 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.

21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israelandset our nation free. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

22 And also some of the women among us shocked us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,

23 and they did not find His body. Then they came back, saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive!

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women had said, but they did not see Him.”

25 Then Jesus said to them,“O foolish men, and slow of heart to trustandbelieve in everything that the prophets have spoken!

26 Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and[only then to]enter His glory?”

27 Then beginning with Moses and [throughout] all the [writings of the] prophets, He explainedandinterpreted for them the things referring to Himself [found] in all the Scriptures.

28 Then they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as if He were going farther.

29 But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them.

30 And it happened that as He reclinedat the tablewith them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, Hebegangiving it to them.

31 Then their eyes were [suddenly] opened [by God] and they [clearly] recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking with us on the road and opening the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up that very hour and went back to Jerusalem, and found the eleven [apostles] gathered together and those who were with them,

34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon [Peter]!”

35 Theybegandescribing in detail what had happened on the road, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.

Other Appearances

36 While they were talking about this, Jesus Himself [suddenly] stood among them and said to them,“Peace be to you.”

37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

38 And He said,“Why are you troubled, and why are doubts rising in your hearts?

39 Look at[the marks in]My hands and My feet,[and see]that it is I Myself. Touch Me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”

40 After saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

41 While they still did not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He asked them,“Do you have anything here to eat?”

42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

43 and He took it and ate it in front of them.

44 Then He said to them,“This is what I told you while I was still with you, everything which has been written about Me in theLaw of Moses and the[writings of the]Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

45 Then He opened their minds to [help them] understand the Scriptures,

46 and said,“And so it is written, that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

47 and that repentance[necessary]for forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

49 Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father[the Holy Spirit]upon you; but you are to remain in the city[of Jerusalem]until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”

The Ascension

50 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them.

51 While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven.

52 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy [fully understanding that He lives and that He is the Son of God];

53 and they were continually in the temple blessingandpraising God.