THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS

14 Itbo was two days before the Passoverbp and the Festivalbq of Unleavened Bread.br The chief priests and the scribesbs were looking for a cunningbt way to arrest Jesus and kill him.bu 2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY

3 Whilea he was in Bethanyb at the house of Simon the leper,* c as he was reclining at the table,d a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.e 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denariiB,f and given to the poor.”g And they began to scold her.

6 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thingh for me. 7 You always have the poori with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.j 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my bodyk in advance for burial.l 9 Truly I tell you,m wherever the gospeln is proclaimed in the whole world,o what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10 Thenp Judas Iscariot,q one of the Twelve,r went to the chief priestss to betray Jesust to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money.u So he started looking for a good opportunity to betrayv him.

PREPARATION FOR PASSOVER

12 Onw the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,x his disciplesy asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacherz says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciplesaa went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

BETRAYAL AT THE PASSOVER

17 Whenab evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.ac 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”

20 He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Manad will go just as it is writtenae about him,af but woeag to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

THE FIRST LORD’S SUPPER

22 Asah they were eating, he took bread,ai blessed and brokeaj it, gave it to them,ak and said, “Take it; this is my body.”al 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks,am he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant,A,an which is poured outao for many.ap 25 Truly I tell you,aq I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vinear until that day when I drink it newB,as in the kingdom of God.”at

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.au

PETER’S DENIAL PREDICTED

27 Thenav Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away,C because it is written:aw

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheepax will be scattered.D,ay

28 But after I have risen,az I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”ba

29 Peterbb told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”bc

31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

THE PRAYER IN THE GARDEN

32 Thenbd they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples,be “Sit here while I pray.”bf 33 He took Peter,bg James,bh and Johnbi with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, “I am deeply grievedE to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”bj 35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the houra might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba,F Father!b All things are possiblec for you. Take this cupd away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon,e are you sleeping?f Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and prayg so that you won’t enter into temptation.G,h The spiriti is willing, but the fleshj is weak.” 39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.k 41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Manl is betrayed into the hands of sinners.m 42 Get up;n let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

JUDAS’S BETRAYAL OF JESUS

43 Whileo he was still speaking, Judas,p one of the Twelve,q suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes,r and the elders.s 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!”t and kissed him. 46 They took hold of him and arrested him. 47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,H to capture me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple,u and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scripturesv must be fulfilled.”w

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away.x 51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.y

JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN

53 Theyz led Jesus away to the high priest,aa and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribesab assembled.ac 54 Peterad followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,* ae warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrinaf were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death,ag but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimonyah against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands,ai and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agreeaj even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer.ak Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah,al the Sonam of the Blessedan One?”

62 “I am,”ao said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Manap seated at the right handaq of Power and coming with the cloudsar of heaven.”B,as

63 Then the high priestat tore his robesau and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?av 64 You have heard the blasphemy.aw What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.ax

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!”ay The temple servantsaz also took him and slapped him.

PETER DENIES HIS LORD

66 Whileba Peterbb was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”bc

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway,C and a rooster crowed.D

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”E,bd

71 Then he started to curse and swear,be “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time,a and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

JESUS FACES PILATE

15 Asb soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders,c scribes,d and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priestse tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.f

2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the kingg of the Jews?”h

He answered him, “You say so.”

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilatei questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

JESUS OR BARABBAS

6 Atj the festivalk Pilatel used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murderm during the rebellion.n 8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the kingo of the Jewsp for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envyq that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”

14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

MOCKED BY THE MILITARY

16 Ther soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residences) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed him in a purplet robe, twisted together a crownu of thorns, and put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail,v kingw of the Jews!” 19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees,x they were paying him homage. 20 After they had mockedy him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.

CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS

They led him out to crucify him. 21 Theyz forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross.aa He was Simon of Cyrene,ab the father of Alexander and Rufus.ac

22 Theyad brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skullae). 23 They tried to give him wineaf mixed with myrrh,ag but he did not take it.

24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lotsah for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morningA when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The Kingai of the Jews.aj 27 Theyak crucified two criminalsB,al with him, one on his right and one on his left.*

29 Thoseam who passed by were yelling insultsan atA him, shaking their heads,ao and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,ap 30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”aq 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribesar were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let the Messiah,as the Kingat of Israel,au come down now from the cross,av so that we may see and believe.”aw Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.

THE DEATH OF JESUS

33 Whenax it was noon,B darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.* ay 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”D,az

35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.”

36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink,ba and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

37 Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 Then the curtainbb of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way heE breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”F,a

40 Thereb were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,c Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galileed these women followed him and took care of him. Many other women had come up with him to Jerusalem.e

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

42 Whenf it was already evening, because it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forwardg to the kingdom of God,h came and boldly went to Pilatei and asked for Jesus’s body.j 44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had already died. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46 After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tombk cut out of the rock and rolled a stonel against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalenem and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.

RESURRECTION MORNING

16 Whenn the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,o Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,p they went to the tombq at sunrise. 3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance to the tomb for us?” 4 Looking up, they noticed that the stone—which was very large—had been rolled away.

5 Whenr they entered the tomb,s they saw a young mant dressedu in a whitev robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,w who was crucified. He has risen!x He is not here. See the place where they put him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter,y ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee;z you will see him there just as he told you.’ ”

8 They went out and ran from the tomb,aa because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone,ab since they were afraid.

[Some of the earliest * conclude with 16:8.]*

THE LONGER ENDING OF MARK: APPEARANCES OF THE RISEN LORD

[9 Earlyac on the first day of the week,ad after he had risen,ae he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,af out of whom he had driven seven demons.ag 10 She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping. 11 Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.ah

12 After this, he appearedai in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country.aj 13 And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

14 Later he appeared to the Elevenak themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.al 15 Thenam he said to them, “Go into all the worldan and preach the gospel to all creation.ao 16 Whoever believesap and is baptized will be saved,aq but whoever does not believe will be condemned.ar 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;B 18 they will pick up snakes;C,as if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harmat them; they will lay hands onau the sick, and they will get well.”

THE ASCENSION

19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them,av was taken up into heavenaw and sat down at the right handax of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]

LUKE

THE DEDICATION TO THEOPHILUS

1 Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilledA among us,a 2 just as the original eyewitnessesb and servants of the wordc handed them down to us. 3 So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorabled Theophilus,e 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.B,f

GABRIEL PREDICTS JOHN’S BIRTH

5 In the days of King Herodg of Judea, there was a priest of Abijah’s divisionh named Zechariah. His wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both were righteous in God’s sight,i living without blamej according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no children because Elizabeth could not conceive, and both of them were well along in years.k

8 When his division was on dutyl and he was serving as priest before God, 9 it happened that he was chosen by lot,m according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.n 10 At the hour of incense the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 An angel of the Lordo appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.p 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified and overcome with fear.q 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid,r Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard.s Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.t 14 There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer.u He will be filled with the Holy Spiritv while still in his mother’s womb.w 16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.x 17 And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children,y and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”z

18 “How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel,aa who stands in the presence of God,ab and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news. 20 Now listen. You will become silent and unable to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, amazed that he stayed so long in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he could not speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He was making signs to themac and remained speechless. 23 When the days of his ministry were completed, he went back home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived and kept herself in seclusion for five months. She said, 25 “The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgracead among the people.”

GABRIEL PREDICTS JESUS’S BIRTH

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabrielae was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,af 27 to a virgin engagedA,ag to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.ah The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”B 29 But she was deeply troubledai by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 Then the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,aj for you have found favor with God.ak 31 Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.al 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High,a and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.b 33 He will reign over the house of Jacobc forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”d

34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”C

35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,e and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.f 36 And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”g

38 “See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

MARY’S VISIT TO ELIZABETH

39 In those days Mary set out and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah 40 where she entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped inside her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.h 42 Then she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and your child will be blessed!D 43 How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

MARY’S PRAISE

46 And Mary said:

My soul magnifies C the Lord,i

47 and my spirit rejoicesj in God my Savior,k

48 because he has looked with favor

on the humble condition of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations

will call me blessed,l

49 because the Mighty Onem

has done great things for me,n

and his nameo is holy.

50 His mercy is from generation to generationp

on those who fear him.

51 He has done a mighty deed with his arm;q

he has scattered the proud

because of the thoughts of their hearts;r

52 he has toppled the mighty from their thrones

and exalted the lowly.s

53 He has satisfied the hungry with good thingst

and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering his mercy

55 to Abraham and his descendantsA forever,u

just as he spoke to our ancestors.

56 And Mary stayed with her about three months; then she returned to her home.

THE BIRTH AND NAMING OF JOHN

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy,v and they rejoiced with her.

59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,w they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No. He will be called John.”x

61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his fathery to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was openedz and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came on all those who lived around them, and all these things were being talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard about himaa took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.

ZECHARIAH’S PROPHECY

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spiritab and prophesied:ac

68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,ad

because he has visited

and provided redemption for his people.ae

69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for usaf

in the house of his servant David,a

70 just as he spoke by the mouth

of his holy prophets in ancient times;b

71 salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of those who hate us.

72 He has dealt mercifully with our ancestorsc

and remembered his holy covenantd—

73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham.e

He has given us the privilege,

74 since we have been rescued

from the hand of our enemies,

to serve him without fear

75 in holiness and righteousness

in his presence all our days.

76 And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High,f

for you will go before the Lord

to prepare his ways,g

77 to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins.h

78 Because of our God’s merciful compassion,

the dawn from on highi will visit us

79 to shine on those who live in darkness

and the shadow of death,j

to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80 The child grew up and became strong in spirit,A and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.