The Widow’s Offering

21:1–4pp—Mk 12:41–44

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.i 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”j

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

21:5–36pp—Mt 24; Mk 13
21:12–17pp—Mt 10:17–22

5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;k every one of them will be thrown down.”

7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.l 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.m 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.n

12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.o 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.p 15 For I will give youq words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,r and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.s 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.t 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.u

20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,v you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.w 22 For this is the time of punishmentx in fulfillmenty of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampledz on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.a 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.b 27 At that time they will see the Son of Manc coming in a cloudd with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”e

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of Godf is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generationg will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.h

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,i and that day will close on you suddenlyj like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and prayk that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,l and each evening he went outm to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,n 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.o

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

22:1,2pp—Mt 26:2–5; Mk 14:1,2,10,11

22 Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,p 2 and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus,q for they were afraid of the people. 3 Then Satanr entered Judas, called Iscariot,s one of the Twelve. 4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guardt and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. 5 They were delighted and agreed to give him money.u 6 He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

The Last Supper

22:7–13pp—Mt 26:17–19; Mk 14:12–16
22:17–20pp—Mt 26:26–29; Mk 14:22–25; 1Co 11:23–25
22:21–23pp—Mt 26:21–24; Mk 14:18–21; Jn 13:21–30
22:25–27pp—Mt 20:25–28; Mk 10:42–45
22:33,34pp—Mt 26:33–35; Mk 14:29–31; Jn 13:37,38

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.v 8 Jesus sent Peter and John,w saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them.x So they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostlesy reclined at the table.z 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.a 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”b

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,c and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenantd in my blood, which is poured out for you.a 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.e 22 The Son of Manf will go as it has been decreed.g But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.h 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest,i and the one who rules like the one who serves.j 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.k 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom,l just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdomm and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.n

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has askedo to sift all of you as wheat.p 32 But I have prayed for you,q Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”r

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”s

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,t did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’b;u and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

22:40–46pp—Mt 26:36–46; Mk 14:32–42

39 Jesus went out as usualv to the Mount of Olives,w and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”x 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt downy and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cupz from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”a 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.b 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.c

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”c

Jesus Arrested

22:47–53pp—Mt 26:47–56; Mk 14:43–50; Jn 18:3–11

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”d 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard,e and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts,f and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hourg—when darkness reigns.”h

Peter Disowns Jesus

22:55–62pp—Mt 26:69–75; Mk 14:66–72; Jn 18:16–18,25–27

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.i Peter followed at a distance.j 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”k

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lordl turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”m 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus

22:63–65pp—Mt 26:67,68; Mk 14:65; Jn 18:22,23

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.n

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

22:67–71pp—Mt 26:63–66; Mk 14:61–63; Jn 18:19–21
23:2,3pp—Mt 27:11–14; Mk 15:2–5; Jn 18:29–37
23:18–25pp—Mt 27:15–26; Mk 15:6–15; Jn 18:39–19:16

66 At daybreak the councilo of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together,p and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer.q 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”r

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”s

He replied, “You say that I am.”t

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.u 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation.v He opposes payment of taxes to Caesarw and claims to be Messiah, a king.”x

3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”y

5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galileez and has come all the way here.”

6 On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.a 7 When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,b who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.c From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.d 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,e they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friendsf—before this they had been enemies.

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.g 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish himh and then release him.” [17]a

18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”i 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”j

23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand. 25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

23:33–43pp—Mt 27:33–44; Mk 15:22–32; Jn 19:17–24

26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,k who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.l 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailedm for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.n 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’o 30 Then

“ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”

and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’b p

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

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.r 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father,s forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”c t And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.u

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.v They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”w

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him.x They offered him wine vinegary 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,z save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.a

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”b

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”c

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.d”d

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”e

The Death of Jesus

23:44–49pp—Mt 27:45–56; Mk 15:33–41; Jn 19:29–30

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,f 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the templeg was torn in two.h 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice,i “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”e j When he had said this, he breathed his last.k

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised Godl and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breastsm and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,n stood at a distance,o watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus

23:50–56pp—Mt 27:57–61; Mk 15:42–47; Jn 19:38–42

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.p 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day,q and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galileer followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.s But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.t