J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible Radio - (41) Book of Mark

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The Book of Mark - Summary

The Gospel of Mark is the second book in the New Testament part of the Bible. Mark was the first person to write a Gospel. A Gospel is a book that describes the life and death of Jesus. The Gospels also explain how Jesus came back to life again.

People think that Mark got his information from Peter. Peter was a friend of Jesus.

Mark's Gospel is the shortest life story of Jesus. It is an exciting book. Jesus did many wonderful things. He cured ill people. He spoke wise words about God. And he warned about future events. The people were excited about Jesus. They followed Jesus. They listened to him. But they did not realise why God sent Jesus. They thought that Jesus would become their king. But Jesus knew the real reason why God sent him.

The rulers hated Jesus. They thought that Jesus would destroy their country. They did not care whether God had sent Jesus. They decided to kill Jesus. Jesus knew about this. But Jesus allowed these things to happen, because this was God's plan.

When Jesus was dying, the people were very afraid. Even Jesus' friend, Peter, denied that he knew Jesus. Even the priests insulted Jesus. Jesus' death was a terrible death (Mark chapters 14-15).

But some important people believed Jesus, even when he died. An important soldier said, 'This man (Jesus) was God's son.' And Joseph from Arimathea was bold, and he buried Jesus' body in his own grave. But, two days later, an angel (servant of God from heaven) announced that Jesus was alive again. Later, Jesus himself met his friends. They saw that he was alive. And he told them to take God's message to people from all nations.

Mark wrote his gospel for everyone. He did not only write it for his own people. People from all nations can become Christians.
http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/mark-summary.htm

Listen	Download	Introduction to Mark
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 1 The Messiah's Herald; The Baptism of Jesus; The Temtation of Jesus; Ministry in Galilee; The First Disciples; Driving Out an Unclean Spirit; Preaching in Galilee; Cleansing a Leper.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 2 The Son of Man Forgives and Heals; The Call of Matthew; Dining with Sinners; A Question about Fasting; Lord of the Sabbath.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 3 The Man with the Paralyzed Hand; Ministering to the Multitude; The Twelve Aposles; A House Divided; True Relationships.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 4 The Parable of the Sower; Why Jesus Used Parables; The Parable of the Sower Explained; Using Your Light; The Parable of the Growing Seed; The Parable of the Mustard Seed; Using Parables; Wind and Wave Obey the Master.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 5 Demons Driven Out by the Master; A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 6 Rejection at Nazareth; Commissioning the Twelve; John the Baptist is Beheaded; Jesus Feeds the 5,000; Jesus Walks on Water; Jesus Performs Miraculous Healings.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 7 The Traditions of the Elders; A Gentile Mother's Faith; Jesus Does Everything Well.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 8 Feeding 4,000; The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod; Healing a Blind Man; Peter's Confession of the Messiah; His Death and Resurrection Predicted; Take Up Your Cross.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 9 The Transfiguration; The Power of Faith over a Demon; The Second Prediction of His Death; Who is the Greatest? In His Name; Warnings from Jesus.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 10 The Question of Divorce; Blessing the Children; The Rich Young Ruler; Possessions and the Kingdom; The Third Prediction of His Death; Suffering and Service; A Blind Man Healed.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 11 The Triumphal Entry; The Barren Fig Tree is Cursed; Cleansing the Temple Complex; The Barren Fig Tree is Withered; The Messiah's Authority Challenged.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 12 The Parable of the Vineyard Owner; God and Caesar; The Sadducees and the Resurrection; The Primary Commandments; The Question about the Messiah; Warning against the Scribes; the Widows Gift.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 13 Destruction of the Temple Predicted; Signs of the End of the Age; Persecutions Predicted; The Great Tribulation; The Coming of the Son of Man; The Parables of the Fig Tree; No One Knows the Day or Hour.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 14 The Plot to Kill Jesus; The Anointing at Bethany; Preparation for Passover; Betrayal at the Passover; The First Lord's Supper; Peter's Denial Predicted; The Prayer in the Garden; The Judas kiss; Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin; Peter Denies His Lord.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 15 Jesus Faces Pilate; Jesus or Barabbas; Mocked by the Military; Crucified between Two Criminals; The Death of Jesus; The Burial of Jesus.
Listen	Download	Mark Ch. 16 Resurrection Morning; Appearances of the Risen Lord; The Great Commission; The Ascension.

Book of Mark Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>

========================================================== http://www.easyenglish.info/english-learners-bible/mark-taw.htm

This is about the book that Mark wrote

Chapter 1

The start of the good news

v1 This is the start of the good news about Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God. v2 Isaiah wrote this message from God in his book:

            ‘I will send someone in front of you. He will speak my message.

            He will prepare a way for you.’

v3        ‘A voice is shouting in the *wilderness:

            “The *Lord will come soon. So prepare a road for him to travel on.

            Make the paths straight.” ’

v4 So John came to a place in the *wilderness with the message from God. ‘You have done many wrong things’, he taught everybody. ‘You must change your minds. Then God will *forgive you and I will *baptise you.’

v5 Many people who lived in Jerusalem city and in the country called Judea went to listen to John. The people told God about all the wrong things that they had done. Then John *baptised the people in the river Jordan. v6 John wore clothes that he had made out of hair from a *camel. He also wore a belt that he had made from the skin of an animal. His usual food was large insects and *honey from the *wilderness.

v7 ‘A person will come soon’, John said to the people. ‘He is more important than I am. I should not even be the servant who undoes his shoes. v8 I have *baptised you with water. But this other person will *baptise you with the *Holy Spirit.’

John *baptises Jesus

v9 Soon after this, Jesus came from the town called Nazareth in Galilee. John *baptised him in the river Jordan. v10 While Jesus was coming up out of the water, the skies seemed to open. The *Holy Spirit came down like a bird and he rested on Jesus. v11 A voice spoke from the sky. That voice said, ‘You are my son and I love you. You make me very happy.’

*Satan tries to cause Jesus to do wrong things

v12 Immediately, the *Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the *wilderness. v13 He was in the *wilderness for 40 days. During this time, *Satan tried to cause Jesus to do wrong things. There were wild animals near to Jesus in the *wilderness. And God’s *angels were his servants.

Jesus asks some men to be his *disciples

v14 When John was in a prison, Jesus went to Galilee. He told people the good news about God. v15 ‘Now is the time when God will begin to rule his people’, Jesus said. ‘You have done many wrong things. You must change your minds. Believe the Good News.’

v16 On one day, Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee. He saw two brothers called Simon and Andrew. Their job was to catch fish. They were throwing their *nets into the lake to catch fish. v17 ‘Come with me’, Jesus said to them. ‘I will teach you how to catch people.’ v18 Simon and Andrew immediately left their *nets and they went with Jesus.

v19 Then Jesus continued to walk along the shore. Soon he saw two more men who were brothers. They were called James and John. They were the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat and they were mending their *nets. v20 Immediately, Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father and his workers in the boat. And they went with Jesus.

Jesus causes a bad *spirit to leave a man

v21 Then Jesus and those *disciples went into Capernaum. On the next *Jewish day for rest, Jesus went into the meeting place. He began to teach the people there.

v22 Jesus taught the people very well. He taught with authority and that surprised them. He was not like the teachers of God’s rules, because they did not speak with authority. v23 In the meeting place, there was a man who had a bad *spirit. The bad *spirit caused the man to shout loudly. v24 ‘Jesus from Nazareth’, it said, ‘We have nothing in common! Do not kill us! I know who you are. You are *holy and you have come from God.’

v25 Jesus spoke to the bad *spirit. ‘Be quiet!’ he said. ‘Come out of the man!’ v26 The bad *spirit caused the man to fall. It shouted loudly and then it came out of the man.

v27 All the people were very surprised, and they said to each other, ‘This is very strange. Jesus is teaching us something new and he speaks with authority. He can say to bad *spirits what they must do. And they obey him.’ v28 Immediately, people began to tell the news about Jesus. Everywhere in Galilee, they were telling other people about him.

Jesus makes many people well

v29 Then Jesus left the meeting place. He took James and John with him to the home of Simon and Andrew. v30 The mother of Simon’s wife was ill in bed. Her body was very hot. Immediately, Simon and Andrew told Jesus about her. v31 So he went to her and he held her hand. Then he helped her to sit up and immediately she was well. Then she prepared food for Jesus and for his *disciples.

v32-33 That evening, when the sun had gone down, everybody in the town came. They brought to Jesus everyone who was ill. And they brought people with bad *spirits. All these people were round the door of the house. v34 Jesus caused many sick people to become well. They had many different illnesses. He also caused many bad *spirits to leave people. The *spirits knew who he was. So Jesus did not let them speak.

Jesus prays alone in a quiet place

v35 Jesus got up very early the next morning, while it was still dark. He went to a place where he could be alone. And there he prayed. v36 Simon and the other *disciples had to look for him. v37 When they found him, they said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’

v38 ‘We should go to some other place’, Jesus replied. ‘We will go to other towns near here, so that I can teach the people there also. I came here for that reason.’ v39 So Jesus travelled everywhere in Galilee. He taught the people in their meeting places. He caused bad *spirits to come out of people.

A man with an illness in his skin

v40 On one day, a man who had an illness in his skin came to Jesus. He went down on his knees in front of Jesus. The man said. ‘If you want to do it, you can make me well again.’

v41 Jesus felt very sorry for the man. He moved his hand towards the man and he touched the man. ‘I do want to help you’, Jesus said. ‘Be well!’ v42 Immediately, the illness left the man and his skin was clean.

v43 Jesus explained carefully to the man and he sent him away immediately. v44 ‘Listen. Do not tell anyone about this’, Jesus said. ‘But go and show yourself to the *priest. Take a gift to him for God. Moses taught the people what gift to take to God after this kind of illness. This will show other people that you are now well.’ v45 But instead, the man went away and he talked to everybody. He told them what had happened to him. Because he did this, it became too difficult for Jesus to go into the towns. Everybody knew him, and so Jesus stayed in places in the *wilderness. And the people came from every direction to see him.

Chapter 2

Jesus helps a man who cannot walk

v1 Jesus returned to Capernaum several days after that. People reported that he had come back to his home. v2 Many people came into the house. The house was so full that there was no room, even outside the door. Jesus was teaching the people. v3 Four men came. They were carrying another man, who could not walk. v4 They could not reach Jesus because of the crowd. So they made a hole in the roof above the place where Jesus was. They helped the man to go down through the hole. The man was still lying on his small carpet. v5 Jesus saw the man and his friends. And he knew that they believed. So he said to the man, ‘My friend, I *forgive you for the wrong things that you have done.’

v6 But some teachers of God’s rules were sitting there. They thought about the words that Jesus had spoken to the man. v7 ‘This man (Jesus) should not have said that’, they thought. ‘He is speaking as only God can speak. Only God can *forgive people for the wrong things that they have done.’

v8 Immediately, Jesus knew what the teachers were thinking. ‘You should not think these things’, he said to them. v9 ‘I said to this man, “I *forgive you for the wrong things that you have done.” Instead, I might have said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your small carpet and walk.” You know which is easier to say. v10 But I want you to know this. I, the *Son of Man, have authority on earth. I can *forgive people for the wrong things that they have done.’ Then he spoke to the man who could not walk. v11 ‘I am saying to you: Stand up! Pick up your small carpet and go to your home.’ v12 The man stood up. Immediately, he picked up the small carpet. Everyone watched him walk out of the house. This surprised all the people very much. The people said that God had done this powerful thing. They said, ‘We have never seen anything like this before.’

Jesus asks Levi to be his *disciple

v13 Jesus went back to the shore of Lake Galilee. A large crowd came to him, so he taught them. v14 While Jesus was walking along, he saw Levi. Levi was the son of Alphaeus. His job was to take money on behalf of the government. He was sitting in his office. ‘Come with me’, Jesus said to him. Levi stood up and he went with Jesus.

v15 Then Jesus went to eat a meal at Levi’s house. Many people followed Jesus and they ate there with him and with his *disciples. Some of these people also took money on behalf of the government. Some of the people had done many wrong things. v16 Some teachers of God’s rules saw Jesus while he was eating with all those people. They said to his *disciples, ‘Jesus should not eat with men who take money on behalf of the *Roman government. And he should not eat with those other bad people.’

v17 Jesus heard what the teachers of God’s rules said. ‘People who are well do not need a doctor’, he answered them. ‘People who are ill need a doctor. I did not come to help good people. I came to help bad people.’

v18 At this time, the *disciples of John the *Baptist and the *disciples of the *Pharisees were not eating any food. Some people came to Jesus and they asked him this question. ‘The *disciples of John and the *disciples of the *Pharisees are not eating any food. So why are your *disciples eating food?’

v19 Jesus said to them, ‘When a man marries, his friends cannot refuse to eat. They cannot refuse food while he is with them. v20 But there will be a time when people will take him away from them. Then his friends will refuse food.’

v21 Jesus said, ‘Nobody uses a piece of new cloth to mend an old coat. If he does, the new cloth will cause the old cloth to tear again. It will make a bigger hole than before. v22 And nobody pours new *wine into old *wineskins. If he does, the new *wine will tear the old *wineskins. He will lose the *wine and the *wineskins. Instead, you must put new *wine into new *wineskins.’

Jesus answers questions about the day when people should rest

v23 On one *Jewish day for rest, Jesus and his *disciples were walking through the fields where *wheat was growing. His *disciples picked some *wheat seeds. v24 Some *Pharisees said to Jesus, ‘Look at your *disciples! They are doing what they should not do on the day for rest. It is against the rules.’

v25 ‘Remember what David did’, Jesus replied. ‘He and the men with him were very hungry. You have read about this. v26 David went into *God’s Great House. He ate the special bread from there. And he gave it to the men who were with him. This happened during the life of Abiathar, who was the most important *priest. It is against God’s rules for anyone except the *priests to eat this special bread.’

v27 Then Jesus said to the *Pharisees, ‘God wanted to help people. So he made the day when they should rest. He did not make people so that there would be a day to rest. v28 So, the *Son of Man even has authority over the day when people should rest.’

Chapter 3

Jesus makes a man well

v1 Again, Jesus went into the meeting place. A man was there. His hand was very small and weak and he could not use it. v2 Some *Pharisees were watching Jesus carefully. They wanted to find a reason to say that Jesus was doing wrong things. It was the day when people should rest. So the *Pharisees watched to see if Jesus would make the man well on this day. v3 Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand here in front of everyone.’

v4 Then Jesus said to the *Pharisees, ‘What can we do on our day for rest? What do the rules say? Do they say that we should do good things? Or do they say that we should do bad things? Should we save a person’s life? Or should we kill?’

Nobody said anything.

v5 Jesus looked round at everybody. He felt angry with them. He also felt sad because they did not want to change their minds. Then he said to the man, ‘Lift your hand.’ The man lifted it and his hand became well. v6 Then the *Pharisees left the building immediately. They met a group of people who wanted to obey Herod. And they talked with them about how they could kill Jesus.

Crowds follow Jesus

v7 Jesus left that place and he went away to Lake Galilee with his *disciples. A large crowd from Galilee followed them. v8 Many people also came to him from Judea, Jerusalem and a part of Israel called Idumea. They came from places on the other side of the river Jordan. And they came from the towns called Tyre and Sidon. People were telling the news about the things that Jesus was doing. That is why all these people came. v9 The crowd was very large. So Jesus asked his *disciples to prepare a small boat for him. They did this so that the people would not push against him. v10 Sick people pushed to the front, because they were trying to touch him. They knew that he had made many people well. v11 Often, a person with a bad *spirit saw Jesus. Then, the *spirit caused the person to fall down on the ground in front of Jesus. The *spirit caused that person to shout out, ‘You are the Son of God.’ v12 Jesus often had to say to the bad *spirits, ‘You must not tell anyone who I am.’

Jesus chooses 12 *apostles

v13 Jesus went up a mountain. He chose some men and he asked them to go there with him. So they met him there. v14 He chose a group of 12 men who would be his *apostles. He wanted them to be with him. And he would send them to teach people about God. v15 He gave these men authority to cause bad *spirits to leave people. v16 These are the names of the 12 *apostles:

            Simon, whom Jesus called Peter,

v17      James and John who were the sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them ‘Boanerges’. It means ‘men who are like a loud noise in a storm’,

v18      Andrew,

            Philip,

            Bartholomew,

            Matthew,

            Thomas,

            James, who was the son of Alphaeus,

            Thaddaeus,

            Simon the *Zealot

v19      and Judas Iscariot. He delivered Jesus to the people who were against him.

Jesus talks about *Satan

v20 Then Jesus went into a house. And again, a crowd came to the house. There were so many people that Jesus and his *disciples were not even able to eat. v21 People told his *family what was happening. So they went to take him away with them. They thought that Jesus was crazy.

v22 Some teachers of God’s rules came from Jerusalem. ‘Jesus has a bad *spirit called Beelzebul’, they said. ‘*Satan rules all the bad *spirits. So *Satan has given authority to Jesus. That is how Jesus causes the bad *spirits to come out of people.’

v23 So Jesus spoke to the teachers of God’s rules. ‘Come here and listen’, he said to them. He used stories to explain to them. ‘*Satan would not fight against himself! v24 If armies in the same country start to fight each other, then they will destroy their own country. v25 And if the people in one family start to fight against each other, they will destroy their own family. v26 So *Satan would not fight against himself. If he did, he would destroy his own *power. That would be his end. v27 Nobody can easily go into the house of a strong man to rob him. To do that, he must first tie up the strong man. Then he can take away all that man’s valuable things. v28 What I say to you is true. God can *forgive all the wrong things that people do. He can also *forgive people who say bad things about him. v29 But God will never *forgive people who say bad things about the *Holy Spirit. They will always be *guilty.’

v30 Jesus said this to the teachers of God’s rules, because they said, ‘Jesus has a bad *spirit.’

Jesus’ mother and his brothers come to look for him

v31 Then, Jesus’ mother and his brothers arrived and they stood outside the house. They sent someone with a message. They wanted Jesus to come to them. v32 A crowd was sitting round Jesus. They said to him, ‘Look! Your mother and brothers are outside. They are looking for you.’

v33 Jesus answered, ‘I will tell you who my mother and brothers really are.’

v34 Then he looked at the people who were sitting round him in a circle. ‘Look! Here are my mother and brothers! v35 My brothers and sisters and mother are those people who obey God’, said Jesus.

Chapter 4

Jesus tells a story about a farmer’s seeds

v1 Again, Jesus began to teach by Lake Galilee. The crowd that came together was very large. So, he climbed into a boat and he sat down. The boat was in the water, and the people stayed on the shore. v2 Jesus used stories to teach them many things. v3 ‘Listen to me’, said Jesus. ‘A farmer went out to plant seeds. v4 While he was planting the seeds, some seeds fell on the path. The birds came and they ate those seeds. v5 Other seeds fell among the rocks. There was a little *soil in that place. The seeds quickly began to grow, because the *soil was not deep. v6 But when the sun rose, it burned the young plants. They soon died because they had not grown down into the *soil. v7 Other seeds fell among bushes with sharp branches. Those bushes grew up with the young plants. The bushes were stronger than the farmer’s plants. So the plants could not make any new seeds. v8 But some seeds fell on good *soil. Good strong plants grew from these seeds. Some plants made 30 new seeds. Some plants made 60 new seeds. And some plants made 100 new seeds.’

v9 Then Jesus said, ‘You have heard my words. So do what I say.’

Jesus explains to his *disciples why he uses stories

v10 When Jesus was alone, his friends and the 12 *disciples asked him about the story. v11 ‘God has let you understand how he rules his people’, Jesus replied. ‘But the other people listen to stories. v12 This is so that:

            “They are looking and looking. But they do not see.

            They are listening and listening. But they do not understand.”

If they did understand, they would obey God. And if they did obey God, he would *forgive them.’

Jesus explains the story about the seeds

v13 Then Jesus answered the people who had asked him about the story. ‘You should understand this story. If you do not understand it, you will not understand all the other stories. v14 The seeds mean the message from God. The farmer is like a person who teaches people about that message. v15 Some seeds fell on the path. The path is like some people who listen to the message. But then *Satan comes quickly to them. And he takes the message away from their minds. v16 Some of the seeds fell among rocks. This is like some people who listen to the message from God. They are happy to believe it for a time. v17 But they are like plants that have not grown into the *soil. So they will only believe for a short time. They may have problems. Or other people may do bad things to them because of God’s message. The result is that those people stop believing. v18 Some seeds fell among bushes that had sharp branches. This is like some other people who listen to the message from God. v19 But they have many troubles in their minds. They think that more money and other valuable things will make them happy. So they do not let God’s message change them. They are like plants that do not make new seeds. v20 But some seeds fell on good *soil. This *soil is like other people who listen to the message from God. They understand it and they obey God. These people are like good plants. From one seed, the good plants make 30 seeds. Other good plants make 60 new seeds, and some good plants make 100 new seeds.’

People put a light in a high place

v21 Then Jesus said to his *disciples, ‘Nobody brings a *lamp into a house and puts it under a jar or under a bed. You do not do that. You put it in a high place. v22 God hides some things now. But there will be a time when people will see them. God covers some things now because he does not want people to see them yet. But there will be a time when people will see all those things.’ v23 Then Jesus said, ‘You have heard my words. So do what I say.’

v24 ‘You should be careful about how you listen’, said Jesus. ‘God will give to you in the way that you give to other people. And you will receive even more. v25 A person who has some things will receive more. Some people do not have those things. They will lose even the little bit that they do have.’

Jesus tells a story about seeds

v26 Then Jesus said, ‘I will explain how God rules his people. A man throws seeds in his field. v27 Then he sleeps each night and he wakes each day. The seeds start to grow into plants. They continue to grow, but the man does not know how. v28 The *soil causes the plants to grow. The leaves of the plant grow first. Then the flower appears, and then the seeds appear. v29 When the plants have completely grown, the man will cut them down immediately. It is time for him to take the seeds to use for food.’

Jesus tells a story about a very small seed

v30 ‘We should describe how God rules his people’, said Jesus. ‘I will explain it with another story. v31 It is like this. A man takes a seed of the plant called mustard. He puts it in the *soil. It is smaller than any other seed that is in the *soil. v32 But when it starts to grow, it becomes bigger than the largest bush. It will have big branches. And the birds will come from the sky and they will live there. They will build their homes in the shade of the branches.’

v33 Jesus taught God’s message to the people. He used many stories like these. He told the people as much as they could understand. v34 He always used stories to teach the people. Then he explained everything to his own *disciples when he was alone with them.

Jesus stops a storm

v35 On that same day, in the evening, Jesus spoke to his *disciples. ‘We should go across to the other side of the lake’, he said. v36 So they left the crowd. Jesus was already in the boat. So the *disciples took him across the lake. Some other boats also went with them. v37 Then a strong wind began to blow across the lake. Water began to fill the boat so that soon the boat was almost under the water. v38 Jesus was in a comfortable place at the back of the boat. He was asleep. The *disciples woke Jesus, and they said to him, ‘Teacher, it seems not to matter to you if we die!’

v39 Jesus woke and he spoke to the wind and to the water. ‘Be quiet!’ he said. ‘Stop!’ Then the wind stopped and the water became flat again.

v40 ‘You should not be afraid like that’, Jesus said to his *disciples. ‘You should believe.’

v41 Then they were very afraid. ‘We do not know who Jesus really is’, they said to each other. ‘Even the wind and the water obey him.’

Chapter 5

Jesus meets a man who has many bad *spirits inside him

v1 Jesus and his *disciples came to the other side of the lake. They came to a place near Gerasa.

v2-4 Jesus came out of the boat. And immediately a man met him. A bad *spirit was living inside this man. So the man lived in a place where there were many human bones. Nobody could hold him. Often people tried to put metal round his ankles. They wanted to keep him in a safe place. But they all failed. He broke the metal. v5 The man was always either by the bones or on the hills. During each day and each night, he screamed. And he used stones to cut himself.

v6 He saw Jesus a long way away and he ran to meet him. He went down on his knees in front of Jesus. v7 He screamed loudly, ‘Jesus, we have nothing in common. You are the Son of the powerful God above. Please promise God that you will not hurt me.’ v8 He said that because Jesus had already said to the bad *spirit, ‘Come out of this man.’

v9 Then Jesus asked the man, ‘What is your name?’

The man replied, ‘My name is Army because there are so many bad *spirits in me.’

v10 He said to Jesus many times, ‘Please do not send these bad *spirits out of this country.’

v11 A large group of pigs was eating on the hill. v12 ‘Jesus, send us to the pigs. Let us go into them’, said the bad *spirits. v13 Jesus let them. So, the bad *spirits came out of the man and they went into the pigs. All the pigs rushed together down the hill into the lake. About 2000 pigs died in the lake.

v14 The men who were feeding these pigs ran away. They told the people in the town and in the farms. Those people came to see what had happened. v15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man. The man was now sitting quietly. The bad *spirits had gone out of him. He was wearing clothes and his mind was well again. This was the man that the army of bad *spirits had ruled. All the people were afraid. v16 The men who saw these events spoke to them. They told the other people what had happened to the man with the bad *spirits. And they explained about the pigs. v17 Then the people who lived there said to Jesus, ‘Please leave our country.’

v18 Jesus climbed back into the boat. But the man that the bad *spirits had ruled spoke to him. He told Jesus that he very much wanted to be with him. v19 But Jesus did not let him. Instead, Jesus said to him, ‘Go to your home and to your friends. Tell them what the *Lord has done for you. Tell them how he has been kind to you.’ v20 So the man went away. He began to speak to many people in the 10 cities there. He told them about the great things that Jesus had done for him. And all the people were very surprised.

Jesus makes a dead girl alive again

v21 So Jesus returned in the boat. He came to the other side of the lake. A large crowd came to him there. And he was by the lake. v22 A man called Jairus came to Jesus. He was a leader at the meeting place. When he saw Jesus, he went down on his knees. v23 ‘Please, please come to my house and put your hands on my little daughter’, he said to Jesus. ‘She is very ill and she will soon die. But if you do this, she will live.’ v24 So Jesus started to go with Jairus.

A large crowd followed Jesus. And the people were pushing against him. v25 There was a sick woman who had bled for 12 years. v26 She had paid many doctors to help her, but they could not do anything. They had caused her more pain instead. Now she had spent all her money and she had not become any better. Instead, she became worse. v27 People had told her about the things that Jesus did. So, she came in the crowd behind him and she touched his coat. v28 She said, ‘Even if I can only touch his clothes, I will become well again.’ v29 And immediately, the blood stopped. And she knew that she was well again.

v30 Jesus knew immediately that something powerful had gone from him. So he turned round in the crowd and he asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’

v31 ‘You can see that the crowd is pushing against you’, said his *disciples. ‘You cannot ask who touched you!’

v32 But Jesus looked round him. He wanted to see who had touched him. v33 The woman knew what had happened to her. And she felt very afraid. But she came to Jesus. And she went down on her knees. Then she told him everything that had happened to her. v34 ‘Young woman, do not have troubles in your mind’, said Jesus. ‘You are well again because you believed. Go now and be well.’

v35 While Jesus was still speaking, some men arrived from Jairus’s house. (Jairus was a leader at the meeting place.) ‘Your daughter is dead’, they said to Jairus. ‘Do not ask any longer for the teacher to come.’

v36 Jesus heard what the men said to Jairus. So Jesus said to him, ‘Do not be afraid. Instead, believe.’

v37 Jesus took only Peter, James and John (James’s brother) with him. He would not let anyone else go with him. v38 Then they came to Jairus’s house. And Jesus saw that there were many people there. They were all crying. They were making a loud noise. v39 Jesus went into the house and he said to the people, ‘You should not be crying and making a loud noise. The child is not dead. She is asleep.’ v40 The people *laughed at him.

Then Jesus sent them all out. He went into the place where the child was lying. The child’s father and mother were with him. He also took Peter, James and John with him. v41 Then Jesus held the little girl’s hand. ‘Talitha koum’, he said to her. This means, ‘Little girl, I ask you to stand up.’ v42 The little girl stood up immediately and she walked about. She was 12 years old. They were very surprised. v43 ‘You must not tell anyone what has happened here’, Jesus said to them. ‘Now give the little girl something to eat.’

Chapter 6

Jesus goes to his own town

v1 Jesus left there. He came to his own town. His *disciples followed him.

v2 When it was the *Jewish day for rest, Jesus went to the meeting place. He began to teach the many people who were there. They were very surprised about the things that he was saying to them. ‘We do not know how this man learned these things’, they said to each other. ‘We do not know how he knows so much. And we do not know how he does all these powerful things. v3 We know who this man is. He is the *carpenter. He is the son of Mary. He is the brother of James, Joses, Simon and Judas. His sisters live here in the town among us.’ This was the problem that they had with him.

v4 ‘People everywhere may speak well about a servant of God. But the people in that man’s own town will not do that’, Jesus said to them. ‘His own people and his own *family will not speak well about him.’

v5 Jesus could not do any powerful thing in that town. But he did put his hands on a few sick people and he made them well. v6 Jesus was very surprised because the people in that town would not believe.

Then he travelled through the villages that were round there in a circle. He was teaching the people in the villages.

Jesus sends the 12 *disciples to tell God’s message to people

v7 Jesus asked his 12 *disciples to come to him. He started to send pairs of them to tell God’s message to people. And he gave them authority over bad *spirits.

v8 Jesus told the *disciples that they must not take anything for the journey, except only a stick. They must not take bread, a bag or money in their pockets. v9 They should wear shoes. But they should not take extra clothes.

v10 Jesus said to them, ‘In each town, stay at the first house that you go into. Continue to stay there until you leave that town. v11 Perhaps you might go to a town where the people do not accept you. They will not listen to you. So you should leave that town. Clean that town’s dirt off your feet. So then it will be clear that they have done something wrong.’

v12 So they went out. They told the people that they must change their minds. v13 They caused many bad *spirits to come out of people. They also put oil on many sick people; and the sick people became well.

Herod kills John the *Baptist

v14 People told King Herod about these things. People were talking about Jesus. Some people were saying that Jesus was John the *Baptist. They also said that John had become alive again. ‘That is why Jesus does these very powerful things’, they said.

v15 Other people said, ‘Jesus is Elijah.’ And other people said, ‘He is a servant of God. He is like God’s servants who lived a long time ago.’

v16 But when someone told Herod, he said, ‘This is John. I sent a soldier to cut off his head. But John has become alive again!’

v17 Herod himself had sent his soldiers to take hold of John. He had said to his soldiers, ‘Tie *ropes round John’s hands and feet and put him in a prison.’ Herod had done that because of Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. But Herod had married her. v18 John had said to him, ‘Herodias is your brother’s wife. It is against the rules for you to have her as your wife.’

v19 Herodias was very much against John. So she wanted to kill him. But she could not do that. v20 That was because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a good man. And Herod knew that John was a servant of God. So Herod kept John safe. Herod liked to listen to what John said. But he did not know what to do about the things that John said.

v21 Then, on one day, Herodias had her chance. It was Herod’s birthday and he asked many people to come to a special meal. Important men and officers came. And the rulers from Galilee were also there. v22 The daughter of Herodias came in and she danced. Herod and his visitors were very happy when they saw her dance.

‘Ask me for anything that you want’, the king said to the young woman. ‘I will give it to you.’ v23 And he promised: ‘What I say is completely true. I will give you anything that you ask me to give to you. I will even give you half of all that I rule over.’

v24 The young woman went out and she said to her mother, ‘What should I ask him for?’ ‘Ask for the head of John the *Baptist’, her mother replied.

v25 The young woman returned quickly and she spoke immediately to Herod. ‘I want the head of John the *Baptist. Put it on a plate! Do it now!’

v26 Then Herod felt very sad. But he did not want to disappoint her, because of his promise. All his visitors had heard it. v27 So, immediately, the king sent a soldier. The king told the soldier that he must bring John’s head. So, the soldier went to the prison and he cut off John’s head there. v28 Then he brought it back on a plate. He gave it to the young woman. And the young woman gave it to her mother. v29 People told John’s *disciples about it. So, they went to the prison and they took away John’s dead body. And then they buried it.

Jesus gives food to 5000 men and to their families

v30 The *apostles all came to Jesus. They told him about all the things that they had done. And they told him what they had taught. v31 Many people were coming and going. Jesus and the *disciples were too busy even to eat. So Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me to a place where there are no other people. We should be alone together. Then we can rest for a short time.’

v32 So they left the crowd. They went away in a boat together. They went into the *wilderness. v33 But many people saw that they were leaving the town. Those people recognised them. So they ran out from all the towns. And they reached the place before Jesus and the *disciples arrived. v34 Jesus climbed out of the boat and he saw a large crowd. Jesus felt sorry for them. He thought to himself, ‘They are like sheep that have nobody to lead them.’ So, he began to teach them many things.

v35 When it was almost evening, Jesus’ *disciples came to speak to him. ‘We are here in a place in the *wilderness’, they said. ‘Soon it will be dark. v36 The people do not have anything to eat. So, send the crowd away now. Ask them to go to the farms and villages that are near here. There they can buy some food for themselves.’

v37 ‘Give them some food to eat. You should do it’, Jesus replied.

So the *disciples said, ‘We cannot go to buy bread for the people. A man must work for 8 months to get the 200 coins that we would need. We cannot give food to these people.’

v38 Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.’ When they had looked, they spoke to Jesus again. ‘We have 5 loaves and 2 fishes’, they said.

v39 Jesus asked all the people to sit on the green grass. He wanted them to sit in large groups. v40 So the people sat down in groups. Each group had 50 or 100 people in it. v41 Then Jesus took the 5 loaves and the 2 fishes. He looked up to God’s home, called heaven. And he thanked God for the food. Then he broke the bread into pieces. He gave the pieces of bread to the *disciples. And they gave the bread to the people. Jesus also broke the two fishes into pieces for all the people. v42 Everyone ate and they all had enough food. v43 Jesus’ *disciples then picked up all the food that the people had not eaten. And they filled 12 baskets with pieces of bread and fish. v44 About 5000 men ate the loaves.

Jesus walks on water

v45 Immediately, Jesus told his *disciples that they must get into the boat. They should go to Bethsaida, which is on the other side of the lake. Jesus would go there after some time. But first, he would send the crowd away. v46 So he said ‘Goodbye’ to the crowd. Then he went up a mountain to pray.

v47 That evening, the boat was in the middle of the lake. Jesus was alone on the land. v48 But he could see his *disciples. They were trying to cause the boat to move along. But it was very difficult for them because the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. Then, when it was very early in the morning, Jesus came towards them. He was walking on the water. He wanted to pass them. v49 But they saw that he was walking on the water. ‘It is a *spirit’, they thought. And they screamed out. v50 They all saw him and they were afraid. But immediately, Jesus spoke with them. ‘Be brave. It is I, Jesus. Do not be afraid’, he said to them. v51 Then Jesus climbed into the boat with them. The strong wind stopped. They were completely surprised about what had happened. v52 They did not understand what had happened to the loaves. And they were not ready to learn.

Jesus makes many sick people well

v53 They crossed the lake. They reached the shore at Gennesaret and they tied the boat there. v54 When they came out of the boat, the people recognised Jesus immediately. v55 They went to tell everyone who lived anywhere near there. They began to bring ill people to Jesus. They carried those ill people to him on small carpets. They brought those people to any place where he was. v56 Jesus went into villages, towns and fields. Everywhere that he went, they brought sick people into their market places to him. The sick people asked Jesus for help. They wanted to touch even the edge of his coat. And every sick person who touched him became well.

Chapter 7

Jesus speaks to *Pharisees and to some teachers of God’s rules

v1 A group of *Pharisees and some teachers of God’s rules came from Jerusalem. They came to talk with Jesus. v2 They had watched Jesus’ *disciples. Some of the *disciples did not wash their hands before a meal. Instead, they were eating their food as other people eat. v3 (The *Pharisees and all the *Jews do not eat until they have washed their hands carefully. They do this because of a rule that their leaders made many years ago. v4 When they come from the market place, they must always wash. Unless they do this, they cannot eat. Their leaders had also given them rules about how to do other things. For example, there are rules about how they should wash cups, pots and metal jars.)

v5 The *Pharisees and the teachers of God’s rules said to Jesus, ‘Your *disciples do not obey the rules that our leaders made many years ago. Your *disciples have not washed their hands. They are eating their food as other people eat.’

v6 Jesus said to the *Pharisees and to the teachers of God’s rules, ‘What Isaiah said about you is true. You are *hypocrites. He wrote down these words from God.

            “These people say good things about me,

            but they do not really want to obey me.

v7        They teach rules that men gave to them.

            So they pray to me without any purpose.” ’

v8 ‘You have stopped obeying God’, Jesus said to them. ‘Instead you obey the rules that men gave to people many years ago.’

v9 He said to them, ‘You are very careful to refuse God’s rules, because then you can obey your own old rules! v10 For example, Moses wrote, “You must love your father and your mother and you must obey them.” He also said, “A person should die if he says bad things against his father or against his mother.” v11 But you teach that a person can say to his father or to his mother, “I would have given these gifts to you. But I cannot because I have given them to God instead.” v12 Then, you let him do nothing for his father or for his mother. v13 So you have obeyed the rules that you received from your leaders many years ago. And you do not do what God wants. And you do many other things like that.’

v14 Again, Jesus asked all the people to come near to him. ‘Listen to me’, he said, ‘so that you can understand these things. v15 God’s people are different from other people. But they are not different because of things from outside that go into their bodies. It is because of the things that come from their minds. v16 You have heard my words. So do what I say.’

Jesus explains to his *disciples what he had taught

v17 Jesus left the crowd and he went into a house. Then his *disciples asked Jesus to explain what he had taught.

v18 ‘I am surprised that you too are not able to understand’, said Jesus. ‘It should be clear that God’s people are not different from other people because of their food. Food goes into a person’s body from outside. v19 You know that food does not go into the mind of a person. First, it goes into his stomach and then it goes out of his body. So all foods are clean.’

v20 And Jesus said, ‘God’s people are different from other people because of things that come from them. v21 So, bad thoughts come from a man’s mind. And then that man does wrong things. He might have sex when he should not do it. He might rob somebody. He might kill somebody. He might have sex with another man’s wife. v22 He might want other people’s things. He might be cruel to other people. He might want other people to believe things that are not true. He wants whatever things he can get. He thinks whatever thoughts he wants to think about people. He speaks whatever wrong words he wants to say. He thinks that he is very important. He thinks very silly things.

v23 All these wrong things begin inside people’s minds. They come out of those people. But God’s people must be different from those people.’

Jesus travels out of Israel

v24 After that, Jesus went away. He was near the city called Tyre. He went into a house. He did not want anyone to know that he was there. But it was not possible to keep this a secret. v25 Immediately, someone told a certain woman about Jesus. This woman had a daughter who had a bad *spirit. The woman came and she went down on her knees by Jesus’ feet. v26 She was not a *Jew; her *family was from Syrophoenicia. She asked Jesus to cause the bad *spirit to go out of her daughter.

v27 Jesus said to the woman, ‘First, the children must eat all that they want. It is not right to take bread from the children. You should not throw the children’s food to the dogs.’

v28 The woman replied. She said to him, ‘Yes sir. But small pieces of bread drop while the children eat. And the dogs under the table eat those pieces.’

v29 ‘Because you have said that, you can go to your home’, Jesus replied. ‘Now the bad *spirit has left your daughter.’

v30 The woman went to her home. She found the child, who was lying on the bed. The bad *spirit had left the child.

v31 Then Jesus went away from Tyre. He travelled through the city called Sidon. He went towards Lake Galilee. He was in the middle of the 10 cities there.

v32 Some people brought a man to Jesus. This man could not hear and he could not speak clearly. The people asked Jesus to put his hand on the man.

v33 Jesus led the man away from the crowd. Then he put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then Jesus took water from his own mouth and he touched the man’s *tongue with it. v34 Jesus looked up towards the sky. He made a low, sad sound. Then he said to the man, ‘Ephphatha!’ That means, ‘Become open!’ v35 Then the man started to hear. And immediately, the man’s *tongue was able to move. And the man spoke clearly.

v36 Jesus told the people that they must not tell anyone about this. But when Jesus asked them not to say anything, they spoke even more about it. v37 The people were very surprised about everything that Jesus did. ‘Jesus has done everything well’, they said. ‘If people cannot hear, Jesus makes them able to hear. If people cannot speak, Jesus makes them able to speak.’

Chapter 8

Jesus gives food to 4000 people

v1 At that time, another large crowd had come to hear Jesus. The people had nothing to eat. Jesus asked his *disciples to come to him. Then he spoke to them. v2 ‘I feel sorry for this crowd. They have been with me now for three days and they do not have any food. v3 I do not want to send them back to their homes while they are hungry. They may fall down during their journey because of weakness. Some of them have travelled a long way.’

v4 The *disciples replied, ‘We are in the *wilderness. We cannot get enough bread to feed these people.’

v5 ‘How many loaves of bread do you have?’ Jesus asked. ‘We have 7 loaves’, they replied.

v6 Jesus told the crowd that they should sit on the ground. Then he took the 7 loaves. He thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread and he gave the pieces to his *disciples. The *disciples gave the bread to the people. v7 The *disciples also had a few small fishes, so Jesus thanked God for these. Then he told his *disciples that they should give the fishes to the people too. v8 The people ate, and they all had enough food. After the people had eaten, there were still some pieces of bread and fish. Jesus’ *disciples filled 7 baskets with these pieces. v9 There were about 4000 people. And Jesus sent the people away. v10 Immediately, he got into the boat with his *disciples. Then they all returned to the part of the country called Dalmanutha.

v11 Some *Pharisees came. They began to argue with Jesus. They wanted him to do something powerful. They wanted him to show them that God had sent him. v12 Jesus felt very sad. ‘People today ask to see something powerful’, he said. ‘What I say is true. These people will not see the powerful thing that they want.’ v13 Then Jesus left the *Pharisees again. He got back into the boat to go to the other side of the lake.

Jesus talks about the *yeast of the *Pharisees and the *yeast of Herod

v14 Jesus’ *disciples had forgotten to bring bread with them. They only had one loaf in the boat. v15 ‘Be careful’, Jesus said to them. ‘You must watch for the *yeast of the *Pharisees and the *yeast of Herod.’

v16 The *disciples began to talk to each other about this. ‘Jesus is saying this because we do not have any bread’, they said.

v17 Jesus knew about this. So he said to them, ‘You should not be talking about the fact that you do not have any bread. You still do not recognise or understand. You seem unable to learn. v18 You are like people who cannot see with their eyes. You are like people who cannot hear with their ears. Remember this! v19 I broke 5 loaves for 5000 men. How many baskets did you fill with pieces of bread?’

‘There were 12 baskets’, they replied.

v20 ‘And then I broke 7 loaves for 4000 people. How many baskets did you fill with pieces of bread?’ Jesus asked.

‘There were 7 baskets’, they replied.

v21 ‘You should understand now’, he said to them.

Jesus makes a *blind man able to see

v22 Jesus and his *disciples came to a village called Bethsaida. Some people led a *blind man to Jesus. They asked Jesus to touch the man. v23 Jesus took the *blind man’s hand and he led the man out of the village. Jesus put water from his own mouth on the man’s eyes. And Jesus put his hands on the man. ‘Can you see anything?’ Jesus asked.

v24 The man looked up. ‘I can see people’, he replied. ‘But they seem like trees that are walking about.’

v25 So Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes again. The man looked carefully and then his eyes were well. Now he could see everything clearly. v26 Jesus told the man that he must go back to his house. Jesus said, ‘Do not even go into the village.’

Peter says who Jesus is

v27 Then Jesus and his *disciples went to visit some villages. They were near to the town called Caesarea that Philip built. On the way, Jesus asked his *disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’

v28 ‘Some people say that you are John the *Baptist’, they replied. ‘Other people say that you are Elijah. And some other people say that you are one of God’s servants.’

v29 ‘But what do you think?’ Jesus asked them. ‘Who do you say that I am?’

‘You are the *Messiah’, Peter answered him.

v30 Then Jesus spoke with authority to his *disciples. He said that they must not tell anybody about him.

Jesus tells his *disciples how he would die

v31 Then Jesus began to teach his *disciples about the things that must happen to the *Son of Man. People would cause many troubles for him. Important people would be against him. They would include the important *priests, the leaders and the teachers of God’s rules. People would kill him. But after three days, he would become alive again.

v32 What Jesus said was very clear. Then Peter took Jesus away from the other *disciples. And Peter began to tell Jesus that he must not say those things.

v33 But Jesus turned round and he saw his *disciples. And he said that Peter was wrong. ‘*Satan, go away from me!’ Jesus said to Peter. ‘Your thoughts do not come from God. Instead, you are thinking like men think.’

v34 Then Jesus asked the crowd and his *disciples to come to him. He said to them, ‘A person who wants to be my *disciple must not think about himself. And he must not think about what he wants to do. He must decide that his own life is not important. And he must be like someone who carries his own *cross. Then he should become my *disciple. v35 The person who wants to save his *life will die. But another person may die because of me and because of God’s good news. Even if that person dies, he will save his *life. v36 Think about a person who gets the whole world and everything in it. If he loses his *life, he has not received anything. v37 A man can receive nothing that is better than his *life. And all the money in the world cannot keep someone alive. v38 People today do not obey God. They are very bad. But you must not be ashamed of me or of my words. If you are, the *Son of Man will be ashamed of you. He will be ashamed when he returns. On that day, the *Son of Man will shine because his Father is so beautiful. And God’s *holy *angels will be with him.’

Chapter 9

Three *disciples see how great Jesus is

v1 And Jesus said to them, ‘What I am saying is true. Soon God will begin to rule his people with great *power. And some of the people who are standing here will see it. They will certainly not die before this happens.’

v2 Six days after that, Jesus asked Peter, James and John to go with him. Jesus led them up a high mountain, where they were alone together. And they saw Jesus as they had never seen him before. v3 His clothes became very white; they were shining. They were a brighter white than anyone on earth could wash them. v4 Then the three *disciples saw Elijah with Moses, who appeared to them. Elijah and Moses were talking with Jesus.

v5 So Peter said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, it is good that we are here. Please let us build three huts. One hut will be for you. One hut will be for Moses. And one hut will be for Elijah.’ v6 Peter did not really know what to say. That was because the three *disciples had become very afraid.

v7 Then a cloud came. It covered them all. A voice spoke from the cloud. That voice said, ‘This is my son, and I love him. Listen to him.’

v8 At that moment, the three *disciples looked round. They saw that nobody else was there still. Only Jesus was with them.

v9 While they were walking down the mountain again, Jesus said to the three *disciples, ‘You must not tell anyone about the things that you saw. Tell people only after the *Son of Man has become alive after his death.’ v10 These *disciples kept these words secret. But they talked together about the words, ‘alive after his death’. They wanted to understand those words.

v11 Then the three *disciples asked Jesus, ‘Why do the teachers of God’s rules say that Elijah must come first?’

v12 Jesus said to them, ‘Elijah does come first. He makes everything ready. But the Bible says that people will cause many troubles for the *Son of Man. People will do the worst things to him. v13 But I tell you that Elijah has already come. People did to him whatever things they wanted to do. The Bible says that those things would happen to him.’

Jesus helps a boy who has a bad *spirit

v14 They reached the place where the other *disciples were. They saw that there was a large crowd round the *disciples. Some teachers of God’s rules were arguing with them. v15 The people in the crowd saw Jesus. And immediately they were very surprised. They ran to say ‘hello’ to Jesus.

v16 Jesus asked his *disciples, ‘What were you arguing about with the teachers of God’s rules?’

v17 A man in the crowd answered. He said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is not able to speak because he has a bad *spirit. v18 When the bad *spirit takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. Water comes out of his mouth and he bites his teeth together. Then his body seems dead. I asked your *disciples to send the *spirit out of him. But they were not able to do it.’

v19 ‘You people today still do not believe’, Jesus said to them. ‘It is very difficult to be with you. I am always waiting for you to believe. Bring the boy to me.’

v20 So the people brought the boy to Jesus. When the *spirit saw Jesus, it immediately caused the boy to fall badly. The boy fell on to the ground and he rolled about. Water was coming from his mouth.

v21 ‘How long has he been like this?’ Jesus asked the boy’s father.

‘He has been like this since he was a small boy’, the father replied. v22 ‘Often the *spirit has caused him to fall into fire or into water. It is trying to kill him. But if you can do anything, be sorry for us. And help us!’

v23 ‘You should not say, “If you can do anything” ’, Jesus said to the father. ‘Everything is possible for those people who believe.’

v24 Immediately, the boy’s father shouted, ‘Oh! I believe! Help me to believe more!’

v25 Jesus saw that a crowd was running together again. So he told the bad *spirit that it must leave the boy. Jesus said to it, ‘*Spirit, I am telling you that you must leave this boy. He cannot hear or speak because of you. But you must come out of him and you must never go into him again.’

v26 The *spirit caused the boy to scream. It caused him to fall several times. Then it came out of him. The boy seemed to be dead. So, many people said, ‘He is dead.’ v27 But Jesus held the boy’s hand and he helped the boy to stand up. So the boy stood up.

v28 When Jesus went into a house, the *disciples were alone with him. Then they asked him, ‘Why could we not cause the bad *spirit to leave the boy?’

v29 ‘You must pray. No other thing can cause this kind of *spirit to go out of a person’, said Jesus.

v30 Jesus and his *disciples left that place. They passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where he was. v31 That was because he was teaching his *disciples. He told them, ‘Soon, someone will deliver the *Son of Man to a group of men who will take him away. And they will kill him. And three days after that, he will become alive again.’ v32 The *disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. And they were afraid to ask him.

Jesus explains who will be the most important person

v33 Jesus and his *disciples arrived at Capernaum. When they were in the house, Jesus asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ v34 But they did not say anything. They did not want to tell Jesus why they were arguing. On the way, they had argued about who was the most important *disciple.

v35 Jesus sat down. He asked the 12 *disciples to come. Then he said to them, ‘If you want to be the leader, make yourself less important than everyone else. Become the servant of everyone.’

v36 Then he took a child. He put that child in the middle of the *disciples. While Jesus hugged the child, he said to them, v37 ‘If someone accepts this child because of me, then he accepts me. If he accepts me, then he is not only accepting me. He is also accepting God, who sent me.’

v38 ‘Teacher’, John said to Jesus, ‘we saw a man who is not in our group. He was causing bad *spirits to go out of people. And he was using your authority to do it. He is not in our group. So we told him that he must not do it.’

v39 ‘Do not tell him that’, Jesus said. ‘That man is using my authority to do something powerful. Someone who does that cannot soon say anything bad about me. v40 If someone is not against us, he is helping us. v41 Somebody may give you a cup of water because you are a servant of the *Messiah. God will be good to that person; he will not disappoint that person. What I am saying is true.

v42 A person who believes may not seem important. But you should never cause that person to do wrong things. It would be better if someone put a big stone round your neck. It would be better if someone then threw you into the sea!

v43-44 If your hand causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off. A person with only one hand can go to the place where God rules. That is better than to go to the place called *hell. There, the fire always burns. v45-46 If your foot causes you to do wrong things, you should cut it off. A person with only one foot can go to the place where God rules. That is better than to go to the place called *hell. v47 If your eye causes you to do wrong things, then you should take it out. A person with only one eye can go to the place where God rules. That is better than to go to the place called *hell.

v48      “In *hell, the *worms do not die,

            and the fire never goes out.” ’

v49 ‘God will put fire on everybody as people put salt on food.’

v50 ‘Salt is good. But it must be salty. If your salt is not salty, you cannot make it salty. Be like good salt and love each other. Do not cause trouble among yourselves.’

Chapter 10

Jesus teaches about men who send their wives away

v1 Then Jesus left that place and he went to Judea. And he went to the east of the river Jordan. Large crowds came to him again. So he taught them as he had done before.

v2 Some *Pharisees came to Jesus. They wanted to see how Jesus would answer their question. They asked, ‘Can a man send his wife away, so that she is no longer his wife?’

v3 Jesus answered them with a question. ‘What rules did Moses write about this for you?’

v4 The *Pharisees said, ‘Moses said that a man could write a letter for his wife. The letter shows that the man and the woman are now separate. Then the man can send the woman away.’

v5 ‘You did not want to obey God. That is why Moses made this rule for you’, Jesus said to them. v6 ‘But at the start of the world, God made people male and female. v7 This is the reason that a man leaves his father and his mother. Then God joins him and his wife together. v8 Then the man and his wife become as one person. They are not separate; they are together as one person. v9 God has put them together to be husband and wife. So nobody should make them separate.’

v10 When Jesus went into the house, the *disciples asked him about these things again. v11 So Jesus said to them, ‘A man must not send his wife away and marry another woman. That is against God’s rules. The man must not have sex with that other woman. v12 And a woman must not leave her husband and marry another man. That is also against God’s rules. The woman must not have sex with the other man.’

Jesus prays for some children

v13 People were bringing children to Jesus. They wanted him to put his hand on each child’s head while he prayed for that child. The *disciples told the people that they should not bring their children. v14 But when Jesus saw this, he was angry. ‘Do not stop the children’, Jesus said to them. ‘Let them come to me. People must be like these children so that God can rule their lives. v15 What I say is true. A person must be like a child when that person asks God to rule his life. If he does not become like a child, God will not rule his life.’ v16 And Jesus hugged the children. Then he put his hands on each of them and he prayed for them.

Jesus meets a rich man

v17 While Jesus went on his way, a man ran to meet him. He went down on his knees in front of Jesus. ‘Good Teacher’, he said to Jesus, ‘what must I do so that I can live always?’

v18 ‘I would like to know why you are calling me good’, Jesus said to him. ‘Only God is good. v19 And you know God’s rules.

            “Do not kill anyone.

            Do not have sex with a woman who is not your wife.

            Do not rob anyone.

            Do not say things that are not true.

            Do not take things that are not yours.

            Love and obey your father and your mother.” ’

v20 ‘Teacher’, the man replied, ‘I have done all these things since I was a young boy.’

v21 Jesus looked at the man and Jesus loved him. ‘There is still something else that you must do’, Jesus said to him. ‘Go. You must sell everything that you have. Give the money to poor people. Then you will have valuable things in God’s home called heaven. And come to me. Be my *disciple.’

v22 When the man heard that, he was sad. Because he was a very rich man, he went away sadly.

v23 Jesus looked round and he said to his *disciples, ‘It is very difficult for rich people to let God rule their lives.’

v24 They were very surprised about Jesus’ words. Then Jesus spoke again to them. ‘Young people, it is very difficult for anyone to let God rule his life or her life. v25 The hole in a *needle is very small. The big animal called the camel cannot go through it. But it is even more difficult than that for a rich person to let God rule his life or her life.’

v26 When his *disciples heard Jesus, they were even more surprised. And they said to each other, ‘So perhaps God will not save anyone!’

v27 Jesus looked at them and he replied, ‘It is impossible for people to do this. But God can do it. God can do everything.’

v28 ‘Look!’ Peter said to Jesus. ‘We left everything to become your *disciples.’

v29 Jesus said, ‘What I say is true. Some people have left their house. Or they have left their brothers or sisters. Or they have left their mother or their father. Or they have left their children or their fields. They have done that because of me. And they have done it because of God’s good news. v30 But God will give those people many things instead. He will give them 100 things now, in this world, for each thing that they have left. They will receive houses and brothers and sisters. They will receive mothers and children and fields. But in this world, people will be against them. In the future world, they will live always. v31 But many people who are very important now will not be important then. And people who are not important now will be very important then.’

Jesus talks again about his death

v32 Jesus and his *disciples were walking along the road towards Jerusalem. Jesus was walking in front of them all, and the *disciples were very surprised. The people who were following behind them were afraid. Jesus asked his 12 *disciples to come close to him again. And he began to tell them what would happen to him soon. v33 ‘Look!’ he said to them. ‘We are going to Jerusalem. There, someone will deliver the *Son of Man to the important *priests and to the teachers of God’s rules. These men will decide that he must die. Then they will deliver him to people who are not *Jews. v34 They will *laugh at him. They will *spit on him. They will hit him with sticks. Then they will kill him. After three days, he will become alive again.’

James and John ask Jesus to do something for them

v35 James and John, who were Zebedee’s sons, came to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘we want to ask for something. Please do it for us.’

v36 ‘What do you want me to do?’ Jesus asked them.

v37 They said to him, ‘When you are king, we want to sit on your right side and on your left side.’

v38 ‘You do not understand what you are asking for’, he said to them. ‘People will cause troubles for me that are like a cup of very bad *wine. Can you drink it too? They will be as bad as deep water that will cover me up to and over my head. Can you go to that place too?’

v39 ‘Yes, we can do all that’, said James and John. Jesus said to them, ‘Your troubles will be like mine. They will be like a cup of bad *wine that you must drink. They will be as bad as water that will cover you up to and over your head. v40 But I cannot give you the seats on my right side or on my left side. God has chosen who will sit there. He has prepared those seats for them.’

v41 When the other 10 *disciples knew about this, they were angry with James and John. v42 But Jesus asked the *disciples to come. Jesus said, ‘You know the things that rulers do. They think that they rule over countries. So they do the things that masters do. And important people use their authority over people. v43 But you should not be like that. The person who wants to be great among you must be your servant. v44 Anyone who wants to be the most important person must work for you all. v45 Even the *Son of Man came to earth to be a servant. He did not come here to have servants who must work for him. He came to die so that many people can be free.’

Jesus causes a *blind man to see

v46 Then Jesus and his *disciples arrived in Jericho. When they were leaving the city again, a large crowd followed them. A *blind man called Bartimaeus was sitting by the side of the road. He was asking people to give him money. He was the son of Timaeus.

v47 Somebody told Bartimaeus that Jesus from Nazareth was walking past him. So he began to shout. He said, ‘Jesus, you are the Son of David. Please be kind to me!’

v48 Many people told Bartimaeus that he should be quiet. But he shouted even louder than before, ‘Jesus, Son of David, please be kind to me!’

v49 Jesus stopped walking and he said to the people, ‘Ask the man to come here.’ So the people said to the *blind man, ‘Be brave. Stand up. Jesus is asking you to go to him.’ v50 So Bartimaeus threw away his coat. He jumped up and he came to Jesus.

v51 Because of this, Jesus said to Bartimaeus, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

The *blind man said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, I want to see.’

v52 ‘Go’, Jesus said to him. ‘You are well because you believed.’ Immediately, Bartimaeus could see and he followed Jesus along the road.

Chapter 11

Jesus rides into Jerusalem city

v1 Jesus and his *disciples were coming near to Jerusalem. They were almost at the villages called Bethphage and Bethany. They were on the hill called the *Mount of *Olives. Then Jesus sent two of his *disciples.

v2 ‘Go to the village that is in front of you’, Jesus said to the two *disciples. ‘When you arrive at the village, you will immediately find a young *donkey. Someone has tied it there. Nobody has ever yet ridden on it. Undo the *rope and bring the *donkey here. v3 Someone may ask you, “Why are you doing this?” Say to him, “The Master needs the *donkey. He will send it back here soon.” ’

v4 So the two *disciples went. They found the young *donkey in the street. Someone had tied it outside, by a door. So the *disciples undid the *rope. v5 Some people were standing there. They said to the two *disciples, ‘What are you doing? Why are you undoing the *donkey’s *rope?’ v6 The *disciples answered them. They repeated what Jesus had asked them to say. The people then let them take the *donkey away. v7 The two *disciples brought the young *donkey to Jesus. They put their coats on the back of the animal. Then Jesus sat on it. v8 Many people put their coats down on the road. Other people put down branches. They had cut those branches from the trees.

v9 Many people went in front of Jesus, and other people followed him. All of them were shouting,

            ‘We ask you to save us!

            Great is the king who comes on behalf of the *Lord!

v10      Great will be the future government of our great King David!

            We ask you to save us powerfully!’

v11 Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. He went to *God’s Great House and he looked at everything there. It was late in the day, so he went out of the city to Bethany. And the 12 *disciples went with him.

A tree without fruit

v12 On the next day, they returned from Bethany. And Jesus was hungry. v13 He saw a *fig tree, which was a long way away. There were leaves on it. So he went to see if it had fruit on it. When he reached it, he found nothing except leaves. That was because it was not the right season for fruit. v14 So Jesus said to the tree, ‘Nobody will ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his *disciples heard this.

Jesus goes to *God’s Great House

v15 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus went to *God’s Great House. People were buying and selling things there. He caused them all to leave. Some people were supplying money there. He pushed over their tables. And he pushed over the seats of the men who sold birds.

v16 Jesus would not let anyone carry things through there. v17 While he was teaching the people, Jesus said, ‘The Bible says:

            “My house will be a place where people from all countries pray.

            But you have made it a place where robbers hide.” ’

v18 The important *priests and the teachers of God’s rules heard this. And they thought about how they could kill him. They were afraid of him. That was because all the crowd were listening to him. And the things that he taught caused the crowd to be very surprised.

v19 When it was evening, Jesus and his *disciples went out of the city.

The *fig tree is dead

v20 The next morning, Jesus and his *disciples passed the *fig tree. They saw that it was completely dead. v21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said. So he said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, look at that *fig tree. You said that it should die. And it has died.’

v22 So Jesus said to them, ‘You must believe God. v23 What I say is true. A person could say to this mountain, “Move and throw yourself into the sea.” He must not let other ideas come into his mind. He must believe that those things will happen. If he does believe it, those things will happen. v24 So I tell you this. When you pray to ask God for anything, believe. Believe that you have received that thing. If you do, you will have it. v25-26 When you stand to pray, *forgive other people. If you have anything against anyone, forgive that person. If you do forgive them, your Father God, in his home called heaven, will forgive you. He will forgive you for the bad things that you have done.’

Jesus talks about his authority

v27 Jesus and his *disciples arrived again in Jerusalem. Jesus was walking about at *God’s Great House. The important *priests, the teachers of God’s rules and the important *Jews came to Jesus. v28 ‘What authority do you have to do these things?’ they asked him. ‘Who gave you the authority to do these things?’

v29 ‘I will ask you one question’, Jesus replied. ‘You should answer me. If you do that, I will answer you. And I will tell you what authority I have to do these things. v30 John *baptised people. Was his authority from God, or was it from men? Tell me the answer.’

v31 Then the *Jewish leaders talked with each other. They said, ‘We could say that God gave John his authority. But, if we say that, Jesus will say to us, “You should have believed him.” v32 We do not want to say that men gave John his authority.’ They did not want to say it because they were afraid of the crowd. All the people believed that John really was a special servant of God.

v33 So the *Jewish leaders answered Jesus and they said, ‘We do not know who gave John his authority.’

And Jesus said to them, ‘You will not tell me. So I will not tell you what authority I have to do these things.’

Chapter 12

Jesus tells a story about a garden

v1 Then Jesus began to speak to the important *Jews again. He told them stories. He said, ‘There was a man who made a garden. He planted *vines there and he planted strong bushes round them. He prepared a place where he could make the *grapes into *wine. He also made a tall building. Then the man found some men who would work for him. And he went away to another country.

v2 When it was time to cut the *grapes, the man sent a servant to the workers. The man wanted the workers to give him some fruit from the garden. v3 But the workers took the servant and they hit him with sticks. They sent him away with nothing. v4 So the man sent another servant to the workers. They hit this servant on the head. And they did other bad things to him. v5 The man then sent another servant, but the farmers killed this servant. He sent many other servants. The workers hit some servants with sticks. And the workers killed some servants.

v6 The man had only one person that he could still send. This was his own son, and the man loved him very much. So, last of all, he sent his son to the workers. That was because he said, “The workers know that my son is important.”

v7 But those workers said to each other, “This son will receive the garden from his father. We should kill the son and then the garden will be ours.” v8 The workers took the son and they killed him. Then they threw his dead body out of the garden.’

v9 ‘I will tell you what the master of the garden will do’, said Jesus. ‘He will come and he will kill the workers. He will give the garden to other people.’

v10 ‘I am sure that you have read these words in the Bible:

            “The builders did not want to use a certain stone.

            But that stone became the most important stone at the corner.

v11      The *Lord God did this.

            And we can see that he did something great.” ’

v12 The leaders wanted to put Jesus in a prison. They knew that he had told this story about them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So, they left him and they went away.

The *Pharisees ask about the money that *Caesar demanded

v13 Then the leaders sent some *Pharisees to Jesus. They also sent some men who wanted to obey King Herod. They tried to use Jesus’ words to cause trouble for him. v14 These men came to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘we know that you only say true things. It does not matter to you what other people think. You do not change your answers if someone is important. You really do teach us what God wants us to do. So should we pay money to *Caesar (the *Roman ruler), or should we not? v15 Should we give that money, or not?’

Jesus knew that those men were not honest. So he said, ‘You should not ask that question to cause trouble for me. Bring me a coin. I want to see it.’ v16 So they brought it. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose picture is on this coin? Whose name is on it?’

They replied, ‘It is *Caesar’s picture, and *Caesar’s name.’

v17 So Jesus said to them, ‘So give to *Caesar the things that are his. And give to God the things that are God’s.’

They were very surprised.

The *Sadducees ask Jesus a question

v18 Also, some *Sadducees came to Jesus. Sadducees do not believe that anyone can become alive again after death. They asked Jesus about this.

v19 ‘Teacher’, they said to Jesus, ‘Moses wrote these things for us in our rules. If a man dies without children, his brother must marry the man’s wife. And then their children will be called the children of the brother who died. v20 At one time, there were 7 brothers. The oldest brother married a woman. But he died without children. v21 So the second brother married her. He also died without children. Then the third brother married this woman. v22 And the same thing happened to all 7 brothers. They had no children. After this, the woman also died. v23 You teach that at some time dead people will live again. On that day, whose wife will that woman be? She married all 7 brothers.’

v24 ‘You are very wrong’, Jesus said to the *Sadducees. ‘This is because you do not know the Bible. And you do not know how powerful God is. v25 At some time, people who have died will become alive again. But then men and women will not marry. They will not have husbands or wives. Instead, they will be like the *angels in God’s home. v26 But God does make dead people alive again. You should have read what Moses wrote. See the chapter about the bush. There, God spoke to Moses and God said, “I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.” v27 God is not the God of people who are dead. He is the God of people who are alive. So you are very wrong.’

Jesus teaches people about the most important rule

v28 One of the teachers of God’s rules came near. He heard Jesus’ conversations with the leaders. The teacher knew that Jesus had answered them well. So the teacher asked Jesus, ‘Which rule is the most important among God’s rules?’

v29 ‘This rule is the most important rule’, replied Jesus. ‘Listen, everyone from *Israel’s *families. The *Lord, our God, is the only *Lord. v30 And you must love the *Lord, your God. Love him with all your mind. Love him with all your life. Love him with all your thoughts. Love him with all that you do. v31 The second most important rule is this: You must love other people as much as you love yourself. No other rules are as important as these two.’

v32 The teacher of God’s rules said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, you answered well. You are right to say that the *Lord is the only God. And there is no other God except him. v33 We must love him with all our mind. We must love him with all that we learn. We must love him with all that we do. We must also love other people as much as we love ourselves. This is more important than all the gifts or animals that we offer to God.’

v34 Jesus heard that the man had answered well. So Jesus said to him, ‘You are almost ready for God to rule your life.’ After that, everybody was afraid to ask Jesus any more questions.

Jesus teaches the people about the *Messiah

v35 Jesus was teaching the people at *God’s Great House. He said, ‘The teachers of God’s rules talk about the *Messiah. And they say that he is King David’s son. Think about this. v36 The *Holy Spirit helped David himself to write:

            “The *Lord said to my *Lord:

            Sit at my right side until I win completely against your enemies.

            You will even be able to put your feet on them.”

v37 David himself calls the *Messiah “*Lord”. So we should not say that the *Messiah is only David’s son.’

The large crowd liked to listen to the things that Jesus was saying.

v38 While Jesus was teaching the people, he said, ‘Be careful about the teachers of God’s rules. They want people to think that they are important. So they walk about in long clothes. They like it if people recognise them in the market place. v39 They want the best seats in the meeting places. They choose the most important places at special meals. v40 These men take everything away from women after their husbands have died, even their houses. Then they pray for a long time so that other people will hear them. God will *punish those men very much because of these things.’

Jesus talks about people who give to God

v41 The crowd were giving their gifts for *God’s Great House. They threw their coins into a box. Jesus sat near the box and he watched them. Many rich people put a lot of money into the box. v42 But then a woman came. Her husband had died and she was poor. She put in two coins that had very small value.

v43 Jesus asked his *disciples to come to him. ‘What I say is true’, he said to them. ‘This poor woman has put a better gift into the box than all the other people have put in. v44 All those rich people only put a part of their money into the box. And they have plenty of money. This woman has nothing. But she put in all the money that she had. She has put in all the money that she needs to live.’

Chapter 13

Jesus talks about future events

v1 Then Jesus left *God’s Great House. While he was leaving, one of his *disciples said to him, ‘Teacher, look at the large stones that are in the walls of God’s House. The buildings are very strong!’

v2 Jesus said to him, ‘Look at all these large buildings! Enemies will completely destroy them. They will throw down every stone that is on top of another stone.’

v3 After that, Jesus was sitting on the hill called the *Mount of *Olives. He could look across at *God’s Great House. Peter, James, John and Andrew went together to talk with him. The crowd was not there. v4 ‘Please tell us when these things will happen’, they said. ‘What will we see just before all these things happen?’

v5 Jesus began to say to them, ‘Be careful! Some people will tell you things that are not true. Do not believe those people. v6 Many people will say that they have come on my behalf. They will say, “I am here!” Many people will believe their false words. v7 People will tell you about wars. And there will be reports about wars. Do not be afraid. Those things must happen, but that is not yet the end. v8 People in one country will attack the people in another country. Kings and their armies will fight against other kings and their armies. The ground will move in many different places. Some people will be without food. These things are like the first pains before a baby is born.

v9 So, be careful! People will take you to their rulers. People will hit you in the meeting places. People will bring you to stand in front of kings and in front of rulers. You will be there on my behalf. And you will tell them about me. v10 And you must first tell the good news to people in every country. v11 People will take you away and they will bring you to their leaders. But do not be afraid about the words that you should say. You should say the words that God puts into your mind at that time. You will not be speaking your own words. Those words will come into your mind from the *Holy Spirit.

v12 A man will send his own brother to die. A father will send his own child to die. Children will be against their parents and they will ask rulers to kill their parents. v13 All people will be cruel to you because you are mine. But God will save the person who waits patiently until the end.

v14 There will be a time when you will see a very bad thing. It is the very bad thing that destroys. It will stand where it should not be. (When you read this, you must understand it.) When you see this thing, people in Judea must run to the hills to hide. v15 A person who is on his roof must not go down into his house. He must not stop to get anything from his home. v16 A person who is in a field must not go back to his home. He must not return to pick up his coat.

v17 That time will be bad for women who are hoping to have a baby soon. And that time will be bad for those women who are trying to give milk to their babies. v18 You must pray to God that these troubles will not happen in winter. v19 Very bad troubles will happen to people. Nothing as bad as those troubles has ever happened since God made the world. Nothing as bad as those troubles will ever happen again after that time. v20 The *Lord God will cause those days of very bad trouble to be less. If he did not do that, there would be nobody still alive. But God will cause those days to be less. He will do that to help the people that he has chosen. v21 Someone may say to you then, “Look, here is the *Messiah!” Or they may say, “Look, he is there!” Do not believe them. v22 Some people will say to you, “I am the *Messiah.” Other people will say, “I am a special *messenger from God.” But their words are false. They will do powerful things. Those things will surprise everyone very much. If possible, they would even cause the people that God has chosen to believe them. v23 So be careful! I have told you about all these things before they happen.

The time when the *Son of Man returns

v24 Then, after all these bad things have happened, the sun will become dark. And the moon will not shine. v25 Stars will fall out of the sky. And the powerful things in the sky will leave their usual places.

v26 Then people will see the *Son of Man. He will come in the clouds. He will be very powerful and very beautiful. v27 Then he will send the *angels. And they will bring together all the people that God has chosen. The *angels will bring them from every direction. And God’s people will come from every part of God’s home and from every part of earth.

A lesson about the *fig tree

v28 Here is a lesson about the *fig tree. When the new branches on the tree start to grow, the leaves appear. Then you know that the summer will begin soon. v29 So you will see that these things are happening. And then you will know that the *Son of Man will come soon. He will be like someone at the door who is ready to come in. v30 What I say to you is true. The people who are alive will not all die first. Some of them will not die until all these things have happened. v31 The earth and the sky will have an end. But my words will never have an end.

Nobody knows when the *Son of Man will return to the world

v32 Nobody knows the day or the hour when all these things will happen. Even the *angels who are in God’s home do not know. Even the Son does not know. Only God the Father knows when they will happen. v33 Watch carefully! You do not know when all these things will happen. So keep yourselves ready. v34 It is like when a master begins a journey. Before he leaves his house, he gives authority to his servants. He tells each servant about the work that he should do. Then he tells the servant at the door to be ready for his master’s return.

v35 And you do not know when the master of the house will return. So keep yourselves ready and watch carefully. He might arrive in the evening, or in the middle of the night. Or he might arrive early in the morning, or just before the sun rises. v36 He may surprise you and he may find you asleep. v37 I am saying this to you. And I am also saying this to everyone else. Keep yourselves ready!’

Chapter 14

The important *priests and the teachers of God’s rules want to kill Jesus

v1 It was now two days before the *Passover and the days when the *Jews eat flat bread. The important *priests and the teachers of God’s rules wanted to kill Jesus. But they wanted to take him away secretly. So they tried to decide how they could do that. v2 ‘We do not want to do it during the *Passover’, they said to each other. ‘The people will be angry. And they may fight against us if we do that.’

A woman pours expensive oil on Jesus’ head

v3 While Jesus was in Bethany, he went to Simon’s house. People called that man, ‘Simon with the illness in his skin’. While Jesus was eating a meal, a woman came into the house. She brought a small stone jar that contained expensive oil with a lovely smell. The person who made that oil had used only one plant. It was the plant called nard. The woman broke the jar to open it. And then she poured the oil over Jesus’ head.

v4 But some people became angry. ‘This woman should not have wasted the oil’, they said to each other. v5 ‘She should have sold it and she should have given the money to poor people. She could have sold it for more than 300 coins. A man would have to work for a year to get that much money.’ So, they spoke angrily to the woman.

v6 But Jesus said, ‘Do not speak to her like that! Do not cause trouble for her. She has done a good thing to me. v7 You will always have poor people with you. You can help them at any time that you want. But you will not always have me with you. v8 She did what she was able to do. She poured oil over my body to prepare it. So now, my body is ready for people to bury me. v9 What I say to you is true. Everywhere, people will tell other people about God’s good news. At the same time, they will also tell those people about the thing that this woman did. And so they will remember her.’

Judas agrees to help the important *priests

v10 Then Judas Iscariot went to the important *priests. He said that he would help them to catch Jesus. (Judas was one of the 12 *disciples.) v11 The important *priests were very happy about this. And they promised to give him money. Then Judas watched for the right moment for him to give Jesus to them.

Jesus eats his last meal with his 12 *disciples

v12 It was now the first day of the whole week when the *Jews eat flat bread. On this day, each family would kill a young sheep for the *Passover meal. Jesus’ *disciples said to him, ‘We will go to prepare the *Passover meal for you. Where do you want us to do that?’

v13 So Jesus sent two *disciples. ‘Go into the city’, he said to them. ‘A man, who is carrying a jar of water, will meet you. Follow him. v14 He will go to a house. And you must say to the master of that house, “The Teacher sends this message to you: ‘Where is the room for visitors where I can eat the *Passover meal with my *disciples?’ ” v15 Then the man will show you a large room upstairs. The room will have in it all the things that you will need. You should prepare the *Passover meal for us there.’

v16 Then the two *disciples left and they went into the city. They found everything as Jesus had told them. So, they prepared the *Passover meal there.

v17 When it was evening, Jesus arrived with the 12 *disciples. v18 While they were eating the meal, Jesus said, ‘What I say to you is true. One of you will help the *Jewish rulers to take me away. It is someone who is eating this meal with me.’

v19 The *disciples became very sad. Each one of them said to Jesus, ‘I hope that you do not mean me!’

v20 ‘It is one of the 12 *disciples. That man is putting his bread into the same dish as I am’, Jesus said to them.

v21 ‘The *Son of Man must go, as the Bible says’, Jesus said. ‘But it will be very bad for that man who helps to lead the *Son of Man away. It would have been a better thing for that man if he had never been born.’

The *Passover meal

v22 While Jesus and his *disciples were eating, he took a loaf. He thanked God for it. Then he broke the bread and he gave the pieces to them. ‘Take this bread and eat it’, he said to them. ‘This is my body.’

v23 Then Jesus took a cup. He thanked God. Then he gave the cup to them and they all drank from it.

v24 ‘This is my blood’, he said to them. ‘It shows that there is a promise from God. When I die, my blood will leave my body. And so God will save many people. v25 What I say is true. I will not drink *wine again until God begins to rule his people. And then I will drink the new *wine.’

v26 Then Jesus and his *disciples sang a song to God. Then they went out. They went to the hill that people call the *Mount of *Olives.

Jesus tells the *disciples what will happen

v27 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Tonight’s events will cause you all to do wrong things. The Bible says:

            “I will kill the man who leads the sheep.

            And the sheep will run away in different directions.”

v28 But I will become alive again. Then I will go before you to Galilee.’

v29 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Even if everyone else does wrong things, I will not leave you.’

v30 ‘What I say to you is true’, Jesus replied to Peter. ‘Tonight, you will say three times that you do not know me. You will do it before the *cockerel makes its noise for the second time.’

v31 But Peter answered Jesus strongly, ‘If necessary, I will die with you. But I will never tell anyone that I do not know you.’ All the other *disciples said the same thing.

Jesus prays in the garden called Gethsemane

v32 Then they arrived at a garden called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his *disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ v33 Then Jesus took Peter, James and John with him. He started to feel that troubles were filling his mind. v34 ‘I am very sad. I could die because I feel so sad. Wait here and keep awake’, Jesus said to them.

v35 Jesus went a short way in front of them. He went down on the ground. He prayed that, if possible, God would save him from the events of that time. v36 He said, ‘Abba, (my Father), you can do anything. Please take this pain away from me. But I do not ask you to do what I want. I choose what you want.’

v37 Jesus returned and he found Peter, James and John. They were sleeping. He said to Peter, ‘Simon, you are asleep! You could not keep awake for even one hour! v38 You must keep awake and you must pray. If you do not do that, you might do the wrong thing. You really want to do the right thing, but it is too difficult for you.’

v39 Jesus went away again and he prayed again. He said the same words to God. v40 Jesus returned again to Peter, James and John. He saw that they were sleeping. They could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.

v41 When Jesus returned the third time, he said to them, ‘You should not be sleeping and resting. You have slept enough. This is the hour. Look! See the man who is helping bad men to take the *Son of Man away. v42 Stand up; we are going. Look! Here is the man who will help them to take me away.’

Judas leads the men who will take Jesus away

v43 Jesus was still speaking when, immediately, Judas arrived. He was one of Jesus’ 12 *disciples. A crowd came with him. They were carrying long sharp knives and heavy sticks. The important *priests, the teachers of God’s rules and the leaders had sent these men.

v44 Before this, Judas had said to these men, ‘I will kiss one of the men. That is the man that you must take away. Lead him away and do not let him go.’ v45 When they arrived, Judas went immediately to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, he said to Jesus. Then he kissed Jesus in a friendly way. v46 So the men took hold of Jesus. v47 But a certain man who was standing there took his long sharp knife. And he used it against the servant of the most important *priest. He cut off the servant’s ear.

v48 Then Jesus spoke to the crowd. ‘You have come with long sharp knives and with heavy sticks to take me away’, he said. ‘That is how you would take a robber away. But you know that I am not a robber. v49 I was with you every day at *God’s Great House when I was teaching the people. You did not take me away then. But the things that are in the Bible must happen.’ v50 Then all Jesus’ *disciples left him and they ran away.

v51 A certain young man was following Jesus. He was only wearing one piece of cloth over his whole body. The men tried to take hold of this young man. v52 But the young man left the piece of cloth behind, and he ran away. When he ran away, he was not wearing anything.

The most important *priest asks Jesus questions

v53 The men took Jesus to the most important *priest. All the important *priests met, with the leaders and with the teachers of God’s rules.

v54 Peter followed Jesus. But he did not go near Jesus. So Peter went into the yard outside the house of the most important *priest. He sat down with the *guards. Peter kept himself warm by the fire.

v55 The important *priests and everyone at the meeting wanted Jesus to die. So they tried to find some men who could say things against Jesus. But they did not find anyone who could help them. v56 Many people said things about Jesus. But they were saying things that were not true. And they did not agree with each other.

v57 Then some men stood up and they said something else about Jesus. But their words were also not true. v58 They said, ‘We heard Jesus say, “I will destroy *God’s Great House, which men have built. In three days, I will build another House for God. It will not be men who build this new house.” ’ v59 Even then, these people who were speaking against Jesus did not say the same thing.

v60 Then the most important *priest stood up in the middle and he spoke to Jesus. ‘You should reply now. These people have said that you have done many bad things. What do you say about this?’ v61 But Jesus did not reply. He did not say anything.

So again, the most important *priest asked Jesus, ‘Are you the *Messiah? Are you the Son of God?’

v62 ‘I am’, Jesus replied. ‘And you will all see the *Son of Man. He will be sitting at the right side of God, who is most powerful. And he will come with the clouds of God’s home, which is called heaven.’

v63 The most important *priest tore his own clothes. ‘We do not need anyone else to tell us about Jesus’, he said. v64 ‘You have heard the bad words that he has spoken against God. What do you decide?’

Everyone agreed that Jesus should die.

v65 Then some of the men began to *spit on Jesus. They covered his eyes and they hit him. They said, ‘Speak God’s words, if you can!’ Then the *guards slapped Jesus while they were taking him away.

Peter says three times that he does not know Jesus

v66 Peter was still outside in the yard. One of the young women who worked for the most important *priest came. v67 She saw Peter, who was making himself warm by the fire.

She looked at him and she said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’

v68 ‘That is not true!’ he replied. ‘I do not know what you are talking about! I do not understand what you mean!’ Then Peter walked to the gate of the house.

v69 The young woman saw him, and again she began to say to the other people there, ‘This man is one of the men who were with Jesus.’ v70 But Peter again said that it was not true.

After some time, the other people who were standing there said to Peter, ‘You are from Galilee. So we are sure that you were with Jesus.’

v71 Peter began to speak strongly to them. ‘I do not know this man that you are talking about’, he said. And Peter asked God to *punish him if his words were not true. v72 Immediately, the *cockerel made its noise for a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: ‘You will say three times that you do not know me. You will do it before the *cockerel makes its noise for the second time.’

When Peter thought about this, he wept.

Chapter 15

Pilate asks Jesus questions

v1 Immediately in the morning, all the important people had a meeting. The important *priests met with the leaders, the teachers of God’s rules, and the other important people. They tied Jesus and they led him away. They brought him to Pilate.

v2 Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you the king of the *Jews?’

Jesus replied, ‘Yes, it is as you say.’

v3 Then the important *priests said to Pilate that Jesus had done many bad things. v4 So Pilate asked him again, ‘What is your answer? You should say something! Listen! They are saying that you have done many bad things.’

v5 Jesus still did not answer him. And Pilate was very surprised about that.

v6 Each year during the *Passover, Pilate let one person go out of the prison. The people had to ask him for the person that they wanted. v7 A man called Barabbas was in the prison at that time. He and some other men had fought against the government. And they had killed someone when they were fighting. v8 The crowd came to Pilate. And they asked Pilate to do what he usually did.

v9 Pilate answered the people, ‘Do you want me to make the king of the *Jews free for you?’ v10 Pilate knew why the important *priests had brought Jesus to him. The people seemed to like Jesus more than they liked the *priests. And that had made the priests angry. v11 But the important *priests talked strongly to the people. They told the people that they should ask Pilate to make Barabbas free instead.

v12 So Pilate again asked the crowd, ‘So what should I do to Jesus? He is the man that you call “the king of the *Jews”.’

v13 The people shouted again. They shouted, ‘Kill him on a *cross!’

v14 ‘Why should I kill him on a *cross?’ Pilate asked. ‘What bad things has he done?’

But the people shouted even louder, ‘Kill him on a *cross!’

v15 Pilate decided to do what the crowd wanted. So he made Barabbas free for them. He told his soldiers that they should take Jesus away. They should hit him many times with a *whip. Then they should put him on a *cross to die.

v16 Then the soldiers took Jesus to the yard at the ruler’s house. And they told all the soldiers in their group that they must come. v17 Then they put a dark red coat on Jesus. They made a *crown out of sharp branches, and they put it on his head.

v18 Then the soldiers began to shout to Jesus, ‘Oh yes, King of the *Jews!’ v19 The soldiers took a stick and they hit Jesus on the head with it. They *spat on him. Then they went down on their knees in front of him. They told him how great he was. v20 But they were *laughing at him. Then they took off the dark red coat. They put Jesus’ own clothes back on him. Then they led him towards the place where they would put him on the *cross.

The soldiers put Jesus on a *cross

v21 A man called Simon was walking past Jesus and the soldiers. He was coming in from outside the city. The soldiers told Simon that he must carry Jesus’ *cross. Simon was from the city called Cyrene. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. v22 The soldiers brought Jesus to the place that was called Golgotha. (Golgotha means ‘the place of a *skull’.)

v23 They gave Jesus some *wine to drink. They had put some medicine called myrrh into the *wine. But Jesus would not drink the *wine. v24 Then the soldiers put Jesus on the *cross. They took his clothes for themselves. They played a game to decide which soldier would get each of his clothes.

v25 It was 9 o’clock when the soldiers fixed Jesus to the *cross. v26 Above his head, they put a notice to say why they were *punishing him. The notice said, ‘The King of the *Jews’. v27 They also put two robbers on *crosses with Jesus. One robber was on the right side of Jesus. And the other robber was on his left side. v28 [The Bible says that this would happen. And it did happen. The Bible says, ‘People included him with people who did not obey God’s rules.’]

v29 The people who walked by moved their heads from one side to the other side. And they said bad things to Jesus. They said to him, ‘Oh! You said that you would destroy *God’s Great House. And you said that in three days you would build it again. v30 If you can really do that, save yourself. Come down from the *cross!’

v31 The important *priests and the teachers of God’s rules *laughed about him to each other. ‘This man saved other people. But he cannot save himself. v32 If he is the *Messiah, the king of Israel, he should come down from the *cross now. We would see it and then we would believe.’ The two men who were on the *crosses next to Jesus also said bad things to him.

Jesus dies

v33 At midday, the whole country became dark. It continued to be dark until 3 o’clock. v34 At 3 o’clock, Jesus shouted loudly, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani.’ That means, ‘My God, my God, I want to know why you have left me alone!’

v35 Some people were standing near his *cross and they heard him. They said, ‘Look! He is asking Elijah to come.’

v36 One man ran to get a soft cloth. He poured bad *wine on it. And he put it on the end of a stick. Then he lifted it up to Jesus so that he could drink the *wine from it. ‘Wait!’ he said. ‘We will see if Elijah comes to take Jesus down from the *cross.’

v37 Then Jesus shouted loudly again and after that, he died.

v38 And someone or something tore the curtain inside *God’s Great House completely into two parts from the top down.

v39 The captain of the soldiers was standing in front of Jesus. He saw how Jesus died. ‘It is true’, he said. ‘This man was the Son of God.’

v40 Some women were also there. They were not very near the *cross. But they were watching all these events. Mary, from the town called Magdala, was among the women. Another woman called Mary was also there. She was the mother of the younger James and Joses. Salome was also there. v41 These women had been Jesus’ *disciples when he was in Galilee. There, they had helped him. And many other women were there who had come to Jerusalem with him.

Joseph buries Jesus’ dead body

v42 It would soon be Friday evening. The *Jews were preparing for Saturday, when they rested. v43 A man called Joseph went to see Pilate. Joseph was from a town called Arimathea. He was a good man and he was an important leader of the *Jews. He was waiting for the time when God would start to rule his people. Joseph bravely asked Pilate for the dead body of Jesus. v44 Pilate was surprised that Jesus had already died. He asked the captain of the soldiers to come to him. Then he asked him when Jesus had died. v45 The captain told Pilate that Jesus was dead. So then Pilate let Joseph have Jesus’ dead body. v46 Joseph bought a new piece of soft white cloth. He took Jesus down from the *cross. He put the cloth round him. And he buried him in a large hole that Joseph’s workers had cut into the rock. After this, he rolled a very big stone in front of the hole.

v47 Mary from the town called Magdala, and Mary, the mother of Joses, were watching. They saw where Joseph had put Jesus’ dead body.

Chapter 16

Jesus becomes alive again

v1 After the day for rest had finished, the women bought some seeds with a beautiful smell. They wanted to put those seeds and some oil on Jesus’ body. These women were Mary from Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James. v2 They went out very early in the morning on the first day of the week (Sunday). The sun was just rising. They went to the hole in the rock where Joseph had buried Jesus’ dead body.

v3 The women asked each other, ‘Who will roll the big stone away for us? It is in front of the hole in the rock where they buried Jesus.’

v4 They looked and they saw the stone. It was a very big stone. But someone had already rolled it away from the hole. v5 When the women went into the hole in the rock, they saw a young man. He was sitting on the right side of the place. He wore long white clothes. They were very afraid.

v6 The young man said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth. The soldiers killed him on a *cross, but he has become alive again. He is not here. Look! You can see the place where the men put him. v7 But you must go to tell his *disciples and Peter about this. Tell them that Jesus is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, as he told you.’

v8 The women went out of the hole in the rock. They ran away from there. They felt afraid and confused. They did not say anything to anyone, because they were afraid.

v9 Jesus became alive again early on the first day of the week, Sunday. He appeared first to Mary from Magdala. Jesus had caused 7 bad *spirits to leave her. v10 She went to the people who had been with Jesus. They were all very sad and they were crying. Mary spoke to them. v11 She told them that Jesus was alive. And she told them that she had seen him. But they did not believe it.

v12 After these things had happened, Jesus appeared to two other *disciples. They were walking away from the town. He seemed to be different to them. v13 Those two *disciples went and they told all the other *disciples. But the other *disciples also did not believe them.

v14 After that, Jesus appeared to the 11 *disciples while they were eating. He told them that they were wrong not to believe. They should have changed their minds. People had seen that he was alive. But the *disciples did not believe them.

v15 And Jesus said to them, ‘Go to all people everywhere in the world. Tell God’s good news to everyone. v16 If a person believes, then you should *baptise that person. And God will save that person. But if a person does not believe, God will be that person’s *judge. And he will *punish that person. v17 These powerful things will happen after people believe. On my behalf, they will send bad *spirits out of people. They will speak new languages. v18 If they pick up a snake, it will not hurt them. If they drink poison, it will not hurt them. They will put their hands on ill people, and God will make those people well.’

Jesus goes up to God’s home called heaven

v19 So, after the *Lord Jesus had spoken to them, God took him up into God’s home. And Jesus sat down at the right side of God.

v20 But the *disciples went out everywhere. They told people God’s good news. The *Lord worked with them. And the *Lord did powerful things to show that their message was true.

Word List

AD ~ years after Jesus was born.

angel ~ one of God’s special servants in God’s home. Angels bring messages from God.

apostle ~ a special *disciple of Jesus. These men had a special job to do for him. God sent them to teach other people about Jesus.

baptise ~ John baptised the people who came to him. The people were sorry for all the wrong things that they had done. And they wanted to obey God. So they asked John to baptise them. John used water from the river Jordan to do this. Today, we baptise people who become Christians. In some churches, the person must bathe his whole body. In other churches, the water goes only on the person’s head. And in some churches, Christians also baptise children who are born into Christian families.

baptism ~ the event when someone *baptises a person.

Baptist ~ John was called John the Baptist because he *baptised people.

BC ~ years before Jesus was born.

blind ~ a blind person cannot see.

Caesar ~ the most important *Roman ruler. He lived in the city called Rome.

camel ~ a large animal like a horse that can live in dry places. It can carry heavy things on its back.

carpenter ~ a carpenter is a man who works with wood.

cockerel ~ male of a bird called a hen.

cross ~ someone fastened one piece of wood across another piece of wood. This made a cross. The *Roman soldiers fixed people to crosses to kill them.

crown ~ a special hat that a king wears on his head; or, a hat that is like a king’s crown.

disciple ~ someone who wants to do the same things as another person and who wants to learn from him. At that time, the disciple usually travelled with his teacher and he worked for his teacher.

donkey ~ an animal like a small horse.

enemy ~ a person who wants to hurt or to attack.

family ~ family included father, mother and children; sometimes it means father, grandfathers and those who had been born before them.

fast ~ when you decide not to eat any food for a certain time.

fig ~ a fruit that is good to eat.

forgive, forgiven ~ not to remember wrong things that a person has done; to choose not to *punish someone for wrong things that the person has done. God forgives us for the wrong things that we have done. He chooses to do this, but we must change our minds. We must ask him to come into our lives.

God’s Great House ~ the special big building in Jerusalem usually called the temple. There people prayed and they gave gifts to God. Only *priests went into the building. Other people went into the yards that were there.

grape ~ a fruit that people eat or they make it into *wine.

guard ~ a guard keeps things or places or people safe; or he is like a policeman who takes people away.

guilty ~ when we have done wrong things, we are guilty.

hell ~ the place where God sends some people after they die. People are very sad there because of their pains and troubles. It is a place for people who did not want to believe in Jesus during their lives.

holy ~ special for God.

Holy Spirit ~ The Holy Spirit is God, even as the Father and the Son are God. But there is only one God. The Holy Spirit is always working in this world. He helps people to believe. He teaches them. And he is present in the lives of people who believe.

honey ~ honey is very sweet. An insect called a bee makes honey.

hypocrites ~ hypocrites say that they do one thing. But really, they do something different. They want people to think that they are good. But, really, they are bad people.

Israel ~ all the people in the *families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God chose Israel to be his special people. The word can also mean the country that God gave to these people.

Jew ~ a person who is born from the *families of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a *Jew or anything that is for the *Jews.

judge ~ to say what is right or wrong, good or bad. A judge is a person with authority to say if another person is right or wrong.

lamp ~ a light to use in a house.

laugh at, laugh about ~ to laugh against someone to cause him to feel bad; to laugh when a person says cruel things about someone.

life ~ perhaps ‘*soul’. The same word in the Greek language can mean ‘life’ or ‘*soul’. We are not sure which is the right English word in Mark 8:35-37.

Lord ~ a name for God and for Jesus. The word means ‘master’. But it also translates God’s name from the language called Hebrew. And in that language, God’s name may mean ‘He is always God.’

messenger ~ a person who brings a message to other people.

Messiah ~ God said that he would send a special person to save his people. That person was called the Messiah. Jesus is this person. The word ‘Christ’ is a translation of ‘Messiah’.

Mount of Olives ~ a hill near Jerusalem city where many *olive trees grow.

needle ~ a thin sharp piece of bone or metal. It has a small hole at one end. People use it when they make clothes.

net ~ people tie many thin *ropes across each other to make a net. People use nets to catch fish or birds.

olive ~ a tree with small fruits; or the fruits themselves.

Passover ~ an important holiday for the *Jews. Each family eats a special meal on this day every year. They remember that God helped the *Jews to leave Egypt. They were slaves in Egypt and Moses led them away.

Pharisees ~ a group of *Jews. Pharisees went to a special school to learn God’s rules. They tried to obey all God’s rules. But many Pharisees did not like the things that Jesus taught.

power ~ a person who has power can do powerful things.

priest ~ a man who offered gifts to God on behalf of other people. The *Jews had priests who worked in *God’s Great House.

prophet ~ a person who tells people messages from God. He is a special servant of God.

punish ~ to cause someone pain. Usually, it is because that person has done wrong things.

Roman ~ a person or a thing from the city called Rome.

rope ~ a long thin piece of strong material. People use ropes to tie things together.

Sabbath ~ the day when the *Jews rested. It started on Friday at sunset. They did no work until Saturday at sunset.

Sadducees ~ a group of *Jews who did not believe that dead people could become alive again.

Satan ~ the bad *spirit that God sent away from God’s home a long time ago; he is the leader of all the bad *spirits.

skull ~ the largest bone inside the head.

soil ~ the top part of the ground. Plants grow in it.

Son of Man ~ the name that Jesus used when he talked about himself. This name appears in the books of Daniel and Ezekiel.

soul ~ a part of a person that we cannot see. Our soul is in us while we are alive. It continues to live after we die.

spirit ~ another part of a person that is alive, but which we cannot see. There are also good spirits. They are like *angels. The *Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit. There are also bad spirits.

spit, spat ~ to send water out of the mouth.

tongue ~ the large red part of the body in the mouth; it helps us to speak.

vine ~ a plant that has fruit called *grapes.

wheat ~ a plant that has many seeds. It grows on farms. People make flour with the seeds. And they bake it to make bread.

whip ~ soldiers used a whip to hit people. It had long narrow pieces of leather. There were pieces of metal on the ends. The whip caused a lot of pain.

wilderness ~ a wilderness is a place where there are not many plants. Not many people live there.

wine ~ a drink that people make from *grapes. It has alcohol in it.

wineskin ~ a kind of bag. People did not then have bottles for *wine. So they kept the *wine in wineskins. People made them from the skin of animals.

worm ~ a small, thin animal that lives under the ground. Some worms eat dead things.

yeast ~ people put yeast into flour and water when they want to make bread. The yeast grows and it causes the flour to become bigger. Then it is more like a loaf of bread. Then you can bake the bread and you can eat it.

zealot ~ an enemy of the *Roman government. The zealots were a group of people who fought against the *Romans in *Israel.

Book List

Alan Cole ~ Mark ~ Tyndale Bible Commentaries

Robert G. Bratcher ~ A Translator’s Guide to the Gospel of Mark ~ United Bible Societies

Alfred Marshall ~ The Interlinear NRSV-NIV Parallel New Testament in Greek and English ~ Zondervan

Hear this Good News for Everybody! An EasyEnglish Version with Notes (1200 word vocabulary) of the Gospel of Luke ~ Wycliffe Associates (UK)

Matthew tells us the Good News about Jesus. An EasyEnglish Version with Notes (1200 word vocabulary) of the Gospel of Matthew ~ Wycliffe Associates (UK)

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Book 41	Mark

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001:001	The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
001:002	As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
001:003	The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
001:004	John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
001:005	And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
001:006	And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
001:007	And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
001:008	I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
001:009	And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
001:010	And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
001:011	And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
001:012	And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
001:013	And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
001:014	Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
001:015	And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
001:016	Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
001:017	And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
001:018	And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
001:019	And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
001:020	And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
001:021	And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
001:022	And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
001:023	And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
001:024	Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
001:025	And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
001:026	And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
001:027	And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
001:028	And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
001:029	And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
001:030	But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
001:031	And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
001:032	And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
001:033	And all the city was gathered together at the door.
001:034	And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
001:035	And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
001:036	And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
001:037	And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
001:038	And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
001:039	And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
001:040	And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
001:041	And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
001:042	And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
001:043	And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
001:044	And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
001:045	But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

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002:001	And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
002:002	And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
002:003	And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
002:004	And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
002:005	When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
002:006	But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
002:007	Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
002:008	And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
002:009	Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
002:010	But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
002:011	I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
002:012	And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
002:013	And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.
002:014	And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
002:015	And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
002:016	And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
002:017	When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
002:018	And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
002:019	And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
002:020	But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
002:021	No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
002:022	And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
002:023	And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
002:024	And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
002:025	And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?
002:026	How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?
002:027	And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
002:028	Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

---

003:001	And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
003:002	And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
003:003	And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
003:004	And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
003:005	And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
003:006	And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
003:007	But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,
003:008	And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
003:009	And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
003:010	For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
003:011	And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
003:012	And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
003:013	And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
003:014	And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
003:015	And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
003:016	And Simon he surnamed Peter;
003:017	And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
003:018	And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
003:019	And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
003:020	And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.
003:021	And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
003:022	And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
003:023	And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
003:024	And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
003:025	And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
003:026	And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
003:027	No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
003:028	Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
003:029	But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
003:030	Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
003:031	There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.
003:032	And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
003:033	And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
003:034	And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
003:035	For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

---

004:001	And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
004:002	And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
004:003	Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
004:004	And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
004:005	And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
004:006	But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
004:007	And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
004:008	And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
004:009	And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
004:010	And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
004:011	And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
004:012	That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
004:013	And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
004:014	The sower soweth the word.
004:015	And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
004:016	And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
004:017	And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
004:018	And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
004:019	And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
004:020	And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
004:021	And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
004:022	For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
004:023	If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
004:024	And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
004:025	For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
004:026	And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
004:027	And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
004:028	For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
004:029	But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
004:030	And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
004:031	It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
004:032	But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
004:033	And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
004:034	But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
004:035	And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
004:036	And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
004:037	And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
004:038	And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
004:039	And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
004:040	And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
004:041	And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

---

005:001	And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
005:002	And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
005:003	Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
005:004	Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
005:005	And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
005:006	But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
005:007	And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
005:008	For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
005:009	And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
005:010	And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
005:011	Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
005:012	And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
005:013	And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
005:014	And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
005:015	And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
005:016	And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
005:017	And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
005:018	And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
005:019	Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
005:020	And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
005:021	And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.
005:022	And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
005:023	And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
005:024	And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
005:025	And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
005:026	And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
005:027	When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
005:028	For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
005:029	And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
005:030	And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
005:031	And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
005:032	And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
005:033	But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
005:034	And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
005:035	While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
005:036	As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
005:037	And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
005:038	And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
005:039	And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
005:040	And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
005:041	And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
005:042	And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
005:043	And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

---

006:001	And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
006:002	And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
006:003	Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
006:004	But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
006:005	And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
006:006	And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
006:007	And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;
006:008	And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:
006:009	But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.
006:010	And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.
006:011	And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
006:012	And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
006:013	And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
006:014	And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
006:015	Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
006:016	But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
006:017	For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
006:018	For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
006:019	Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
006:020	For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
006:021	And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
006:022	And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
006:023	And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
006:024	And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
006:025	And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
006:026	And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
006:027	And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
006:028	And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
006:029	And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
006:030	And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
006:031	And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
006:032	And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
006:033	And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
006:034	And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
006:035	And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
006:036	Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
006:037	He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
006:038	He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
006:039	And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
006:040	And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
006:041	And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
006:042	And they did all eat, and were filled.
006:043	And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
006:044	And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
006:045	And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
006:046	And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
006:047	And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
006:048	And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
006:049	But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
006:050	For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
006:051	And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
006:052	For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
006:053	And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
006:054	And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
006:055	And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
006:056	And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

---

007:001	Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
007:002	And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
007:003	For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
007:004	And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
007:005	Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
007:006	He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
007:007	Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
007:008	For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
007:009	And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
007:010	For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
007:011	But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
007:012	And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
007:013	Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
007:014	And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
007:015	There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
007:016	If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
007:017	And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
007:018	And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
007:019	Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
007:020	And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
007:021	For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
007:022	Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
007:023	All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
007:024	And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
007:025	For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
007:026	The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
007:027	But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
007:028	And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
007:029	And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
007:030	And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
007:031	And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
007:032	And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
007:033	And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
007:034	And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
007:035	And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
007:036	And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
007:037	And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

---

008:001	In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,
008:002	I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:
008:003	And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.
008:004	And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?
008:005	And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.
008:006	And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.
008:007	And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.
008:008	So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.
008:009	And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.
008:010	And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.
008:011	And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
008:012	And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
008:013	And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.
008:014	Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.
008:015	And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.
008:016	And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
008:017	And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
008:018	Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
008:019	When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.
008:020	And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
008:021	And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
008:022	And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.
008:023	And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.
008:024	And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.
008:025	After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
008:026	And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.
008:027	And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
008:028	And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
008:029	And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
008:030	And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.
008:031	And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
008:032	And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
008:033	But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
008:034	And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
008:035	For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
008:036	For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
008:037	Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
008:038	Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

---

009:001	And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
009:002	And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
009:003	And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
009:004	And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
009:005	And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
009:006	For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
009:007	And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
009:008	And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
009:009	And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.
009:010	And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
009:011	And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
009:012	And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.
009:013	But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
009:014	And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.
009:015	And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
009:016	And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
009:017	And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
009:018	And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
009:019	He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
009:020	And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
009:021	And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
009:022	And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
009:023	Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
009:024	And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
009:025	When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
009:026	And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
009:027	But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
009:028	And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
009:029	And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
009:030	And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
009:031	For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
009:032	But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
009:033	And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
009:034	But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
009:035	And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.
009:036	And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
009:037	Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
009:038	And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
009:039	But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
009:040	For he that is not against us is on our part.
009:041	For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
009:042	And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
009:043	And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
009:044	Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
009:045	And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
009:046	Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
009:047	And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
009:048	Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
009:049	For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
009:050	Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

---

010:001	And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
010:002	And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
010:003	And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
010:004	And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
010:005	And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
010:006	But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
010:007	For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
010:008	And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
010:009	What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
010:010	And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
010:011	And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
010:012	And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
010:013	And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
010:014	But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
010:015	Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
010:016	And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
010:017	And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
010:018	And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
010:019	Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
010:020	And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
010:021	Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
010:022	And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
010:023	And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
010:024	And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
010:025	It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
010:026	And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
010:027	And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
010:028	Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
010:029	And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
010:030	But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
010:031	But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
010:032	And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
010:033	Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
010:034	And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
010:035	And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
010:036	And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
010:037	They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
010:038	But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
010:039	And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
010:040	But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
010:041	And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
010:042	But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
010:043	But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
010:044	And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
010:045	For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
010:046	And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
010:047	And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
010:048	And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
010:049	And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
010:050	And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
010:051	And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
010:052	And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

---

011:001	And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,
011:002	And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
011:003	And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.
011:004	And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.
011:005	And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?
011:006	And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.
011:007	And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
011:008	And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
011:009	And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
011:010	Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
011:011	And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.
011:012	And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
011:013	And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
011:014	And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
011:015	And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
011:016	And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
011:017	And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
011:018	And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
011:019	And when even was come, he went out of the city.
011:020	And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
011:021	And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
011:022	And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
011:023	For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
011:024	Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
011:025	And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
011:026	But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
011:027	And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
011:028	And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
011:029	And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
011:030	The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
011:031	And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
011:032	But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
011:033	And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

---

012:001	And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
012:002	And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
012:003	And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
012:004	And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
012:005	And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
012:006	Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
012:007	But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's.
012:008	And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
012:009	What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
012:010	And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
012:011	This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
012:012	And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
012:013	And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
012:014	And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
012:015	Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
012:016	And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
012:017	And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.
012:018	Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
012:019	Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
012:020	Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
012:021	And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
012:022	And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
012:023	In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
012:024	And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
012:025	For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
012:026	And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
012:027	He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
012:028	And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
012:029	And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
012:030	And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
012:031	And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
012:032	And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
012:033	And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
012:034	And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
012:035	And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?
012:036	For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
012:037	David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
012:038	And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
012:039	And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
012:040	Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
012:041	And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
012:042	And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
012:043	And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
012:044	For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

---

013:001	And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
013:002	And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
013:003	And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
013:004	Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
013:005	And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
013:006	For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
013:007	And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
013:008	For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
013:009	But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
013:010	And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
013:011	But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
013:012	Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
013:013	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
013:014	But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
013:015	And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
013:016	And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
013:017	But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
013:018	And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
013:019	For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
013:020	And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
013:021	And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
013:022	For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
013:023	But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
013:024	But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
013:025	And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
013:026	And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
013:027	And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
013:028	Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
013:029	So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
013:030	Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
013:031	Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
013:032	But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
013:033	Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
013:034	For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
013:035	Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
013:036	Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
013:037	And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

---

014:001	After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
014:002	But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
014:003	And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
014:004	And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
014:005	For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
014:006	And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
014:007	For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
014:008	She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
014:009	Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
014:010	And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
014:011	And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
014:012	And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
014:013	And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
014:014	And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
014:015	And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
014:016	And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
014:017	And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
014:018	And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
014:019	And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
014:020	And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
014:021	The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
014:022	And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
014:023	And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
014:024	And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
014:025	Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
014:026	And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
014:027	And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
014:028	But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
014:029	But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
014:030	And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
014:031	But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
014:032	And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
014:033	And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
014:034	And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
014:035	And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
014:036	And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
014:037	And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
014:038	Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
014:039	And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
014:040	And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
014:041	And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
014:042	Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
014:043	And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
014:044	And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
014:045	And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
014:046	And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
014:047	And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
014:048	And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
014:049	I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
014:050	And they all forsook him, and fled.
014:051	And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
014:052	And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
014:053	And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
014:054	And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
014:055	And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
014:056	For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
014:057	And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
014:058	We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
014:059	But neither so did their witness agree together.
014:060	And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
014:061	But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
014:062	And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
014:063	Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
014:064	Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
014:065	And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
014:066	And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
014:067	And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
014:068	But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
014:069	And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
014:070	And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
014:071	But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
014:072	And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

---

015:001	And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
015:002	And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.
015:003	And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
015:004	And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
015:005	But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
015:006	Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
015:007	And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
015:008	And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
015:009	But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
015:010	For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
015:011	But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
015:012	And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
015:013	And they cried out again, Crucify him.
015:014	Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
015:015	And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
015:016	And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
015:017	And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
015:018	And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
015:019	And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
015:020	And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
015:021	And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
015:022	And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
015:023	And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
015:024	And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
015:025	And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
015:026	And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
015:027	And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.
015:028	And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
015:029	And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
015:030	Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
015:031	Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
015:032	Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.
015:033	And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
015:034	And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
015:035	And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
015:036	And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
015:037	And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
015:038	And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
015:039	And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
015:040	There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
015:041	(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
015:042	And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
015:043	Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
015:044	And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
015:045	And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
015:046	And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
015:047	And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

---

016:001	And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
016:002	And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
016:003	And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
016:004	And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
016:005	And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
016:006	And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
016:007	But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
016:008	And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
016:009	Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
016:010	And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
016:011	And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
016:012	After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.
016:013	And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
016:014	Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
016:015	And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
016:016	He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
016:017	And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
016:018	They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
016:019	So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
016:020	And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

 

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