(23)And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, as he was teaching, demanding, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority? (24)Then Jesus answering, said to them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye answer me, then will I tell you by what authority I do these things. (25)The baptism of John whence was it?

from heaven, or from men? Hereupon they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we reply, From heaven, he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him? (26)But if we say, From men, we are afraid of the populace, for they all hold John as a prophet. (27)So they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. Then said he also to them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

(28)But what think ye? A man had two sons; and coming to the first he said, Son, go work to-day in my vineyard. (29)But he answering said, I will not: yet repenting afterwards, he went. (30)And coming to the other, he spake after the same manner, and he replying, said, I go, sir; yet went not. (31)Which of the two did the will of his father?

They say to him, The first. Jesus saith to them, Verily I say unto you, That tax-gatherers and harlots shall go before you into the kingdom of G.o.d. (32)For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the tax-gatherers and harlots believed on him.

But ye, when ye saw it, repented not afterwards, that ye should believe on him.

(33)Hear another parable: There was a certain man, the master of a family, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged in it a wine-press, and built a tower, and hired it out to husbandmen, and went into a distant country. (34)But when the season for fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive his fruits.

(35)And the husbandmen took his servants, one they beat, and another they killed, and a third they stoned. (36)Again he sent other servants more than the first, and they treated them in the same manner. (37)Then at last he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

(38)But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir, come let us kill him, and let us seize on the inheritance. (39)And they took him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. (40)When therefore the master of the vineyard cometh, what will he do with these husbandmen? (41)They say unto him, He will dreadfully destroy those wicked wretches, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, who will render him the fruits in their seasons.

(42)Jesus saith unto them, Have ye not read in the Scriptures, "The stone, which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner; this is done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes."

(43)Therefore I tell you, That the kingdom of G.o.d shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation, producing the fruits thereof. (44)And whosoever shall fall on this stone, shall be broken in pieces, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. (45)And when the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking concerning them. (46)And they sought to apprehend him; but were afraid of the people, for they held him as a prophet.

CHAP. XXII.

AND Jesus continuing his discourse, spake again to them in parables, saying, (2)The kingdom of heaven is like to a certain king, who made a marriage-feast for his son: (3)and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the entertainment: and they would not come. (4)Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and the fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage-feast. (5)But they gave themselves no concern about it, and went their several ways, one to his own farm, and another to his traffick: (6)And the rest seizing his servants, insulted and slew them. (7)Then the king, when he heard it, was incensed: and sending out his armies, destroyed these murderers, and burnt down their city. (8)Then he said to his servants, The wedding entertainment indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy: (9)go therefore into the thoroughfares of the roads, and as many as ye find, invite to the banquet. (10)So these servants going out into the roads, collected all, as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding feast was fully furnished with guests. (11)Then the king coming in to look around on the guests, saw there a man who had not put on the wedding garment: (12)and he saith to him, Friend, how came thou in here, not having the garment provided for the marriage feast? And he was speechless. (13)Then said the king to the servants, Bind his feet and hands, and take him away, and cast him into the darkness, which is without; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (14)For many are called, but few elect.

(15)Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel together how they might lay a snare to entrap him in his discourse. (16)And they sent to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of G.o.d with veracity; and carest for no man, for thou regardest not the person of men: (17)tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not?

(18)But Jesus knew their wicked design, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (19)Shew me the money for the tribute; and they brought him a denarius. (20)And he saith unto them, Whose figure is this and inscription? (21)They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he to them, Render therefore to Caesar, the things which are Caesar's; and to G.o.d, the things which are G.o.d's. (22)And when they heard him, they marvelled, and leaving him, went away.

(23)On the same day the Sadducees came to him, who say, that there is no resurrection, and they put a question to him, (24)saying, Master, Moses said, "If a man die having no children, his brother in right of affinity shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother."

(25)Now there were with us seven brothers; and the first marrying, died, and had no offspring, and left his wife to his brother; (26)likewise the second also; then the third; so on to the seven.

(27)Last of all the woman died also. (28)In the resurrection therefore, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. (29)Jesus then answering, said unto them, Ye are in an error, from not knowing the Scriptures, and the power of G.o.d. (30)For at the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of G.o.d in heaven. (31)But with respect to the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read what was spoken to you of G.o.d, saying, (32)"I am the G.o.d of Abraham, and the G.o.d of Isaac, and the G.o.d of Jacob?" G.o.d is not the G.o.d of the dead, but of the living. (33)And when the mult.i.tude heard it, they were amazingly struck with his doctrine.

(34)But the Pharisees hearing that he had stopped the Sadducees'

mouths, they a.s.sembled together: (35)and one of them, a teacher of the law, put a question to him, to make trial of him, and said, (36)Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37)Then Jesus said to him, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy G.o.d with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (38)This is the first and great commandment. (39)And the second is like to it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (40)On these two commandments, the whole law and the prophets depend.

(41)The Pharisees being then a.s.sembled, Jesus put a question to them, (42)saying, What think ye of the Messiah, whose son is he? They say unto him, David's. (43)He saith unto them, How then doth David by the Spirit call him Lord? saying, (44)"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thine enemies as a footstool for thy feet."

(45)If then David calleth him Lord, how is he his son? (46)And no man could answer him a word, neither durst any man, from that day, interrogate him any more.

CHAP. XXIII.

THEN Jesus spake to the mult.i.tudes and to his disciples, (2)saying, The scribes and Pharisees are seated on the chair of Moses; (3)all things therefore which they prescribe for you to observe, observe and practise; but do not according to their works, for they say, yet do not practise. (4)For they bind burdens grievous, and difficultly borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they will not move them with a finger of their own. (5)And all their works they do to be seen of men: they make their phylacteries broad, and deepen the fringes of their garments, (6)and love the princ.i.p.al couch at suppers, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (7)and salutations in the places of public concourse, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. (8)But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your leader, the Messiah; and ye all are brethren. (9)And call no man your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. (10)And be not called leaders; for one is your leader, the Messiah. (11)But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (12)For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and whosoever abaseth himself shall be exalted.

(13)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven from men; for ye yourselves enter not in, and those who were coming in, ye suffer not to enter. (14)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: wherefore ye shall receive greater condemnation. (15)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compa.s.s sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is gained, ye make him doubly more the child of h.e.l.l than yourselves. (16)Wo unto you ye blind guides! who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, it is binding. (17)Ye fools and blind! for which is the greater, the gold, or the temple which consecrates the gold? (18)And again, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, it is binding. (19)Ye fools and blind! which is the greater, the gift, or the altar which consecrates the gift?

(20)Whosoever therefore sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things that are upon it. (21)And whosoever sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him also who dwelleth in it. (22)So he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of G.o.d, and by him who is seated upon it.

(23)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay t.i.thes of mint, and anise, and c.u.mmin, and have neglected the weightier precepts of the law, judgment, and mercy, and fidelity: these thing ought ye to have done, and not to leave the others undone. (24)Ye blind guides! who strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel. (25)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup, and of the dish, but within they are full of rapacity and intemperance. (26)Thou blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and dish, that their outside may become clean also. (27)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye resemble tombs whitewashed, which outwardly indeed appear specious, but within are full of dead men's bones, and all manner of impurity. (28)And just so, ye without indeed appear to men righteous, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (29)Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and adorn the sepulchres of the just, (30)and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. (31)Wherefore ye bear a testimony to yourselves, that ye are the children of those who killed the prophets. (32)Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. (33)Ye serpents, ye broods of vipers! how can ye escape from the d.a.m.nation of h.e.l.l? (34)Therefore, behold, I am sending to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and some of them ye shall kill, and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: (35)that upon you may come all the righteous blood which hath been poured out upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel, to the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (36)Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come on this generation.

(37)O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest those who were sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children to me, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not? (38)Behold, your habitation is left unto you desolate.

(39)For I tell you, Ye shall henceforth no more see me, until ye say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

CHAP. XXIV.

AND Jesus departing was going his way from the temple: and his disciples came to him, to point out to his observation the buildings of the temple. (2)But Jesus said unto them, Do you not see all these things? I tell you of a certainty, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be utterly thrown down.

(3)Then as he was sitting upon the mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall there things be? and what is the sign of thy coming, and of the consummation of the age? (4)And Jesus answering said unto them, Beware that no man deceive you. (5)For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Messiah; and shall deceive mult.i.tudes. (6)And ye shall hear of wars, and rumours of wars: see that ye be not terrified: for these things must first be, but the end is not yet. (7)For nation shall be roused up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places. (8)Now all these things are the beginning of the travailing pangs. (9)Then shall they deliver you up to affliction, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (10)And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and hate one another. (11)And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. (12)And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will grow cool. (13)But he that endureth to the end, that man will be saved. (14)And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached through the whole world for a testimony to all the nations: and then shall come the final close. (15)When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, erected in the holy place, (let him that readeth, mark this,) (16)then let such as are in Judea flee into the mountains. (17)Let not him who is upon the roof go down to take any thing out of his house. (18)And he that is in the field, let him not turn back to take his garment. (19)But wo to those who are with child, and have an infant at their b.r.e.a.s.t.s in those days! (20)And pray that your flight be not in winter, nor on the sabbath. (21)For then the tribulation will be great, such as never was from the beginning of the world, and never more shall be. (22)And except those days were shortened, there would be no flesh saved: but for the elect's sake these days shall be shortened. (23)Then if any man say unto you, Lo! here is the Messiah, or there; believe it not: (24)for false Messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and give out great signs and wonders; so as to deceive, if it were possible, even the elect. (25)Behold, I have forewarned you. (26)Therefore if they say to you, He is in the wilderness; go not out: lo! he is in the secret closets; believe it not. (27)For as the lightning cometh out from the east, and flashes to the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man. (28)For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. (29)Then, immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. (30)And then shall the sign of the Son of man appear in the heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth lament bitterly, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (31)And he shall send forth his angels with a trumpet, and a great shout, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the extremities of the heavens to the extremities of the same.

(32)Learn then a parable from the fig-tree; when its branch is now tender, and the leaves shoot forth, ye know that summer is nigh: (33)just so ye, when ye behold these things, know that it is near, even at the gates. (34)Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pa.s.s away until all these things shall be done. (35)Heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away, but my words shall in no wise pa.s.s away. (36)But of that day and hour no man knoweth, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father alone. (37)But as the days of Noah were, so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. (38)For as they were in the days preceding the deluge, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, (39)and they knew it not till the deluge came, and swept them all away; such also shall the coming of the Son of man be. (40)Then two shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other dismissed. (41)Two women grinding at the mill; the one taken, the other dismissed. (42)Watch therefore: for ye know not at what hour your Master cometh. (43)And this observe, that if the master of the family had known in which watch of the night the thief would have come, he would have watched, and not have suffered him to break into his house. (44)Therefore be ye also prepared: for in an hour that ye think not, the Son of man cometh.

(45)Who then is the faithful and provident servant, whom his Lord hath appointed over his household, to give them meat in the proper time?

(46)Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find thus occupied. (47)Verily I say unto you, that he will place him over all his substance. (48)But if that wicked servant say in his heart, My master will be a long while ere he comes; (49)and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; (50)the master of that servant will come in a day that he doth not expect him, and at an hour which he knoweth not. (51)And will cut him asunder, and give him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

CHAP. XXV.

THEN shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps, went forth to meet the bridegroom. (2)But five of them were provident, and five foolish. (3)Those who were taking their lamps, took no oil with them: (4)but the provident took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5)But as the bridegroom stayed long, they all slumbered and slept. (6)Then at midnight the cry came, Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go forth to meet him. (7)Then all these virgins arose, and set about tr.i.m.m.i.n.g their lamps. (8)And the foolish said to the provident, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. (9)But the provident replied, saying, No; lest there be not a sufficiency for us and you: but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

(10)But while they were gone away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they who were prepared went in with him to the marriage-feast: and the door was shut. (11)Then came afterwards the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us. (12)But he answering said, Verily, I know you not.

(13)Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.

(14)For the case is like that of a man, who travelling abroad, called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. (15)And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his several capacity; and immediately went abroad. (16)He then who had received the five talents, went and traded with them, and acquired five other talents. (17)In the same manner also he that had the two, gained also himself two others. (18)But he that had received the one talent, went and digged a hole in the ground, and hid the silver of his master. (19)Then after a long absence the master of these servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. (20)And he who had received the five talents, coming to him, brought five other talents, saying, Sir, thou deliveredst to me five talents: I have gained to them five other talents. (21)His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master. (22)Then came also he that had received the two talents: and said, Sir, thou deliveredst to me two talents: lo! I have gained to them two other talents. (23)His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter thou into thy master's joy. (24)Then came also he that had received the one talent, and said, Sir, knowing thee, that thou art a severe man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering from whence thou hast not scattered: (25)and being afraid, I went and hid thy talent in the ground: see here, thou hast thine own. (26)Then his master answering said to him, Thou wicked and idle slave, thou knewest that I reap whence I had not sown, and gather where I had not scattered: (27)thou oughtest then to have placed my money with the bankers, so when I came I should have received my own with interest.

(28)Take therefore from him the talent, and give it to him that hath the ten talents. (29)For to every one that hath shall be given, and he shall abound: but from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. (30)And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(31)But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: (32)and before him shall all the nations be gathered together; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats: (33)and he shall place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. (34)Then shall the King say to those on his right-hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; (35)for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was a stranger, and ye received me hospitably: (36)naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye took care of me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.

(37)Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38)When indeed saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

(39)When indeed saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

(40)And the king answering shall say to them, Verily I tell you, for as much as ye have done it to one of these my brethren, the very least of them, ye have done it unto me.

(41)Then shall he say also to those on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42)for I was hungry, and ye gave me nothing to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me nothing to drink: (43)I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye did not clothe me: sick, and in prison, and ye took no care of me. (44)Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45)Then shall he reply to them, saying, For as much as ye have not done it to one of the least of these, neither have ye done it to me. (46)And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

CHAP. XXVI.

AND it came to pa.s.s, that when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, (2)Ye know that after two days is the pa.s.sover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. (3)Then were the chief priests and scribes, and the elders of the people gathered together in the palace of the high-priest, called Caiaphas. (4)And they consulted together, how they might seize Jesus by guile, and put him to death.

(5)But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be a tumult among the people.

(6)Now when Jesus was at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, (7)there came to him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious aromatic ointment, and poured it upon his head as he sat at table.

(8)But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, For what end is this waste? (9)For this ointment might have been sold for a considerable sum, and given to the poor. (10)Then Jesus knowing it, said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath performed a good act upon me: (11)for the poor ye have always with you, but me ye have not always: (12)for in pouring this odoriferous ointment on my body, she hath done it for my burial. (13)Verily I say unto you, Wherever this Gospel is preached through the whole world, what she hath done shall be also spoken of for a memorial of her.

(14)Then went one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests, (15)and said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? Then they placed before him thirty pieces of silver. (16)And from that time he sought an opportunity to deliver him up to them.

(17)Then on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the pa.s.sover? (18)And he said, Go into the city, unto such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand: I will keep the pa.s.sover with my disciples at thy house. (19)And his disciples did as Jesus commanded them; and they made ready the pa.s.sover. (20)And when the evening was come, he sat down at table with the twelve. (21)And as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. (22)And exceedingly grieved, they began to say to him every one of them, Lord, am I the person? (23)But he answering said, He that dippeth his hand with me into the dish, that man shall betray me.

(24)The Son of man indeed is departing, as it is written of him: but wo to that man, by whom the Son of man is betrayed! well had it been for that man if he had never had a being. (25)Then Judas, who betrayed him, addressing him said, Master, is it I? He saith to him, Thou hast named the person.

(26)Then as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessing, brake, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

(27)And taking the cup, and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this: (28)for this is my blood, that _blood_ of the new testament, which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. (29)And I tell you, That I will no more henceforth drink of this produce of the vine, until that day when I drink it with you, new, in the kingdom of my Father. (30)And when they had sung an hymn, they went out to the mount of Olives.

(31)Then saith Jesus unto them, Ye all will be offended at me this night: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (32)But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. (33)Then Peter, taking up the word, said to him, Though all should be offended at thee, yet will I never be offended. (34)Jesus saith to him, I tell thee of a certainty, that this night, before the c.o.c.k crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (35)Peter said to him, Though I should die with thee, never will I deny thee. In like manner also said all the disciples. (36)Then cometh Jesus with them to a place called Gethsemane, and saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. (37)And taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be deeply sorrowful, and to be overwhelmed with dejection. (38)Then saith he to them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful even to death: abide here, and watch with me. (39)And going a little farther, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pa.s.s from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (40)And he cometh to the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and he saith to Peter, Is it so, that ye have not strength to watch with me one hour? (41)Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak. (42)Again the second time he went away, and prayed, saying, O my Father, If it be not possible, that this cup pa.s.s from me, but that I should drink it, thy will be done. (43)And coming, he found them asleep again, for their eyes were weighed down. (44)And leaving them, he went away again, and prayed the third time, repeating the same sentence. (45)Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Do ye still sleep on, and repose yourselves? lo! the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (46)Arise, let us go: lo! he that betrayeth me approaches.

(47)And while he was yet speaking, behold, Judas one of the twelve came, and with him a great mult.i.tude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. (48)Now he that betrayed him had given them a signal, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: seize him. (49)And immediately approaching to Jesus, he said, Hail, master; and kissed him. (50)Then spake Jesus to him, Friend, for what purpose art thou here? Then approaching they laid hands on Jesus, and seized him.

(51)And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretching out his hand, drew his sword, and striking at a servant of the high-priest, cut off his ear. (52)Then saith Jesus unto him, Return thy sword into its sheath: for all who take the sword, shall perish by the sword.

(53)Thinkest thou, that I cannot now entreat my Father, and he will give me more than twelve legions of angels? (54)But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

(55)In that hour said Jesus to the mult.i.tudes, Are ye come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to apprehend me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid not hold upon me. (56)But all this is come to pa.s.s, that the scriptures of the prophets should be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

(57)Then they who had apprehended Jesus, brought him to Caiaphas the high-priest, where the scribes and elders were a.s.sembled. (58)But Peter followed him at a great distance unto the palace of the high-priest, and entering in, sat down with the servants, to see the issue. (59)Now the chief priests and elders and the whole sanhedrim, sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; (60)and found none: and though many false witnesses came, they found it not _sufficient_. But at the last two false witnesses stepping forth, (61)said, This fellow said, I am able to pull down the temple of G.o.d, and to build it up in three days. (62)And the high-priest rising up, said to him, Answerest thou nothing? what do these men witness against thee? (63)But Jesus was silent. And the high-priest addressing him, said, I adjure thee, by the living G.o.d, that thou tell us, if thou art the Messiah, the Son of G.o.d. (64)Jesus saith to him, Thou hast spoken _the fact_. Moreover I tell you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

(65)Then the high-priest rent his garments, saying, he hath blasphemed: what farther need have we of witnesses? lo! now ye have heard his blasphemy: (66)what think ye? They answered and said, He is deserving of death. (67)Then they spit in his face, and buffeted him about; and some slapt his face with their hands, (68)saying, Prophesy to us, you Messiah, who it is that struck thee!

(69)Now Peter sat without in the hall: and there came to him a single maid-servant, saying, Thou also wert with Jesus of Galilee. (70)But he denied it before them all, a.s.serting, I know not what thou art saying.

(71)Then as he was going out at the gate, another maid-servant saw him, and saith to those who were there, This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth. (72)Then again he denied with an oath, I know not the man.