(73)But after a little while they who stood by, came up and said to Peter, a.s.suredly thou also art one of them: for even thy speech maketh thee manifest. (74)Then began he to utter the bitterest curses, and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately the c.o.c.k crew. (75)And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, who had said unto him, Before the c.o.c.k shall crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And going out, he wept bitterly.

CHAP. XXVII.

NOW when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus how they might put him to death.

(2)And having bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. (3)Then Judas who betrayed him, seeing that he was condemned, repenting, carried back the thirty silver pieces to the chief priests and the elders, (4)saying, I have sinned, in betraying innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. (5)And throwing down the silver pieces in the temple, he departed; and going out, hanged himself. (6)Then the chief priests taking up the silver pieces, said, It is not lawful to put them to the treasure destined for sacred uses, because it is the price of blood.

(7)So taking counsel, they bought with them a potter's field, as a burial-place for strangers. (8)Therefore is that field called, The field of blood unto this day. (9)Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty silver pieces, the price of him who had been estimated at that rate, whom they of the children of Israel did value: (10)and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord had ordered me.

(11)Then was Jesus placed before the governor, and the governor interrogated him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? Then Jesus replied to him, Thou sayest _true_. (12)And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he made no reply. (13)Then saith Pilate to him, Hearest thou not how many things they testify against thee?

(14)And he made him no reply, no not to a single word: so that the governor marvelled exceedingly. (15)Now at the feast, the governor had been accustomed to release one prisoner to the people, whomsoever they chose. (16)And they had at that time a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. (17)Being therefore gathered around him, Pilate said to them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus called Messiah? (18)For he knew that out of envy they had delivered him up.

(19)Then, as he was sitting on the tribunal, his wife sent a message to him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous person; for I have suffered much to-day in a dream on his account. (20)But the chief priests and elders persuaded the populace that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. (21)The governor repeating the question, said to them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? They said Barabbas. (22)Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called the Messiah? They all say to him, Let him be crucified. (23)The governor replied, But what evil hath he done? They cried out with greater vehemence, saying, Let him be crucified.

(24)When Pilate saw that it was of no use to contend, but that rather a tumult was rising, he took water, and washed his hands before the people, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: ye must answer for it. (25)Then all the people answering said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

(26)Then he released unto them Barabbas: but having scourged Jesus, he delivered him up to be crucified. (27)Thereupon the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus away to the Praetorium, gathered around him the whole band: (28)and stripping him, put about him a scarlet cloak.

(29)And platting a crown of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a cane in his right hand: and bowing the knee before him, mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! (30)And spitting upon him, they took the cane, and struck him upon his head. (31)And when they had insulted him, they took off from him the cloak, and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him. (32)And as they were going out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to carry his cross.

(33)And when they were come to a place called Golgotha (which is called the place of a skull), (34)they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and having tasted it, he refused to drink. (35)Then having crucified him, they parted his garments, casting the lot: that it might be fulfilled, what was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and for my vesture they threw the lot. (36)And sitting down, they guarded him there. (37)And they placed over his head his accusation in writing, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (38)Then were crucified with him two robbers, one on his right hand, and the other on his left.

(39)And they who were pa.s.sing by reviled him, shaking their heads, (40)and saying, Thou that canst pull down the temple, and build it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of G.o.d, descend from the cross. (41)And with similar language also did the chief priests, insulting him, with the scribes and elders, and Pharisees, (42)say, He saved others, himself he is unable to save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him.

(43)He trusted in G.o.d; let him now deliver him, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of G.o.d. (44)And in the same manner also, did the robbers who were crucified with him, revile him.

(45)Now from the fifth hour darkness fell upon all the land, unto the ninth hour. (46)But about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with an exceeding loud cry, saying, Eli! Eli! lama, sabacthani? that is, My G.o.d! my G.o.d! why hast thou forsaken me? (47)Then some of those who stood there, hearing him, said, This man is calling out for Elias.

(48)And immediately one of them, running, and taking a sponge, and filling it with vinegar, and fastening it to a pole, put it to him to drink. (49)The others said, Let him alone, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

(50)Then Jesus crying again with a loud voice gave up the ghost.

(51)And, lo! the vail of the temple was rent in two, from the upper part to the bottom; and the earth was shaken; and the rocks were rent; (52)and the sepulchres were opened; and many bodies of saints, who slept, arose; (53)and coming out of the sepulchres after his resurrection, entered into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

(54)Then the centurion, and they who were with him, guarding Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things which were done, were exceedingly terrified, saying, a.s.suredly this was the Son of G.o.d.

(55)Now there were many women on the spot, looking on at a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: (56)among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

(57)But when the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, whose name was Joseph, who himself also was a disciple of Jesus: (58)he going in to Pilate, begged for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered the body to be given him. (59)And Joseph receiving the body, wrapped it in clean linen; (60)and laid it in his own new sepulchre, which he had hewn out in a rock: and rolling a vast stone against the door of the sepulchre, departed. (61)And Mary Magdalen, and the other Mary, were there sitting opposite the sepulchre.

(62)Now on the morrow, which is the day after the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came in a body to Pilate, (63)saying, Sir, we have reflected, that this deceiver, when yet alive, said, After three days I will rise again. (64)Command therefore that the sepulchre be made perfectly secure until the third day, lest his disciples coming by night, steal him, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead, so the last delusion would be worse than the first. (65)Then said Pilate unto them, Ye have a guard, go and make it as secure as ye think fit. (66)So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting a seal upon the stone, after placing the guard.

CHAP. XXVIII.

NOW after the eve of the sabbath, as the light was dawning, towards the first day of the week, Mary Magdalen had come, and the other Mary, to view the sepulchre. (2)And, lo! there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (3)His aspect was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow. (4)And for fear of him the guards shook, and became as dead men. (5)Then the angel addressing them, said to the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye are seeking Jesus who was crucified. (6)He is not here: he is risen, as he said. Come hither, behold the place where the Lord lay. (7)And go quickly, tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and, lo! he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. (8)And they went out quickly from the sepulchre with fear, and great joy; and ran to carry the tidings to his disciples. (9)And as they were going to tell the disciples, then behold Jesus met them saying, Hail! And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. (10)Then saith Jesus to them, Be not affrighted: go, tell my disciples that they go into Galilee, there shall they see me.

(11)And as they were going, some of the guards who were come into the city, had told the chief priests all things which had happened. (12)And being a.s.sembled with the elders, and having held a council, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13)saying, Report, that his disciples coming by night stole him away, while you were asleep.

(14)And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and preserve you harmless. (15)So they took the money, and did as they were instructed. And this account is circulated among the Jews to this day.

(16)Then the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain, where Jesus had ordered them. (17)And when they saw him, they worshipped him.

Still some doubted. (18)Then Jesus approaching, spake to them, saying, All power is given me in heaven and upon earth. (19)Go therefore, make disciples among all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20)teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo! I am with you at all times even to the end of the world. Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK.

CHAP. I.

THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of G.o.d; (2)as it is written in the prophets[11]; "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, he shall prepare thy way before thee. (3)The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths strait."

(4)John was baptising in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (5)And all the country of Judea went out to him, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(6)Now John was clothed with a camel's hair garment, and a girdle of leather about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

(7)And he preached, saying, One mightier than I is coming after me, the string of whose shoes I am not worthy, stooping down, to unloose. (8)I indeed baptise you with water; but he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost.

(9)And it came to pa.s.s in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptised of John in Jordan. (10)And immediately on going up from the water, he saw the heavens divided by a chasm, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: (11)and a voice came from heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased. (12)And immediately the Spirit impelled him to go into the wilderness. (13)And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministred unto him.

(14)But after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of G.o.d: (15)and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of G.o.d draweth nigh: repent, and believe the gospel.

(16)And as he walked near the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

(17)And Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will appoint you to be fishers of men: (18)and immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. (19)And going from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and others in the vessel mending the nets. (20)And immediately he called them: and leaving their father Zebedee in the vessel with the hirelings, they went after him.

(21)And they entered into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath going into the synagogue, he taught. (22)And they were struck with astonishment at his doctrine; for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (23)And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, (24)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 G.o.d.

(25)And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him.

(26)And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. (27)And they were all in astonishment, so that they questioned one another, saying, What is this? what is this new doctrine? that with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him? (28)And there went out a report of him immediately into all the region of Galilee round about.

(29)Then straitway going out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30)But Simon's wife's mother lay in a fever, and immediately they informed him of her. (31)And he came and raised her up, and the fever left her immediately, and she waited upon them.

(32)But when the evening was come, after the sun was set, they brought unto him all that had illnesses, and the demoniacs. (33)And the whole city was gathered together about the door; (34)and he healed many who were grievously afflicted with a variety of diseases; and he cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak for they knew him.

(35)And very early (the night being far advanced towards morning) rising up, he went forth, and retired into a desert place, and there prayed. (36)And Simon, and those who were with him, eagerly pursued him; (37)and when they had found him, they say unto him, All men are inquiring after thee. (38)And he said unto them, Let us go into the neighbouring towns, that I may preach there also; for unto this purpose came I forth. (39)And he was preaching in their synagogues, through all Galilee, and casting out devils.

(40)And there came to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

(41)Then Jesus, moved with compa.s.sion, stretching out his hand, touched him, and said to him, I will; be thou cleansed. (42)And as he spake, the leprosy instantly departed from him, and he was cleansed. (43)And giving him a strict charge, he immediately sent him away; (44)and said to him, Take care, that thou speak not a word to any man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy purification, what Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (45)But he going out, began to proclaim it much, and to publish abroad an account of it, so that he could no more openly come into the city; but was without in desert places; and they came to him from all parts of the country.

CHAP. II.

AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days: and it was heard, that he was in the house; (2)and immediately many collected round him, so that there was no room, not even at the door; and he spake the word to them. (3)And they come to him, carrying a paralytic, borne of four: (4)and not being able to come nigh him because of the crowd, they stripped off the roofing of the house where he was; and having broken a way through, they let down with ropes the couch, on which the paralytic lay. (5)Then Jesus beholding their faith, saith to the paralytic, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee. (6)Now there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, (7)Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but the one G.o.d? (8)And instantly Jesus knowing by his spirit, that they reasoned thus among each other, said to them, Why reason ye about these things in your hearts? (9)Which is the easier thing, to say to a paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and take up thy couch, and walk away? (10)But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority upon earth to forgive sins, he saith to the paralytic, (11)I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thy house. (12)And he arose instantly, and taking up his couch, went out before them all; so that they were all astonished, and glorified G.o.d, saying, We never before saw any thing like this.

(13)And he went forth again to the sea side; and all the people came unto him; and he taught them. (14)And pa.s.sing by, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the custom-house, and he saith to him, Follow me.

And he arose and followed him (15)And it came to pa.s.s, as he sat at table in his house, many publicans also, and sinners, sat down with Jesus and his disciples; for they were numerous, and they followed him.

(16)And the scribes and the Pharisees seeing him eat with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? (17)And when Jesus heard it, he said unto them, They who are in strong health have no need of a physician, but they who have illness: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

(18)And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees kept fasts; and they came and said to him, Wherefore do the disciples of John, and of the Pharisees, fast? but thy disciples keep no fast. (19)And Jesus said to 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. (20)But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. (21)And no man seweth on a patch of cloth undressed upon an old garment: but if otherwise, the new piece supplied taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. (22)And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; but if otherwise, the new wine will burst the bottles, and the wine will be spilt, and the bottles destroyed: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

(23)And he was walking through the cornfields on the sabbath; and his disciples as they went on the road plucked the ears of corn. (24)And the Pharisees said to him, See, why are they doing on the sabbath, what is not lawful? (25)And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he was under necessity, and was hungry, himself and they who were with him? (26)How he entered into the house of G.o.d to Abiathar the high-priest; and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful for any to eat except the priests, and he gave also to those who were with him?

(27)And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. (28)Wherefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

CHAP. III.

AND he entered again into the synagogue; and a man was there who had a withered hand. (2)And they watched him if he would cure him on the sabbath; that they might accuse him. (3)And he saith to the man who had the withered hand, Rise up in the midst. (4)And he saith to them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil, to preserve life, or to kill? but they were silent. (5)Then looking round about on them with indignation, exceedingly grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith to the man, Stretch out thine hand; and he stretched it out: and his hand was restored sound as the other. (6)And the Pharisees instantly going out, held a council with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

(7)And Jesus retired with his disciples to the sea side; and a great mult.i.tude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, (8)and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from the farther side of Jordan; and they around Tyre and Sidon, a vast mult.i.tude, when they heard what wonders he did, came unto him. (9)And he spoke to his disciples that a little boat should be ready for him, because of the crowd, lest they should press upon him: (10)for he healed many; insomuch, that they thronged in upon him, that they might touch him, as many as had afflictive diseases. (11)And the unclean spirits, when they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried out saying, Thou art the Son of G.o.d.

(12)And he repeatedly charged them, that they should not make him known.

(13)And he went up into a mountain, and called to him those whom he chose; and they came to him. (14)And he appointed twelve to be with him, and to send them out to preach: (15)and to have authority to cure diseases, and to cast out devils: (16)and Simon he surnamed Peter; (17)and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and surnamed them Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder: (18)and Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, (19)and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him: and they came into an house.