The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 19

(39)And some of the Pharisees from the mult.i.tude said to him: Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. (40)And answering he said to them: I tell you that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

(41)And when he came near, as he saw the city, he wept over it, (42)saying: If even thou hadst known, at least in this thy day, the things that belong to thy peace! But now they are hidden from thine eyes. (43)For days will come upon thee, that thine enemies will cast up a mound about thee, and compa.s.s thee round, and shut thee in on every side, (44)and will level thee with the ground, and thy children within thee, and will not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

(45)And entering into the temple, he began to cast out those who sold; (46)saying to them: It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer; but ye made it a den of robbers.

(47)And he was teaching daily in the temple; and the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people were seeking to destroy him, (48)and could not find what they might do; for all the people hung, listening, upon him.

XX.

AND it came to pa.s.s, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and publis.h.i.+ng the good news, that the chief priests and the scribes came to him with the elders, (2)and spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this authority? (3)And he answering said to them: I also will ask you one thing; and tell it me. (4)John's immersion, was it from heaven, or from men? (5)And they reasoned with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven, he will say, Why, then did ye not believe him? (6)But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. (7)And they answered, that they knew not whence it was. (8)And Jesus said to them: Neither do I say to you, by what authority I do these things.

(9)And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time. (10)And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. (11)And again he sent another servant; and him also, having beaten and treated him shamefully, they sent away empty. (12)And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

(13)And the lord of the vineyard said: What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps, seeing him, they will reverence him. (14)But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying: This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may become ours. (15)So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? (16)He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And hearing it, they said: Far be it! (17)And he, looking on them, said: What then is this that is written,

The stone which the builders disallowed, The same is become the head of the corner.

(18)Every one that falls upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

(19)And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that hour; and they feared the people; for they knew that he spoke this parable against them.

(20)And watching him[20:20], they sent forth spies, feigning themselves to be just men, that they might take hold of his words, in order to deliver him up to the magistracy, and to the authority of the governor. (21)And they asked him, saying: Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and regardest not the person of any, but teachest the way of G.o.d truly. (22)Is it lawful that we should give tribute to Caesar, or not? (23)And perceiving their craftiness, he said to them: (24)Show me a denary[20:24]. Whose image and inscription has it? And answering they said: Caesar's. (25)And he said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to G.o.d the things that are G.o.d's. (26)And they could not take hold of his words before the people; and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.

(27)And some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, coming to him, asked him, (28)saying: Teacher, Moses wrote to us, if a man's brother die, having a wife, and he die childless, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to his brother.

(29)There were therefore seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died childless; (30)and the second and the third took her; (31)and in like manner also the seven left no children, and died. (32)At last the woman also died. (33)In the resurrection, therefore, of which of them is she wife? For the seven had her for a wife.

(34)And Jesus answering said to them: The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage. (35)But they who are accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; (36)for neither can they die any more; for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of G.o.d, being sons of the resurrection.

(37)Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, at The Bush, when he calls the Lord the G.o.d of Abraham, and the G.o.d of Isaac, and the G.o.d of Jacob. (38)For he is not a G.o.d of the dead, but of the living; for to him all live.

(39)And some of the scribes answering said: Teacher, thou saidst well.

(40)For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

(41)And he said to them: How say they that the Christ is son of David?

(42)And David himself says in the book of Psalms:

The LORD said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand, (43)Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

(44)David therefore calls him Lord, and how is he his son?

(45)And in the hearing of all the mult.i.tude, he said to his disciples: (46)Beware of the scribes, who desire to go about in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the first seats in the synagogues, and the first places at feasts; (47)who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These shall receive greater condemnation.

XXI.

AND looking up, he saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. (2)And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. (3)And he said: Of a truth I say to you, that this poor widow cast in more than all. (4)For all these, out of their abundance, cast into the offerings; but she, out of her want, cast in all the living that she had.

(5)And as some were saying of the temple, that it has been adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, he said: (6)As for these things which ye behold, days will come in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (7)And they asked him, saying: Teacher, when therefore will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to come to pa.s.s?

(8)And he said: Take heed that ye be not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying: I am he, and the time is at hand. Go not after them. (9)And when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified; for these things must first come to pa.s.s; but the end is not immediately.

(10)Then said he to them: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; (11)and there will be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there will be great portents and signs from heaven. (12)And before all these, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up into synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. (13)And it shall turn out to you for a testimony.

(14)Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer. (15)For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or withstand. (16)And ye will be delivered up both by parents, and brothers, and kindred, and friends; and some of you they will cause to be put to death. (17)And ye will be hated by all for my name's sake. (18)And there shall not a hair of your head perish. (19)In your patience possess your souls[21:19].

(20)And when ye shall see Jerusalem encompa.s.sed by armies, then know that its desolation is at hand. (21)Then let those in Judaea flee into the mountains; and let those in the midst of it depart out; and let those in the fields not enter into it. (22)Because these are the days of vengeance, that all the things which are written may be fulfilled.

(23)Woe to those who are with child, and to those who give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people. (24)And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.

(25)And there shall be signs in the sun, and moon, and stars; and on the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and waves; (26)men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking for those things that are coming on the world; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (27)And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with power and great glory. (28)And when these things begin to come to pa.s.s, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption is drawing nigh.

(29)And he spoke to them a parable: Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees. (30)When they already shoot forth, seeing it ye know of yourselves that the summer is already near. (31)So also ye, when ye see these things coming to pa.s.s, know that the kingdom of G.o.d is near.

(32)Verily I say to you, this generation shall not pa.s.s away, till all shall have come to pa.s.s. (33)Heaven and earth shall pa.s.s away; but my words shall not pa.s.s away.

(34)And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come upon you unawares. (35)For as a snare shall it come on all that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36)And watch, in every time praying that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pa.s.s, and to stand before the Son of man.

(37)And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called Olivet. (38)And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

XXII.

NOW the feast of unleavened bread was drawing near, which is called the Pa.s.sover; (2)and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

(3)And Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. (4)And he went away, and consulted with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him up to them. (5)And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. (6)And he promised, and sought opportunity to deliver him up to them in the absence of the mult.i.tude.

(7)And the day of unleavened bread came, when the pa.s.sover must be killed. (8)And he sent away Peter and John, saying: Go, and prepare us the pa.s.sover, that we may eat it. (9)And they said to him: Where wilt thou that we prepare? (10)And he said to them: Behold, when ye have entered into the city, there will meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters in. (11)And ye shall say to the master of the house: The Teacher says to thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I may eat the pa.s.sover with my disciples? (12)And he will show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready.

(13)And they went away, and found as he had said to them. And they made ready the pa.s.sover.

(14)And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. (15)And he said to them: I earnestly desired to eat this pa.s.sover with you before I suffer. (16)For I say to you, I shall eat of it no more, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of G.o.d. (17)And having received a cup, he gave thanks and said: Take this, and divide it among yourselves. (18)For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of G.o.d shall come.

(19)And taking a loaf, he gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying: This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me. (20)And the cup in like manner after supper, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.

(21)But, behold, the hand of him that betrays me is with me on the table. (22)For the Son of man indeed goes, as it was determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed! (23)And they began to inquire among themselves, who then it might be that should do this thing?

(24)And there arose also a contention among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. (25)And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles exercise lords.h.i.+p over them; and they who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. (26)But ye are not so; but let the greatest among you become as the younger, and he that is chief as he that serves. (27)For which is greater, he that reclines at table, or he that serves? Is not he that reclines at table? But I am in the midst of you as he that serves. (28)Ye are they who have continued with me in my temptations; (29)and I appoint to you a kingdom, as my Father appointed to me, (30)that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

(31)And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked for you, to sift as the wheat. (32)But I prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and thou, when thou hast turned, strengthen thy brethren.

(33)And he said to him: Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both to prison and to death. (34)And he said: I say to thee, Peter, a c.o.c.k will not crow this day, till thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

(35)And he said to them: When I sent you without purse, and bag, and sandals, lacked ye anything? And they said: Nothing. (36)Therefore said he to them: But now, he that has a purse let him take it, and likewise a bag; and he that has not, let him sell his garment and buy a sword. (37)For I say to you, that yet this which is written must be accomplished in me: And he was reckoned among transgressors; for the things concerning me have an end[22:37].

(38)And they said: Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said: It is enough!