Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech, Luke Part 10

023:022 A third time he appealed to them: "Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him."

023:023 But they urgently insisted, demanding with frantic outcries that He should be crucified; and their clamour prevailed.

023:024 So Pilate gave judgement, yielding to their demand.

023:025 The man who was lying in prison charged with riot and murder and for whom they clamoured he set free, but Jesus he gave up to be dealt with as they desired.

023:026 As soon as they led Him away, they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenaean, who was coming in from the country, and on his shoulders they put the cross, for him to carry it behind Jesus.

023:027 A vast crowd of the people also followed Him, and of women who were beating their b.r.e.a.s.t.s and wailing for Him.

023:028 But Jesus turned towards them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

023:029 For a time is coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the women who never bore children, and the b.r.e.a.s.t.s which have never given nourishment.'

023:030 Then will they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us;'

and to the hills, 'Cover us.'

023:031 For if they are doing these things in the case of the green tree, what will be done in that of the dry?"

023:032 They brought also two others, criminals, to put them to death with Him.

023:033 When they reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they nailed Him to the cross, and the criminals also, one at His right hand and one at His left.

023:034 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." And they divided His garments among them, drawing lots for them; 023:035 and the people stood looking on. The Rulers, too, repeatedly uttered their bitter taunts. "This fellow," they said, "saved others: let him save himself, if he is G.o.d's Anointed, the Chosen One."

023:036 And the soldiers also made sport of Him, coming and offering Him sour wine and saying, 023:037 "Are *you* the King of the Jews? Save yourself, then!"

023:038 There was moreover a writing over His head: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

023:039 Now one of the criminals who had been crucified insulted Him, saying, "Are not you the Christ? Save yourself and us."

023:040 But the other, answering, reproved him. "Do you also not fear G.o.d,"

he said, "when you are actually suffering the same punishment?

023:041 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving due requital for what we have done. But He has done nothing amiss."

023:042 And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom."

023:043 "I tell you in solemn truth," replied Jesus, "that this very day you shall be with me in Paradise."

023:044 It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon.

023:045 The sun was darkened, and the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn down the middle, 023:046 and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and said, "Father, to Thy hands I entrust my spirit." And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit.

023:047 The Captain, seeing what had happened, gave glory to G.o.d, saying, "Beyond question this man was innocent."

023:048 And all the crowds that had come together to this sight, after seeing all that had occurred, returned to the city beating their b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

023:049 But all His acquaintances, and the women who had been His followers after leaving Galilee, continued standing at a distance and looking on.

023:050 There was a member of the Council of the name of Joseph, a kind-hearted and upright man, 023:051 who came from the Jewish town of Arimathaea and was awaiting the coming of the Kingdom of G.o.d. He had not concurred in the design or action of the Council, 023:052 and now he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

023:053 Then, taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen sheet and laid it in a tomb in the rock, where no one else had yet been put.

023:054 It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was near at hand.

023:055 The women--those who had come with Jesus from Galilee-- followed close behind, and saw the tomb and how His body was placed.

023:056 Then they returned, and prepared spices and perfumes.

On the Sabbath they rested in obedience to the Commandment.

024:001 And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.

024:002 But they found the stone rolled back from the tomb, 024:003 and on entering they found that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there.

024:004 At this they were in great perplexity, when suddenly there stood by them two men whose raiment flashed like lightning.

024:005 The women were terrified; but, as they stood with their faces bowed to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you search among the dead for Him who is living?

024:006 He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 024:007 when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

024:008 Then they remembered His words, 024:009 and returning from the tomb they reported all this to the Eleven and to all the rest.

024:010 The women were Mary of Magdala, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; and they and the rest of the women related all this to the Apostles.

024:011 But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women.

024:012 Peter, however, rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw nothing but the linen cloths: so he went away to his own home, wondering at what had happened.

024:013 On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem, 024:014 and were conversing about all these recent events; 024:015 and, in the midst of their conversation and discussion, Jesus Himself came and joined them, 024:016 though they were prevented from recognizing Him.

024:017 "What is the subject," He asked them, "on which you are talking so earnestly, as you walk?" And they stood still, looking full of sorrow.

024:018 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered, "Are you a stranger lodging alone in Jerusalem, that you have known nothing of the things that have lately happened in the city?"

024:019 "What things?" He asked. "The things about Jesus the Nazarene,"

they said, "who was a Prophet powerful in work and word before G.o.d and all the people; 024:020 and how our High Priests and Rulers delivered Him up to be sentenced to death, and crucified Him.

024:021 But we were hoping that it was He who was about to ransom Israel.

Yes, and moreover it was the day before yesterday that these things happened.

024:022 And, besides, some of the women of our company have amazed us.

They went to the tomb at daybreak, 024:023 and, finding that His body was not there, they came and declared to us that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.

024:024 Thereupon some of our party went to the tomb and found things just as the women had said; but Jesus Himself they did not see."

024:025 "O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken!

024:026 Was there not a necessity for the Christ thus to suffer, and then enter into His glory?"

024:027 And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the pa.s.sages in Scripture which refer to Himself.

024:028 When they had come near the village to which they were going, He appeared to be going further.

024:029 But they pressed Him to remain with them. "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over."

So He went in to stay with them.

024:030 But as soon as He had sat down with them, and had taken the bread and had blessed and broken it, and was handing it to them, 024:031 their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

But He vanished from them.

024:032 "Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?"

024:033 So they rose and without an hour's delay returned to Jerusalem, and found the Eleven and the rest met together, who said to them, 024:034 "Yes, it is true: the Master has come back to life.

He has been seen by Simon."

024:035 Then they related what had happened on the way, and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

024:036 While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!"

024:037 Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit; 024:038 but He said to them, "Why such alarm? And why are there such questionings in your minds?

024:039 See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have."

024:040 And then He showed them His hands and His feet.

024:041 But, while they still could not believe it for joy and were full of astonishment, He asked them, "Have you any food here?"

024:042 And they gave Him a piece of roasted fish, 024:043 and He took it and ate it in their presence.

024:044 And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me."

024:045 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 024:046 and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead; 024:047 and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

024:048 You are witnesses as to these things.

024:049 And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

024:050 And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them.

024:051 And while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.

024:052 They wors.h.i.+pped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

024:053 Afterwards they were continually in attendance at the Temple, blessing G.o.d.