The Soldiers Bribed to Lie

¹¹ As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² After the priests^[a] had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money ¹³ and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ ¹⁴ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with^[b] him and keep you out of trouble.”^{(A) 15} They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.^(B)

The Great Commission

¹⁶ The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.^{(C) 17} When they saw him, they worshiped,^[c] but some doubted. ¹⁸ Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.^{(D) 19} Go, therefore, and make disciples^(E) of^[d] all nations,^(F) baptizing^(G) them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,^[e] I am with you always,^[f] to the end of the age.”^(H)

¹² After this, he appeared^(A) in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country.^{(B) 13} And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.

The Great Commission

¹⁴ Later he appeared to the Eleven^(C) themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.^{(D) 15} Then^(E) he said to them, “Go into all the world^(F) and preach the gospel to all creation.^{(G) 16} Whoever believes^(H) and is baptized will be saved,^(I) but whoever does not believe will be condemned.^{(J) 17} And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;^{[a] 18} they will pick up snakes; ^[b](K) if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm^(L) them; they will lay hands on^(M) the sick, and they will get well.”

The Ascension

¹⁹ So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them,^(N) was taken up into heaven^(O) and sat down at the right hand^(P) of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]

The Emmaus Disciples

¹³ Now^(A) that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles^[a](B) from Jerusalem.^{(C) 14} Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. ¹⁵ And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. ¹⁶ But they^[b] were prevented from recognizing him.^{(D) 17} Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having^[c] with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.

¹⁸ The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” ^(E)

¹⁹ “What things?” he asked them.

So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth,^(F) who was a prophet^(G) powerful in action and speech^(H) before God and all the people,^{(I) 20} and how our chief priests and leaders^(J) handed him over to be sentenced to death,^(K) and they crucified him.^{(L) 21} But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem^(M) Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day^(N) since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, ²³ and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”^(O)

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow^[d] to believe all that the prophets have spoken!^{(P) 26} Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer^(Q) these things and enter into his glory?”^{(R) 27} Then beginning with Moses^(S) and all the Prophets,^(T) he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.^(U)

²⁸ They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther.^{(V) 29} But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

³⁰ It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke^(W) it, and gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened,^(X) and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.^{(Y) 32} They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures^(Z) to us?” ³³ That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven^(AA) and those with them gathered together, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” ^{(AB) 35} Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.^(AC)

The Reality of the Risen Jesus

³⁶ As^(AD) they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace^(AE) to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and terrified^(AF) and thought they were seeing a ghost.^{(AG) 38} “Why are you troubled?”^(AH) he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself!^(AI) Touch me and see,^(AJ) because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” ⁴⁰ Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,^{[e] 43} and he took it and ate in their presence.

⁴⁴ He told them, “These are my words^(AK) that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,^(AL) and the Psalms^(AM) must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds^(AN) to understand^(AO) the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He also said to them, “This is what is written:^[f] The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day,^{(AP) 47} and repentance for^[g] forgiveness of sins^(AQ) will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,^(AR) beginning at Jerusalem.^{(AS) 48} You are witnesses^(AT) of these things. ⁴⁹ And look, I am sending you^[h] what my Father promised.^(AU) As for you, stay in the city^[i] until you are empowered^[j](AV) from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,^(AW) and lifting up his hands^(AX) he blessed them. ⁵¹ And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.^{(AY) 52} After worshiping him,^(AZ) they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.^{(BA) 53} And they were continually in the temple praising God.^[k](BB)

The Disciples Commissioned

¹⁹ When it was evening on that first day of the week,^(A) the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”^(B)

²⁰ Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side.^(C) So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me,^(D) I also send you.”^{(E) 22} After saying this, he breathed on them^(F) and said,^[a] “Receive the Holy Spirit.^{(G) 23} If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”^(H)

Thomas Sees and Believes

²⁴ But Thomas^(I) (called “Twin”^[b]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,^(J) and put my hand into his side,^(K) I will never believe.”^(L)

²⁶ A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”^(M)

²⁸ Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.^[c] Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”^(N)

The Purpose of This Gospel

³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs^(O) in the presence of his disciples that are not written^(P) in this book.^{(Q) 31} But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah,^(R) the Son^(S) of God,^[d](T) and that by believing you may have life in his name.^(U)

Jesus’s Third Appearance to the Disciples

21 After this, Jesus revealed^(V) himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.^[e](W) He revealed himself in this way:

² Simon Peter,^(X) Thomas^(Y) (called “Twin”^[f]), Nathanael^(Z) from Cana of Galilee,^(AA) Zebedee’s^(AB) sons, and two others of his disciples were together.

³ “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them.

“We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.^(AC)

⁴ When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus.^{(AD) 5} “Friends,”^[g] Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did,^[h] and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. ⁷ The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” ^(AE)

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. ⁸ Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards^[i](AF) away), the other disciples came in the boat,^(AG) dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. ¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.^(AH)

¹² “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time^(AI) Jesus appeared^[j](AJ) to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus’s Threefold Restoration of Peter

¹⁵ When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,^[k] do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

“Feed my lambs,” he told him. ¹⁶ A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love^(AK) me?”^(AL)

“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

“Shepherd^(AM) my sheep,”^(AN) he told him.

¹⁷ He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love^(AO) me?”

Peter was grieved^(AP) that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything;^(AQ) you know that I love you.”

“Feed^(AR) my sheep,” Jesus said. ¹⁸ “Truly I tell you,^(AS) when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ He said this to indicate by what kind of death^(AT) Peter would glorify God.^(AU) After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”^(AV)

Correcting a False Report

²⁰ So Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved^(AW) following them, the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is the one that’s going to betray you?” ^{(AX) 21} When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”

²² “If I want him to remain until I come,”^(AY) Jesus answered, “what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

²³ So this rumor^[l] spread to the brothers and sisters^(AZ) that this disciple would not die.^(BA) Yet Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”

Epilogue

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the books^[m] that would be written.^(BB)