Bible in 90 Days
Condemned by the Sanhedrin
57 Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house[a] the experts in the law[b] and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest’s courtyard. After[c] going in, he sat with the guards[d] to see the outcome. 59 The[e] chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally[f] two came forward 61 and declared, “This man[g] said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62 So[h] the high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?” 63 But Jesus was silent. The[i] high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ,[j] the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand[k] of the Power[l] and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[m] 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared,[n] “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now[o] you have heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your verdict?”[p] They[q] answered, “He is guilty and deserves[r] death.” 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy for us, you Christ![s] Who hit you?”[t]
Peter’s Denials
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A[u] slave girl[v] came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it in front of them all:[w] “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” 71 When[x] he went out to the gateway, another slave girl[y] saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.” 72 He denied it again with an oath, “I do not know the man!” 73 After[z] a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, “You really are one of them too—even your accent[aa] gives you away!” 74 At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment a rooster crowed.[ab] 75 Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.[ac]
Jesus Brought Before Pilate
27 When[ad] it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. 2 They[ae] tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate[af] the governor.[ag]
Judas’ Suicide
3 Now when[ah] Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus[ai] had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” But they said, “What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!” 5 So[aj] Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. 6 The[ak] chief priests took the silver and said, “It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 After[al] consulting together they bought the Potter’s Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. 8 For this reason that field has been called the “Field of Blood” to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah[am] the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel,[an] 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”[ao]
Jesus and Pilate
11 Then[ap] Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him,[aq] “Are you the king[ar] of the Jews?” Jesus[as] said, “You say so.”[at] 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?” 14 But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.
15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd,[au] whomever they wanted. 16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus[av] Barabbas. 17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus[aw] Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”[ax] 18 (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)[ay] 19 As[az] he was sitting on the judgment seat,[ba] his wife sent a message[bb] to him:[bc] “Have nothing to do with that innocent man;[bd] I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream[be] about him today.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The[bf] governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?”[bg] They all said, “Crucify him!”[bh] 23 He asked, “Why? What wrong has he done?” But they shouted more insistently, “Crucify him!”
Jesus is Condemned and Mocked
24 When[bi] Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!”[bj] 25 In[bk] reply all the people said, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged,[bl] he handed him over[bm] to be crucified.[bn] 27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence[bo] and gathered the whole cohort[bp] around him. 28 They[bq] stripped him and put a scarlet robe[br] around him, 29 and after braiding[bs] a crown of thorns,[bt] they put it on his head. They[bu] put a staff[bv] in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him:[bw] “Hail, king of the Jews!”[bx] 30 They[by] spat on him and took the staff[bz] and struck him repeatedly[ca] on the head. 31 When[cb] they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then[cc] they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
32 As[cd] they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced[ce] to carry his cross.[cf] 33 They[cg] came to a place called Golgotha[ch] (which means “Place of the Skull”)[ci] 34 and offered Jesus[cj] wine mixed with gall to drink.[ck] But after tasting it, he would not drink it. 35 When[cl] they had crucified[cm] him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.[cn] 36 Then they sat down and kept guard over him there. 37 Above[co] his head they put the charge against him,[cp] which read:[cq] “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.” 38 Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those[cr] who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself![cs] If you are God’s Son, come down[ct] from the cross!” 41 In[cu] the same way even the chief priests—together with the experts in the law[cv] and elders[cw]—were mocking him:[cx] 42 “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down[cy] now from the cross, we will believe in him! 43 He trusts in God—let God, if he wants to, deliver him now[cz] because he said, ‘I am God’s Son’!” 44 The[da] robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.[db]
Jesus’ Death
45 Now from noon until three,[dc] darkness came over all the land.[dd] 46 At[de] about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice,[df] “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”[dg] 47 When[dh] some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately[di] one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine,[dj] put it on a stick,[dk] and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah will come to save him.”[dl] 50 Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. 51 Just then[dm] the temple curtain[dn] was torn in two, from top to bottom. The[do] earth shook and the rocks were split apart. 52 And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died[dp] were raised. 53 (They[dq] came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) 54 Now when the centurion[dr] and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, “Truly this one was God’s Son!” 55 Many[ds] women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support[dt] were also there, watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus’ Burial
57 Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.[du] 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.[dv] Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph[dw] took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,[dx] 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock.[dy] Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance[dz] of the tomb and went away. 61 (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The[ea] next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees[eb] assembled before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body[ec] and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “Take[ed] a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.” 66 So[ee] they went with the soldiers[ef] of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
The Resurrection
28 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord[eg] descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His[eh] appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The[ei] guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said[ej] to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know[ek] that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.[el] 6 He is not here, for he has been raised,[em] just as he said. Come and see the place where he[en] was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He[eo] is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8 So[ep] they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But[eq] Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They[er] came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While[es] they were going, some[et] of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After[eu] they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body[ev] while we were asleep.’ 14 If[ew] this matter is heard before the governor,[ex] we will satisfy him[ey] and keep you out of trouble.”[ez] 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.[fa]
The Great Commission
16 So[fb] the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. 17 When[fc] they saw him, they worshiped him,[fd] but some doubted.[fe] 18 Then Jesus came up and said to them,[ff] “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go[fg] and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,[fh] 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember,[fi] I am with you[fj] always, to the end of the age.”[fk]
The Ministry of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the gospel[fl] of Jesus Christ,[fm] the Son of God.[fn] 2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[fo]
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way,[fp]
3 the voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make[fq] his paths straight.’”[fr]
4 In the wilderness[fs] John the baptizer[ft] began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.[fu] 5 People[fv] from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them[fw] in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore a garment made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.[fx] 7 He proclaimed,[fy] “One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy[fz] to bend down and untie the strap[ga] of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
9 Now[gb] in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.[gc] 10 And just as Jesus[gd] was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens[ge] splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.[gf] 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my one dear Son;[gg] in you I take great delight.”[gh] 12 The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.[gi] 13 He was in the wilderness forty days,[gj] enduring temptations from Satan. He[gk] was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.[gl]
Preaching in Galilee and the Call of the Disciples
14 Now after John was imprisoned,[gm] Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel[gn] of God.[go] 15 He[gp] said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God[gq] is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” 16 As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).[gr] 17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people!”[gs] 18 They left their nets immediately and followed him.[gt] 19 Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their[gu] boat[gv] mending nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus’ Authority
21 Then[gw] they went to Capernaum.[gx] When the Sabbath came,[gy] Jesus[gz] went into the synagogue[ha] and began to teach. 22 The people there[hb] were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority,[hc] not like the experts in the law.[hd] 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit,[he] and he cried out,[hf] 24 “Leave us alone,[hg] Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One[hh] of God!” 25 But[hi] Jesus rebuked him:[hj] “Silence! Come out of him!”[hk] 26 After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed so that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 So[hl] the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.
Healings at Simon’s House
29 Now[hm] as soon as they left the synagogue,[hn] they entered Simon and Andrew’s house,[ho] with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so[hp] they spoke to Jesus[hq] at once about her. 31 He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve[hr] them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered by the door. 34 So[hs] he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons.[ht] But[hu] he would not permit the demons to speak,[hv] because they knew him.[hw]
Praying and Preaching
35 Then[hx] Jesus[hy] got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.[hz] 36 Simon and his companions searched for him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He replied,[ia] “Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.”[ib] 39 So[ic] he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues[id] and casting out demons.
Cleansing a Leper
40 Now[ie] a leper[if] came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. “If[ig] you are willing, you can make me clean,” he said. 41 Moved with indignation,[ih] Jesus[ii] stretched out his hand and touched[ij] him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” 42 The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean. 43 Immediately Jesus[ik] sent the man[il] away with a very strong warning. 44 He told him,[im] “See that you do not say anything to anyone,[in] but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded[io] for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”[ip] 45 But as the man[iq] went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus[ir] was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still[is] they kept coming[it] to him from everywhere.
Healing and Forgiving a Paralytic
2 Now[iu] after some days, when he returned to Capernaum,[iv] the news spread[iw] that he was at home. 2 So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by[ix] the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some people[iy] came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.[iz] 4 When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof[ja] above Jesus.[jb] Then,[jc] after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their[jd] faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”[je] 6 Now some of the experts in the law[jf] were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds:[jg] 7 “Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming![jh] Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Now[ji] immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts,[jj] he said to them, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?[jk] 9 Which is easier,[jl] to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know[jm] that the Son of Man[jn] has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—he said to the paralytic[jo]— 11 “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.”[jp] 12 And immediately the man[jq] stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
The Call of Levi; Eating with Sinners
13 Jesus[jr] went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. 14 As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth.[js] “Follow me,” he said to him. And he got up and followed him. 15 As Jesus[jt] was having a meal[ju] in Levi’s[jv] home, many tax collectors[jw] and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the experts in the law[jx] and the Pharisees[jy] saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”[jz] 17 When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do.[ka] I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The Superiority of the New
18 Now[kb] John’s[kc] disciples and the Pharisees[kd] were fasting.[ke] So[kf] they came to Jesus[kg] and said, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don’t fast?” 19 Jesus[kh] said to them, “The wedding guests[ki] cannot fast while the bridegroom[kj] is with them, can they?[kk] As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast. 20 But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them,[kl] and at that time[km] they will fast. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins;[kn] otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine is poured into new wineskins.”[ko]
Lord of the Sabbath
23 Jesus[kp] was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat[kq] as they made their way. 24 So[kr] the Pharisees[ks] said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?” 25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry— 26 how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest[kt] and ate the sacred bread,[ku] which is against the law[kv] for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?”[kw] 27 Then[kx] he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for people,[ky] not people for the Sabbath. 28 For this reason the Son of Man is lord[kz] even of the Sabbath.”
Healing a Withered Hand
3 Then[la] Jesus[lb] entered the synagogue[lc] again, and a man was there who had a withered[ld] hand. 2 They watched[le] Jesus[lf] closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath,[lg] so that they could accuse him. 3 So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these people.”[lh] 4 Then[li] he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?” But they were silent. 5 After looking around[lj] at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts,[lk] he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.[ll] 6 So[lm] the Pharisees[ln] went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians,[lo] as to how they could assassinate[lp] him.
Crowds by the Sea
7 Then[lq] Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him.[lr] And from Judea, 8 Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River,[ls] and around Tyre and Sidon[lt] a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he had done. 9 Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat[lu] ready for him so the crowd[lv] would not press toward him. 10 For he had healed many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him. 11 And whenever the unclean spirits[lw] saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” 12 But[lx] he sternly ordered them not to make him known.[ly]
Appointing the Twelve Apostles
13 Now[lz] Jesus went up the mountain[ma] and called for those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He[mb] appointed twelve[mc] so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach 15 and to have authority to cast out demons. 16 [md] To Simon[me] he gave the name Peter; 17 to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee,[mf] he gave the name Boanerges (that is, “sons of thunder”); 18 and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,[mg] Matthew, Thomas,[mh] James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus,[mi] Simon the Zealot,[mj] 19 and Judas Iscariot,[mk] who betrayed him.[ml]
Jesus and Beelzebul
20 Now[mm] Jesus[mn] went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat. 21 When his family[mo] heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 The experts in the law[mp] who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”[mq] and, “By the ruler[mr] of demons he casts out demons!” 23 So[ms] he called them and spoke to them in parables:[mt] “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If[mu] a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan rises against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand and his end has come. 27 But no one is able to enter a strong man’s[mv] house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can thoroughly plunder his house.[mw] 28 I tell you the truth,[mx] people will be forgiven for all sins, even all the blasphemies they utter.[my] 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin”[mz] 30 (because they said, “He has an unclean spirit”[na]).
Jesus’ True Family
31 Then[nb] Jesus’[nc] mother and his brothers[nd] came. Standing[ne] outside, they sent word to him, to summon him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, “Look, your mother and your brothers[nf] are outside looking for you.” 33 He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”[ng] 34 And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here[nh] are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is[ni] my brother and sister and mother.”
The Parable of the Sower
4 Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat[nj] on the lake and sat there while[nk] the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. 2 He taught them many things in parables,[nl] and in his teaching said to them: 3 “Listen! A sower went out to sow.[nm] 4 And as he sowed, some seed[nn] fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground[no] where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.[np] 6 When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root,[nq] it withered. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns,[nr] and they grew up and choked it,[ns] and it did not produce grain. 8 But[nt] other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” 9 And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!”[nu]
The Purpose of Parables
10 When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. 11 He said to them, “The secret[nv] of the kingdom of God[nw] has been given[nx] to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,
12 so that although they look they may look but not see,
and although they hear they may hear but not understand,
so they may not repent and be forgiven.”[ny]
13 He said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? Then[nz] how will you understand any parable? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan[oa] comes and snatches the word[ob] that was sown in them. 16 These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. 17 But[oc] they have no root in themselves and do not endure.[od] Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, 19 but[oe] worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth,[of] and the desire for other things come in and choke the word,[og] and it produces nothing. 20 But[oh] these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.”
The Parable of the Lamp
21 He also said to them, “A lamp[oi] isn’t brought to be put under a basket[oj] or under a bed, is it? Isn’t it to be placed on a lampstand? 22 For nothing is hidden except to be revealed,[ok] and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!”[ol] 24 And he said to them, “Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive,[om] and more will be added to you. 25 For whoever has will be given more, but[on] whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”[oo]
The Parable of the Growing Seed
26 He also said, “The kingdom of God[op] is like someone who spreads seed on the ground. 27 He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain[oq] in the head. 29 And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle[or] because the harvest has come.”[os]
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
30 He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God,[ot] or what parable can we use to present it? 31 It is like a mustard seed[ou] that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground— 32 when it is sown, it grows up,[ov] becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds[ow] can nest in its shade.”[ox]
The Use of Parables
33 So[oy] with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.
Stilling of a Storm
35 On that day, when evening came, Jesus[oz] said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.”[pa] 36 So[pb] after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat,[pc] and other boats were with him. 37 Now[pd] a great windstorm[pe] developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. 38 But[pf] he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” 39 So[pg] he got up and rebuked[ph] the wind, and said to the sea,[pi] “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then[pj] the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. 40 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” 41 They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, “Who then is this?[pk] Even the wind and sea obey him!”[pl]
Healing of a Demoniac
5 So[pm] they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes.[pn] 2 Just as Jesus[po] was getting out of the boat,[pp] a man with an unclean spirit[pq] came from the tombs and met him.[pr] 3 He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles,[ps] but[pt] he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him. 7 Then[pu] he cried out with a loud voice, “Leave me alone,[pv] Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God[pw]—do not torment me!” 8 (For Jesus[px] had said to him, “Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!”)[py] 9 Jesus[pz] asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “My name is Legion,[qa] for we are many.” 10 He begged Jesus[qb] repeatedly not to send them out of the region. 11 There on the hillside,[qc] a great herd of pigs was feeding. 12 And the demonic spirits[qd] begged him, “Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.” 13 Jesus[qe] gave them permission.[qf] So[qg] the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about 2,000 were drowned in the lake.
14 Now[qh] the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind—the one who had the “Legion”—and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs. 17 Then[qi] they began to beg Jesus[qj] to leave their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go[qk] with him. 19 But[ql] Jesus[qm] did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, “Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you,[qn] that he had mercy on you.” 20 So[qo] he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis[qp] what Jesus had done for him,[qq] and all were amazed.
Restoration and Healing
21 When Jesus had crossed again in a boat[qr] to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea. 22 Then[qs] one of the synagogue leaders,[qt] named Jairus,[qu] came up, and when he saw Jesus,[qv] he fell at his feet. 23 He asked him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.” 24 Jesus[qw] went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around him.
25 Now[qx] a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage[qy] for twelve years.[qz] 26 She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,[ra] 28 for she kept saying,[rb] “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.”[rc] 29 At once the bleeding stopped,[rd] and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you and you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But[re] he looked around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.[rf] Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35 While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s[rg] house saying, “Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?” 36 But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue leader, “Do not be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James,[rh] and John, the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the synagogue leader where[ri] he saw noisy confusion and people weeping and wailing loudly.[rj] 39 When he entered he said to them, “Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep!” 40 And they began making fun of him.[rk] But he forced them all outside,[rl] and he took the child’s father and mother and his own companions[rm] and went into the room where the child was.[rn] 41 Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up.” 42 The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.[ro] 43 He strictly ordered that no one should know about this,[rp] and told them to give her something to eat.
Rejection at Nazareth
6 Now[rq] Jesus left that place and came to his hometown,[rr] and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue.[rs] Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas?[rt] And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son[ru] of Mary[rv] and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And so they took offense at him. 4 Then[rw] Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then[rx] he went around among the villages and taught.
Sending Out the Twelve Apostles
7 Jesus[ry] called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.[rz] 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff[sa]—no bread, no bag,[sb] no money in their belts— 9 and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics.[sc] 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there[sd] until you leave the area. 11 If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off[se] your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So[sf] they went out and preached that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with olive oil and healed them.
The Death of John the Baptist
14 Now[sg] King Herod[sh] heard this, for Jesus’[si] name had become known. Some[sj] were saying, “John the baptizer[sk] has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod[sl] had married her. 18 For John had repeatedly told[sm] Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”[sn] 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But[so] she could not 20 because Herod stood in awe of[sp] John and protected him, since he knew that John[sq] was a righteous and holy man. When Herod[sr] heard him, he was thoroughly baffled,[ss] and yet[st] he liked to listen to John.[su]
21 But[sv] a suitable day[sw] came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias[sx] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 23 He swore to her,[sy] “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”[sz] 24 So[ta] she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said,[tb] “The head of John the baptizer.”[tc] 25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request:[td] “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26 Although it grieved the king deeply,[te] he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 27 So[tf] the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s[tg] head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s[th] disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
30 Then[ti] the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat[tj] to some remote place. 33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot[tk] from all the towns[tl] and arrived there ahead of them.[tm] 34 As Jesus[tn] came ashore[to] he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So[tp] he taught them many things.
35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place[tq] and it is already very late. 36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 37 But he answered them,[tr] “You[ts] give them something to eat.” And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for 200 silver coins[tt] and give it to them to eat?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He[tu] gave them to his[tv] disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full. 44 Now[tw] there were 5,000 men[tx] who ate the bread.[ty]
Walking on Water
45 Immediately Jesus[tz] made his disciples get into the boat[ua] and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 46 After saying goodbye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 48 He[ub] saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending,[uc] he came to them walking on the sea,[ud] for[ue] he wanted to pass by them.[uf] 49 When they saw him walking on the water[ug] they thought he was a ghost. They[uh] cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them:[ui] “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Healing the Sick
53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret[uj] and anchored there. 54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.[uk] 55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.[ul] 56 And wherever he would go—into villages, towns, or countryside—they would place the sick in the marketplaces,[um] and would ask him if[un] they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Breaking Human Traditions
7 Now[uo] the Pharisees[up] and some of the experts in the law[uq] who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. 2 And they saw that some of Jesus’ disciples[ur] ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing,[us] holding fast to the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the marketplace,[ut] they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.[uu])[uv] 5 The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat[uw] with unwashed hands?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart[ux] is far from me.
7 They worship me in vain,
teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.’[uy]
8 Having no regard[uz] for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.”[va] 9 He also said to them, “You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up[vb] your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[vc] and, ‘Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.’[vd] 11 But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, ‘Whatever help you would have received from me is corban’[ve] (that is, a gift for God), 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify[vf] the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”
14 Then[vg] he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand. 15 There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.”[vh]
17 Now[vi] when Jesus[vj] had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 He said to them, “Are you so foolish? Don’t you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him? 19 For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.”[vk] (This means all foods are clean.)[vl] 20 He said, “What comes out of a person defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly. 23 All these evils come from within and defile a person.”
A Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith
24 After Jesus[vm] left there, he went to the region of Tyre.[vn] When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but[vo] he was not able to escape notice. 25 Instead, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit[vp] immediately heard about him and came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She[vq] asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 He said to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.”[vr] 28 She answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 Then[vs] he said to her, “Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” 30 She went home and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Healing a Deaf Mute
31 Then[vt] Jesus[vu] went out again from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis.[vv] 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him. 33 After Jesus[vw] took him aside privately, away from the crowd, he put his fingers in the man’s[vx] ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue.[vy] 34 Then[vz] he looked up to heaven and said with a sigh, “Ephphatha” (that is, “Be opened”).[wa] 35 And immediately the man’s[wb] ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly. 36 Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more.[wc] 37 People were completely astounded and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
The Feeding of the Four Thousand
8 In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So[wd] Jesus[we] called his disciples and said to them, 2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.” 4 His disciples answered him, “Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 5 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” 6 Then[wf] he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So[wg] they served the crowd. 7 They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well. 8 Everyone[wh] ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 9 There were about 4,000[wi] who ate.[wj] Then he dismissed them.[wk] 10 Immediately he got into a boat[wl] with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.[wm]
The Demand for a Sign
11 Then the Pharisees[wn] came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for[wo] a sign from heaven[wp] to test him. 12 Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, “Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth,[wq] no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 Then[wr] he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 Now[ws] they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 And Jesus[wt] ordered them,[wu] “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees[wv] and the yeast of Herod!” 16 So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread.[ww] 17 When he learned of this,[wx] Jesus said to them, “Why are you arguing[wy] about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? 18 Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear?[wz] Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied,[xa] “Seven.” 21 Then[xb] he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”[xc]
A Two-stage Healing
22 Then[xd] they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus[xe] and asked him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then[xf] he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes[xg] and asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 Regaining his sight[xh] he said, “I see people, but they look like trees walking.” 25 Then Jesus[xi] placed his hands on the man’s[xj] eyes again. And he opened his eyes,[xk] his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus[xl] sent him home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”[xm]
Peter’s Confession
27 Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples,[xn] “Who do people say that I am?” 28 They said,[xo] “John the Baptist, others say Elijah,[xp] and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him,[xq] “You are the Christ.”[xr] 30 Then[xs] he warned them not to tell anyone about him.[xt]
First Prediction of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
31 Then[xu] Jesus[xv] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer[xw] many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law,[xx] and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke openly about this. So[xy] Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.”[xz]
Following Jesus
34 Then[ya] Jesus[yb] called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower,[yc] he must deny[yd] himself, take up his cross,[ye] and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life[yf] will lose it,[yg] but whoever loses his life because of me and because of the gospel[yh] will save it. 36 For what benefit is it for a person[yi] to gain the whole world, yet[yj] forfeit his life? 37 What can a person give in exchange for his life? 38 For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him[yk] when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 9 1 And he said to them, “I tell you the truth,[yl] there are some standing here who will not[ym] experience[yn] death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”[yo]
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later[yp] Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them,[yq] 3 and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses,[yr] and they were talking with Jesus. 5 So[ys] Peter said to Jesus,[yt] “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters[yu]—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)[yv] 7 Then[yw] a cloud[yx] overshadowed them,[yy] and a voice came from the cloud, “This is my one dear Son.[yz] Listen to him!”[za] 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.
11 Then[zb] they asked him,[zc] “Why do the experts in the law[zd] say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He said to them, “Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.”
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