Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's waiting girls came up, and when she saw that Peter was warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too!" But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you mean." Then he went out of the courtyard and was in the gateway to it. read more.
And the waiting girl saw him there and began again to tell the bystanders, "This fellow is one of them!" But he denied it again. And again a few minutes later the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You are surely one of them, for you are a Galilean too." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know this man that you are talking about." At that moment for the second time a Cock crowed. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will disown me three times!" And when he remembered that, he burst into tears.

Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. read more.
Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. One of the men with Jesus put out his hand and drew his sword, and with a thrust at the high priest's slave cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs, for all who wield the sword will die by the sword. Do you suppose that I am unable to appeal to my Father and have Him furnish me on the spot one hundred thousand angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, for they say this is the way it must be?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds: "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this has all taken place so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then the disciples all forsook Him and made their escape.

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him. read more.
Then they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the high priest's slave and cut his ear off. And Jesus spoke and said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures." Then all His disciples forsook Him and made their escape. And a young man was following Him, with only a linen sheet thrown about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen sheet behind and fled away naked. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire.

While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!"

Now Judas, too, who betrayed Him, knew the spot, because Jesus had often met with His disciples there. So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" read more.
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go." He said this that the statement He had just made might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those whom you have given me." So Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into the sheath. Must I not drink the cup which the Father has handed me?" So the garrison and its commander and the attendants of the Jews arrested Jesus and put handcuffs on Him,


Then one of the Twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests, and said, "What will you give me to turn Him over to you?" Then they paid him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he kept looking for a good opportunity to turn Him over to them.

Then Judas, who had betrayed Him, as he felt condemned, in remorse brought back the thirty pieces to the high priests and elders, and said, "I did wrong in turning an innocent man over to death." But they said, "What is that to us? You must see to that yourself." Then he tossed the money into the temple and left, and went off and hanged himself.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Him to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to pay him for it. So he kept looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them.

Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. read more.
Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him.

Now the feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was drawing near. So the high priests and the scribes continued to seek how they might put Him to death, for they were afraid of the people. But Satan entered into Judas, who is called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. read more.
So he went off and discussed with the high priests and captains of the temple how he could betray Him to them. They were delighted and made a bargain to pay him for it. He in turn accepted their offer and began to seek a favorable opportunity to betray Him to them without exciting an uprising.

Jesus answered them, "Did I not myself select you as the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil." He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, for he was going to betray Him, although he was one of the Twelve.

Before the Passover feast started, Jesus knew that His time had come for Him to leave the world and go to the Father, and as He had loved His own in the world He loved them to the last. So Jesus, while supper was on -- although He knew that the devil had suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him --

On saying these things He went out with His disciples across the Ravine of Cedars to a place where there was a garden, and He went into it with His disciples. Now Judas, too, who betrayed Him, knew the spot, because Jesus had often met with His disciples there. So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. read more.
Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them.

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him.

While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?"

Now Judas, too, who betrayed Him, knew the spot, because Jesus had often met with His disciples there. So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" read more.
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them.

"Brothers, that Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit uttered by the mouth of David in the former times about Judas who became the guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was one of our number, and he received a share in this ministry of ours. (This man bought a piece of land with the money which he took for his treachery, and he fell there face downward and his body broke in two, and all his intestines poured out. read more.
It became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that this piece of land was called in their language Akeldamach, that is, The Field of Blood.) For in the Book of Psalms it is written: 'Let his estate be desolate, and let no one live on it,' and 'Let someone else take his position.' "So one of these men who have been associated with us all the time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, from the time of His baptism by John down to the day when He was taken up from us, must be added to our number as a witness to His resurrection." Then they nominated two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, saying, "Lord, you who know the hearts of all, show us which one of these two men you have chosen to take a share in this service as an apostle, from which Judas fell away to go to his own place."


So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons.


Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. read more.
Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him. One of the men with Jesus put out his hand and drew his sword, and with a thrust at the high priest's slave cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back where it belongs, for all who wield the sword will die by the sword. Do you suppose that I am unable to appeal to my Father and have Him furnish me on the spot one hundred thousand angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, for they say this is the way it must be?" At that time Jesus said to the crowds: "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to sit teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this has all taken place so that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then the disciples all forsook Him and made their escape. The men who had laid hands on Jesus took Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, at whose home the scribes and elders had met. And Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest's home; he even went inside and was sitting among the attendants to see how it would end. Now the high priests and the whole council were trying to get false testimony against Jesus, to have Him put to death; but they could not, although many false witnesses came forward to testify. At last two men came forward and said, "This man said, 'I can tear down the temple of God, and build it again in three days.'" Then the high priest arose and said to Him, "Have you no answer to make? What do you say to the evidence that they bring against you?" But Jesus kept silent. So the high priest said to Him, "I charge you, on your oath, in the name of the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus answered him, "Yes, I am. But I tell you, you will all soon see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, and coming on the clouds of the sky." Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, "He has uttered blasphemy, What more evidence do we need? You have just heard His blasphemy. What do you think now?" Then they answered, "He deserves to die." After that they spit in His face and hit Him with their fists, and others boxed His ears, saying, "Play the prophet, you Christ, and tell us who struck you." Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a waiting girl came up to him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all, and said, "I do not understand what you mean." Then he went out into the gateway, and another waiting girl saw him, and said to those there, "This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene." Again he denied it, and even swore, "I do not know the man!" A few minutes afterward the bystanders came up to Peter and said, "You are surely one of them, too, for your accent gives you away." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know the man!" And at once a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered Jesus' words, "Before a cock crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him. read more.
Then they laid hands on Him and arrested Him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck at the high priest's slave and cut his ear off. And Jesus spoke and said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me, as though I were a robber? Day after day I used to be with you teaching in the temple, and you never laid hands on me. But this is so to fulfill the Scriptures." Then all His disciples forsook Him and made their escape. And a young man was following Him, with only a linen sheet thrown about his body; and they seized him, but he left the linen sheet behind and fled away naked. They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests, elders, and scribes met there. And Peter followed Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; he was sitting with the attendants and warming himself before the fire. The high priests and the whole council were trying to get evidence against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none, for although many men gave false testimony against Him, their testimonies did not agree. Some took the witness stand and gave this false testimony against Him: "We ourselves have heard Him say, 'I will tear down this temple built by men's hands, and in three days I will build another, made without hands.'" But even in this matter their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest arose in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What about this testimony they are giving against you?" But He kept silent and made no answer at all. So the high priest again questioned Him in these words, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus said, "Yes, I am, and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty and coming in the clouds of the sky!" Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "What more evidence do we need now? Did you hear His own blasphemy? What do you think now?" And they all condemned Him as deserving to die. And some of them started to spit on Him and to blindfold Him and to hit Him with their fists, and say to Him, "Now play the prophet!" Even the attendants took charge of Him with slaps at Him. While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's waiting girls came up, and when she saw that Peter was warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too!" But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you mean." Then he went out of the courtyard and was in the gateway to it. And the waiting girl saw him there and began again to tell the bystanders, "This fellow is one of them!" But he denied it again. And again a few minutes later the bystanders began to say to Peter, "You are surely one of them, for you are a Galilean too." Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know this man that you are talking about." At that moment for the second time a Cock crowed. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will disown me three times!" And when he remembered that, he burst into tears.

While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?" Those who were about Him saw what was about to take place, and said, "Lord, shall we use our swords now?" read more.
Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "Permit me to go as far as this!" So He touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the high priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come to take Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as though I were a robber? While I was among you day after day in the temple, you never laid a hand on me! But this is your opportunity, even the power which darkness gives you!" Then they arrested Him and led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest. Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had taken their seats together, Peter, too, was sitting among them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the fire and fixed her eyes on him and said, "This fellow was with Him too." But he denied it and said, "I do not know Him, woman." A little later a man looked at him and said, "You are one of them too." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." About an hour later another man emphatically asserted, "He certainly was with Him, for he is a Galilean!" But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you mean." And all at once, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter was reminded of the word that the Lord had spoken to him, "Before a cock crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and burst into bitter tears. Then the men who held Him in custody flogged Him and made sport of Him, and after blindfolding Him they asked Him, "Play the prophet and tell us who it is that struck you!" And they continued to say many other abusive things to Him. As soon as day came, the elders of the people, the high priests, and the scribes assembled, and brought Him back before their council, and said, "Tell us, if you are the Christ." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I ask you a question, you will not answer me. But from today the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." Then they all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" And He answered, "Yes, I am." Then they said, "What more evidence do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth!"

So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. read more.
So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go." He said this that the statement He had just made might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those whom you have given me." So Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus. Then Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into the sheath. Must I not drink the cup which the Father has handed me?" So the garrison and its commander and the attendants of the Jews arrested Jesus and put handcuffs on Him, and took Him first to Annas. For he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their welfare that one should die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed on after Jesus. And that other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and so went on with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter stood outside before the door. So this other disciple, who was acquainted with the high priest, stepped out and spoke to the woman doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You too are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He answered, "No, I am not." Because it was cold, the slaves and attendants had made a charcoal fire and were standing about it warming themselves; so Peter too was standing among them warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken publicly to the world; I have always taught in the synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews are in the habit of meeting, and I have not spoken anything in secret. So why are you questioning me? Ask those who heard what I told them. Of course, they know what I said." After He had said this, one of the attendants standing by slapped Jesus in the face, and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have said anything wrong, on oath tell what it is, but if what I have said is true, why do you slap me?" So Annas sent Him over, still in handcuffs, to Caiaphas the high priest. But Simon Peter still stood warming himself. So they said to him, "You too are not one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "No, I am not." One of the high priest's slaves, who was a kinsman of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Then Peter again denied it, and at that moment a cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's palace. It was early in the morning, and they would not go into the governor's palace themselves, in order not to be defiled, so as to be unfit to eat the Passover supper. So Pilate came outside and asked, "What is the charge you bring against this man?" They retorted, "If He were not a criminal, we would not have turned Him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and try Him in accordance with your own law." Then the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to execute the death penalty on anyone." This made it possible for the word of Jesus to be fulfilled which He spoke to indicate what sort of death He was to die. So Pilate went back into the governor's palace and called Jesus and asked Him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "Do you ask me this on your own initiative, or have others suggested it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and their high priests have turned you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would have been fighting to keep me from being turned over to the Jews. But as a matter of fact, my kingdom does not come from such a source." Then Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king then?" Jesus answered, "Certainly I am a king. For this very purpose I was born, for this very purpose I have come into the world, to testify for truth. Everybody who is a friend of truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked Him, "What is truth?" On saying this he went outside again to the Jews, and said to them, "As far as I can see, I can find no ground for a charge against Him. Now you have a custom to have me set one man free at your Passover time. So do you wish me to set the king of the Jews free?" Then they all shouted back, "No! Not Him, but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.



On saying these things He went out with His disciples across the Ravine of Cedars to a place where there was a garden, and He went into it with His disciples. Now Judas, too, who betrayed Him, knew the spot, because Jesus had often met with His disciples there. So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. read more.
Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go." He said this that the statement He had just made might be fulfilled, "I have not lost one of those whom you have given me."


So Jesus, while supper was on -- although He knew that the devil had suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him --

Then one of the Twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests, and said, "What will you give me to turn Him over to you?" Then they paid him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he kept looking for a good opportunity to turn Him over to them.

and took Him first to Annas. For he was father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the high priests to betray Him to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to pay him for it. So he kept looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them.

But Satan entered into Judas, who is called Iscariot, who belonged to the circle of the Twelve. So he went off and discussed with the high priests and captains of the temple how he could betray Him to them. They were delighted and made a bargain to pay him for it. read more.
He in turn accepted their offer and began to seek a favorable opportunity to betray Him to them without exciting an uprising.

While He was still speaking, look! a crowd had come up, and Judas, one of the Twelve, was their guide; and he stepped up to Jesus to kiss Him. Then Jesus said to him, "Judas, will you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Yet look! The hand of the man who is betraying me is with me on the table! For the Son of Man is going away, as it has been divinely decreed, but a curse will be on that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to discuss among themselves which one it was who was going to do this.

At that very moment, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a crowd of men with swords and clubs, from the high priests, scribes, and elders. Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away." So when he came he went straight up to Jesus, and said, "Rabbi," and with much affection kissed Him.

Get up and let us be going. Look! Here comes my betrayer!" Even while He was still speaking, here came Judas, one of the Twelve, and with him a crowd, with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a signal by saying, "The one I kiss is He. Seize Him!" read more.
And he went straight up to Jesus and said, "Good evening, Rabbi," and affectionately kissed Him. Jesus said to him, "My friend, do what you came for." Then they came up, laid hands on Jesus, and arrested Him.

As soon as he took the bread, Satan took possession of Judas. Then Jesus said to him, "Make quick work of what you are to do." But no one else at the table knew what He meant by this, for some of them were thinking, as Judas had the purse, that Jesus meant to say to him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or to give something to the poor. read more.
So as soon as he took the piece of bread, he left the room. It was then night.

Now Judas, too, who betrayed Him, knew the spot, because Jesus had often met with His disciples there. So Judas got together the Roman garrison and some attendants from the high priests and Pharisees, and went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, as He knew everything that was going to befall Him, came forward and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" read more.
They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas who betrayed Him was standing among them. So when He said to them, "I am He," they took a lurch backward and fell to the ground. So once more He asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have already told you that I am He; so if you are really looking for me, let these men go."