Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" read more.
And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew!

Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. read more.
Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" read more.
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew.

But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not."



Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" read more.
And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." read more.
But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about."

But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." read more.
But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew.



And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death. After they had bound him, they led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

As soon as it was down, after the high priests had conferred with the elders and the whole Sanhedrin, they bound Jesus, and took him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the court of the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas, and they plotted together to get Jesus into their power by a trick, and to put him to death; but said they, "Not during the feast, for fear of causing a riot among the people."

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; read more.
but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"

At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely." So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said: read more.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.

Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. read more.
And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."

While they were addressing the people the priests, the commander of the Temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, incensed at their teaching the people, and proclaiming, in the case of Jesus, the resurrection from the dead. They arrested them, and put them in prison till the next day, for it was already evening. read more.
But many of those who had heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. There was held in Jerusalem, next morning, a meeting of their rulers, the elders and scribes, and Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high priests family were present. Then they made the men stand before them and demanded, "By what power, or in what name, have you fellows done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being examined today concerning a benefit conferred upon a cripple, as to how has this man been cured, "be it known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand before you strong and well. "For he is the Stone, cast aside by you builders, which has become the head stone of the corner. "There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men, in which we must be saved." Now when they beheld the glad fearlessness of Peter and John and had perceived that they were amazed; and they began to recognize them, that they were companions of Jesus. But since they saw the man standing with them who had been healed, they had nothing to answer. So they bade them withdraw from the Sanhedrin, while they conferred together. "What," said they, "shall we do with these men? For it is well known throughout Jerusalem that a notable miracle has been performed by them, and we cannot deny it. "But that the matter may spread no further among the people, let us threaten them not to speak to any one hereafter about this name." So they summoned them, and ordered them not to speak at all, nor to teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John said in reply. "Do you decide whether in the sight of God it is right to obey you rather than God; but for our part, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." So when they had further threatened them they let the apostles go, being quite unable to find any way of punishing them because of the people, for everybody was glorifying God over what had happened.

But certain men from the so-called "Synagogue of the Freedmen" and certain Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, Cilicians, and men from Roman Asia, started to dispute with Stephen, but were unable to withstand the wisdom and spirit with which he used to speak. Then they instigated some to say, "We have heard him speaking blasphemy against Moses and against God;" and in this way they excited the people. read more.
The elders and the scribes rushed upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the Sanhedrin. They also set up false witnesses who testified. "This fellow is continually talking against the Holy Place and against the law. "For we have heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which were handed down to us by Moses." Then all who were sitting in the council at once fixed their eyes upon him, and saw his face like the face of an angel.

And the high priest said, "Are these things so?" Stephen answered. "Listen, brothers and fathers. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, "Leave your country and your kindred, and come to whatever land I will show you. read more.
"So he left Chaldea and settled in Haran, and from there, after his father's death, God moved him to this land which you inhabit. "But he gave him no inheritance in it, no, not a single square yard of ground; yet he promised to bestow the land as a permanent possession on him and his posterity??e at that time being childless. "What God said was this. "'His offspring will sojourn in a foreign land where they will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. "'And the nation, whichever it is, that enslaves them I will judge, said God, 'and after ward they shall come out, and they shall worship me in this place. "Then he gave him a covenant of circumcision, and under this covenant he became the father of Isaac, whom he circumcised on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve Patriarchs. "The patriarchs out of jealousy sold Joseph into Egypt. "But God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him grace and wisdom, when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him Governor over Egypt, and over all the royal household. "Then there came a famine over the whole of Egypt and Canaan, and great distress, so that our ancestors could not find food. "But Jacob heard that there was food in Egypt, and sent our ancestors there on their first visit. "On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Pharaoh was informed of Joseph's parentage. "Then Joseph sent and invited Jacob his father and all his family, numbering seventy-five souls, to come to him; "and Jacob went down into Egypt. "There he died, and our ancestors also, and they were carried across to Shechem, and laid in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. "but as the time drew near for the fulfilment of the promise which God made to Abraham, the people multiplied and increased in Egypt; "until there arose a king who knew not Joseph. "He dealt craftily with our race, and oppressed our forefathers, by making them expose their infants so that they should not live. "In this time Moses was born, a divinely beautiful child, who was brought up for three months in his father's house. "When he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and brought him up as her own son. "So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in his words and works. "And when he was forty years old it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel; "and when he saw one of them wronged he wrought redress for the one overpowered, by striking down the Egyptian. "(Now he supposed that his brothers would understand how God by his hand was bringing them deliverance; but they did not.) "Next day he came upon two of them fighting, and tried to make peace between them. "'Sirs,' he said, 'you are brothers. Why are you wronging each other?' "But the man who was ill-treating his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, "'Who made you a magistrate and ruler over us? "'Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' "Alarmed at this question, Moses fled from the land, and went to live in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons. "But at the end of forty years there appeared to him, in the desert of Mt. Sinai, an angel in a flame of fire, in a bush. "When Moses saw it he was astonished at the sight. But when he drew near to look, the voice of the Lord said, "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Moses trembled and dared not gaze. "And the Lord said: "Take off your sandals, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. "Truly I have seen the oppression of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their groans, and am come down to rescue them; and now, come, I will send you into Egypt. "This Moses whom they refused when they said, Who made you to be a ruler and a judge? that same Moses we find God sending as a ruler and a redeemer by the hand in the bush. "This was he who brought them out, after he had shown signs and wonders in the wilderness, for forty years. "It was this Moses who said to the Children of Israel, "God will raise up a Prophet for you from among your brothers, as he did me. "This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness along with the angel who spoke to him in Mt. Sinai, and with our ancestors to whom he gave living words to hand down to us. "To him our ancestors would not be obedient, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts turned back into Egypt. "Said they to Aaron. "Make Gods for us who shall march in front of us! As for this Moses who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has happened to him. "And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to this idol, and began to rejoice over what they had made with their hands. "So God turned from them, and gave them up to the worship of the heavenly host, as it is written in the book of the Prophets. "Did you offer unto me slain beasts as sacrifices during the forty years in the wilderness, O House of Israel? No, it was the Tabernacle of Moloch and the star-symbol of the god Rempha that you lifted up??he images which you made in order to worship them; so I will carry you away beyond Babylon. "In the wilderness our ancestors had the Tabernacle of Testimony built, as he appointed who told Moses to make it according to the pattern he had seen. "That tabernacle was brought in by our ancestors, in their turn, when they under Joshua entered on the possession of the nations whom God thrust out before them, until the days of David. "David obtained favor with God, and asked permission to find a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob. "But it was Solomon who built him a house. "Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands; as said the prophet. "The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet; What kind of house will you build for me? saith the Lord. Or what resting-place shall I have? Did not my hand make this universe? "Stiff-necked, uncircumcised in heart and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Ghost! As your fathers did, so do you. "Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become??53 "you who received the law, given through angels, and obeyed it not." As they heard these words they became furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look, I see heaven open," he said, "And the Son of man standing at the right hand of God." With a loud outcry they stopped their ears, and rushed upon Stephen in a body, dragged him outside the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. So they stoned Stephen while he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."


Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" read more.
And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end.

Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. read more.
Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew.

Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire.

So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" read more.
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying.

and led him to Annas first. (For Annas was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year??14 the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their advantage that one man should die for the people.) Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple who was known to the high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest's palace. But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. read more.
The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered. Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself.


Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" read more.
And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. read more.
Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew.

And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." read more.
A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying.

The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered. Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself.


Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; read more.
for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows.

And when the morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus, how they might put him to death. After they had bound him, they led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman Governor.

So Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them. "You brought before me this man as one who incited the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence, and I find no fault in this man regarding the charges that you brought against him. Neither does Herod; for he sent him back to us. You see that he has done nothing worthy of death. read more.
I will therefore, after flogging him, release him." "Now he had to release to them at the feast one prisoner." Then the whole crowd shouted out, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas." (This was a man who had been thrown in prison on account of a riot which had occurred in the city, and for murder.) Then Pilate spoke to them again, because he wished to release Jesus; but they continued to shout out and say, "Crucify! Crucify him!" For the third time he appealed to them. "But what crime has he committed? I have found in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore flog him, and let him go." But they kept shouting the more insistently, demanding that he should be crucified, and their shouts won the day. So Pilate gave sentence what they wished should be done.

Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; read more.
but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?"

So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" read more.
But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."

Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple who was known to the high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest's palace. But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered. read more.
Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him. "I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, places where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and in secret I have spoken nothing. "Why do you question me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them; these witnesses here know what I said." When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus replied "If I have said anything wrong, give evidence concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him in chains to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew. From the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Praetorium, and it was dawn. They themselves would not enter the Praetorium, in order that they might not be ceremonially defiled, but might be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came outside to them and asked, "What charge do you bring against this man?" In reply they said, "If he had not been a criminal, we should not have handed him over you." "Take him yourselves," answered Pilate, "and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death" (that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled in which he predicted the kind of death he was to die).


Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a great crowd of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying. "Whoever I kiss is the man; arrest him." So he came straight up to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him eagerly. read more.
"Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. And, behold, one of these who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him. "Put back your sword into its place! for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Do you not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father to furnish me at this very moment with twelve legions of angels? "But if I did, how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say that thus it must happen?" Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me. "But all this has happened in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely." So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said: read more.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows. Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

While he was still speaking there came a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus in order to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, you are betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
Then one of them did strike a blow at the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. "Permit me to do this at least," said Jesus, as he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."

So after getting troops and some Temple police from the chief priests and Pharisees, Judas came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went forth to meet them, and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" "For Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. He said to them, "I am he." (Now Judas also, the betrayer, was standing with them.) read more.
When Jesus said "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground; so he asked them once more, "Whom are you looking for?" and they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." "I have already told you that I am he," said Jesus. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these go their way." (In order that the word which he had spoken might be fulfilled, "Of those whom thou hast given me I have not lost one.") Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, and striking at the high priest's slave, cut off his right ear. (The slave's name was Malchus.) Then Jesus said to Peter. "Put up your sword in its sheath. the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?" So the troops and their commandant and the Jewish police took Jesus, and bound him, and led him to Annas first. (For Annas was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year??14 the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their advantage that one man should die for the people.) Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple who was known to the high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest's palace. But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered. Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him. "I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, places where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and in secret I have spoken nothing. "Why do you question me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them; these witnesses here know what I said." When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus replied "If I have said anything wrong, give evidence concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him in chains to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew. From the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Praetorium, and it was dawn. They themselves would not enter the Praetorium, in order that they might not be ceremonially defiled, but might be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came outside to them and asked, "What charge do you bring against this man?" In reply they said, "If he had not been a criminal, we should not have handed him over you." "Take him yourselves," answered Pilate, "and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death" (that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled in which he predicted the kind of death he was to die). So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he said. Jesus answered, "Are you saying this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" "I am not a Jew, am I?" replied Pilate; "It is your own nation and the high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered him. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants have fought hard that I should not be handed the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of such origins." "You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" As he said this, he went outside again to the Jews and said to them. "I find no crime in this man. Now it is a custom of yours that I release one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover feast. Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?" Then they all shouted again. "No, not him! Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.


While he was still speaking there came a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus in order to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, you are betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
Then one of them did strike a blow at the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. "Permit me to do this at least," said Jesus, as he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying.


Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" read more.
And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew!

She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." read more.
A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about."

And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." read more.
A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew.