Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there.

They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received letters from them written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.



It was morning. The chief priests and those in authority conspired to put Jesus to death. They tied his hands with cords and led him to the ruler, Pilate.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

The chief priest and the elders of the people assembled at the court of Caiaphas, the high priest. All of them, using deceit, worked together to capture Jesus and kill him. They insisted: Not during the feast; it could start a riot among the people.

Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there. But Peter kept his distance. He followed him to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the servants, to see the outcome. The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false witness against Jesus. They wanted to put him to death. read more.
They failed, even though a number of false witnesses came. Later two witnesses came. They said: This man said, 'I am able to destroy the Temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.' The high priest stood up and said to him: Have you no answer? What is it these say against you? Jesus said nothing. The high priest said to him: I put you on oath, by the living God, that you will tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus said to him: You said it yourself. And I say to you, after this you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest ripped his robes apart and said: He has said evil against God! Why do we need more witnesses? You have heard his words of blasphemy! What is your opinion? The crowd answered: Put him to death! They spat in his face and hit him, saying: Prophesy to us, you Christ; tell us who hit you!

Suddenly, as he spoke, Judas one of the twelve arrived. A great crowd with swords and spears were with him. They were from the chief priests, scribes and elders. He who betrayed him gave them a sign. He told them the one I kiss is the one to capture and take away safely. When he arrived he went straight to him and said: Master and kissed him. read more.
They grabbed him and took him away. One of those who were near took out his sword and gave the servant of the high priest a blow, cutting off his ear. Jesus said: Have you come out as against a thief with swords and sticks to take me? I was with you every day in the Temple teaching and you did not take me. This is done so that the scriptures will be fulfilled. They all left him, and fled. A young man followed him. He was wearing a linen cloth over his naked body. They tried to grab him. But they got a hold of the linen cloth and he fled naked. They led Jesus away to the high priest. The chief priests, elders and scribes came together with him. Peter followed him at a distance. He followed into the court of the high priest. He was sitting with the officers staying warm by the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council looked for witness against Jesus to put him to death. They found none. Many gave false witness against him. But their witness was not in agreement. One person falsely witnessed against him by saying: We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. Even so their witness did not agree. The high priest stood in the middle of them, and said to Jesus: Do you not answer? What is it these say against you? But he kept quiet and said nothing. Again the high priest questioned him: Are you the Christ, the son of the Holy One? Jesus said: I am and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. Violently parting his robes, the high priest said: What need do we have for more witnesses? We have heard his words against God. What is your opinion? They all said he should be put to death. Some spit on him and covering his face they gave him blows. Guess who hit you, they said. The leaders took him and beat him with their hands.

Jesus spoke to the chief priests, captains of the temple and elders who came against him: Did you come as you would against a robber with swords and clubs? I was with you every day in the temple. Yet you did not lift a hand against me. This is your hour for this power of darkness. They seized him and led him away. They took him to the high priest's house. Peter followed from a distance. read more.
They kindled a fire in the midst of the court. They sat down together. Peter sat in the midst of them. A servant girl saw him sitting by the light of the fire. She looked steadfastly upon him and said: This man was also with him. He denied it saying: Woman, I do not know him! After a little while another saw him, and said: You are one of them. Peter replied: Man I am not! Another hour passed. Someone else said: It is true this man was with him for he is a Galilean. Peter responded: I do not know what you are talking about! Immediately, while he spoke he heard the cockcrow. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him: Before the cockcrow this day you will deny me three times. He left there and wept bitterly. The men that held Jesus mocked him and beat him. They blindfolded him, and asked him, saying: Prophesy: who is it that struck you? They reviled him and spoke many things against him. The next day the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together. They included chief priests and scribes. They led him away to their council, saying: If you are the Christ, tell us. But he said to them: If I tell you, you will not believe: and if I ask you, you will not answer. Soon the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. They all asked: Are you the Son of God? He said to them: You say that I am. They responded: What further need do we have for witnesses? We have heard this from his mouth.

As they spoke to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them. They were annoyed because they taught the people through Jesus. They preached the resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening. read more.
Many who heard the word believed. There were about five thousand men. The next morning their rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. They stood them in their presence and asked: By what power or by what name do you do this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said: You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we are on trial for a good deed done to a sick man, concerning how this man was made well; Let it be known to you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you impaled and whom God raised from the dead, even by him this man stands before you healed. This is the stone that was rejected by you builders. It became the chief corner stone. There is no salvation in anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. They observed the confidence of Peter and John. Yet they thought they were uneducated (not formally educated) and ordinary men. They were amazed and recognized them as having been with Jesus. Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. They ordered them to leave the council. Then they conferred among themselves. They said: What shall we do to these men? The fact that a notable miracle has been done by them is evident to all who live in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it. We must warn these men not to speak about it in order to stop this from spreading further among the people. They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered: You judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God. We cannot stop speaking the things we have seen and heard. When they further threatened them, they let them go. They found no basis for punishment because of the people for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Certain men arose from the synagogue. It was called the synagogue of the Libertines, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians. Some of them were from Cilicia and Asia. They argued with Stephen. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. They secretly induced me to say: We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. read more.
They stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and pursued him. They caught him and brought him to the council. They brought false witnesses, which said: This man will not stop speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. We heard him say: 'This Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.' All who sat in the council looked intently at him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

The high priest asked: Are these things so? He said: Men, brothers and fathers, listen; The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. He said to him: 'Get out of your country and away from your relatives. Go to the land that I will show you. read more.
He went out of the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. After his father died, God moved him to this land, where you now dwell. He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. Yet he promised that he would give it to him and his seed after him for a possession. This promise was made before he had a child. God spoke to this effect, that his seed would be alien residents in a strange land. They would enslave them, and mistreat them for four hundred years. I will judge the nation to whom they shall be in bondage,' said God, 'and after they will come serve me in this place.' He gave him the covenant of circumcision. Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became father to Jacob and Jacob fathered the twelve family heads. The family heads were jealous of Joseph and sold him as a slave into Egypt. However, God was with him. And God delivered him out of all his afflictions. He gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and his entire house. A famine and great suffering came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan. Our fathers found no food. When Jacob heard there was food in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. The second time Joseph got acquainted with his brothers and Pharaoh was told about Joseph's family. Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his family, seventy-five people. Jacob went down into Egypt and died, he and our fathers. Their bodies were brought to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem. When the time of God's promise to Abraham drew near, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt. Another king arose. He did not know Joseph. He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our fathers so that they cast out their young children and they did not survive. Moses was born then. He was divinely beautiful. He was nursed three months in his father's house. And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him and nourished him as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers the children of Israel. Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged the oppressed one by killing the Egyptian. He supposed his brothers would understand how God by his hand would deliver them but they did not understand. The next day he appeared to them while they were fighting. He wanted to unite them and said, 'You are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?' The one who was treating his neighbor unjustly pushed him away, saying: 'Who made you our ruler and judge? Will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?' When he heard this talk Moses fled and became a stranger in the land of Median, where he became father to two sons. At the end of forty years, Jehovah's angel appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sinai in a flame of fire in a bush. (Exodus 3:3) When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. He drew near to look at it and the voice of Jehovah came to him. He said: I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled and did not dare to look further. Jehovah said: Take the sandals from your feet for the place where you stand is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5) I have seen the affliction of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come to deliver them. Come, I will send you into Egypt. This Moses whom they refused, saying: Who made you ruler and judge? God sent him to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out. He showed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years. This is the Moses that said to the children of Israel, your God will raise up a prophet like me from your brothers. This one was with our father in the congregation in the wilderness. The angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. He received the living oracles to give to us. Our fathers would not obey him. They sent him away, and in their hearts turned back again to Egypt. They said to Aaron: Make us gods to go in front of us. We do not know what happened to this Moses, who led us out of Egypt. They made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven. It is written in the book of the prophets: O you house of Israel, have you offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness? Yes, you took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan. You made figures to worship them. I will carry you away beyond Babylon. Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking to Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Joshua into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, until the days of David; Who found favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. But Solomon built him a house. The most High does not dwell in houses made with hands as the prophet says, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. What house will you build me? Said Jehovah God. What is the place of my rest? (Isaiah 66:1) Did my hand make all these things? You obstinate men who are uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did. Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? They killed those who announced in advance the coming of the righteous one whom you have betrayed and murdered. You have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not obeyed it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart. They gnashed their teeth at him. Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul. They stoned Stephen. He called out: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!



The first account I composed, O Theophilus, was about all that Jesus did and taught,

Do not be called Rabbi (master) (teacher) (leader), for only one is your teacher. You are all brothers.


He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi! We know you are a teacher from God. No one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.

He entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath and taught. There was a man there whose right hand was withered.

They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Teacher, they said, we know that you are truthful, and not concerned about what other people think. You truthfully teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

Teacher, they said, we know that you are right in what you say and teach. You are not partial and do not play favorites. Rather you teach the way of God truthfully.

Seeing great masses of people, he went up to the mountain. When he was seated his disciples came to him.

When Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left to teach and preach in their cities.

That very hour Jesus said to the people, Have you come out to take me with swords and sticks as if I were a thief? You did not take me when I taught in the Temple daily.

Again he taught a very great crowd by the seaside. He sat in a boat while the crowd was on the land.

They were more insistent saying: He excites the people throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee even to this place.


Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there.

They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received letters from them written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.


Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there.

They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received letters from them written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.


Those who captured Jesus took him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. The scribes and those in authority also gathered there.

They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

Early in the morning the chief priests met hurriedly with the elders, the teachers of the Law, and the entire Council. They made their plans. They led Jesus away in chains and handed him over to Pilate.

The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received letters from them written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.


Many foreign rulers have destroyed my vineyard. They trampled down my fields and turned my beautiful land into a desert.

When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

I am Jehovah of Hosts (All Powerful)! Israel is the vineyard, and Judah is the garden I tended with care. I had hoped for honesty and for justice, but dishonesty and cries for mercy were all I found.

In that day sing about a fruitful vineyard:


When you cross the Jordan, these will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. For the curse, these will stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. The Levites will answer all the men of Israel with a loud voice: read more.
Cursed is the man who makes an idol or a molten image. It is an abomination to Jehovah! It is the secret work of the hands of the craftsman. All the people will answer: Amen. Cursed is the man who dishonors his father or mother. All the people will say: Amen. Cursed is he who moves his neighbor's boundary mark. All the people will say: Amen. Cursed is the man who misleads a blind person on the road. And all the people answer: Amen. Cursed is he who withholds justice due an alien, orphan, and widow. The people all say: Amen. Cursed is the man who has sexual activities with his father's wife, because he has violated his father's rights.' And all the people say: 'Amen.' Cursed is he who has sex with any animal. All the people will say: Amen. Cursed is he who has sexual activities with his sister, the daughter of his father or of his mother. All the people answer: Amen. Cursed is he who indulges in sex with his mother-in-law. And all the people say: Amen. Cursed is he who beats his neighbor in secret.' And all the people will say: 'Amen.' Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to punish an innocent person.' All the people will say: 'Amen.' Cursed is he who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law by obeying them.' And all the people will say: 'Amen.'

He took the book of the covenant, in which Jehovah's commandments were written, and read it aloud to the people. They said: We will obey Jehovah. We will do everything that he has commanded.


When he went into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching. They asked: By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?

All Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on both sides of the Ark before the priests. The Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; Half of the people stood on Mount Gerizim. And half of them stood on Mount Ebal. As Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. Afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessings and cursing, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.

The second day the heads of families of all the people and the priests and the Levites came together to Ezra the scribe, to give attention to the words of the law. They saw that it was recorded in the law that Jehovah gave orders by Moses, that the children of Israel were to have tents for their living-places in the feast of the seventh month: They were to give an order, and make it public in all their towns and in Jerusalem, saying: Go out to the mountain and get olive branches and branches of field olives (oil trees) and of myrtle, and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make tents, as it says in the book. read more.
The people went out and got them and made themselves tents. Every one on the roof of his house, and in the open spaces and in the open squares of the House of God, and in the wide place of the Water Gate, and the wide place of the Gate of Ephraim. All the people who had been prisoners and had come back, made tents and were living in them. From the time of Jeshua, the son of Nun, till that day, the children of Israel had not done so. There was very great joy! Day by day, from the first day till the last, he read from the book of the Law of God. They kept the feast for seven days: and on the eighth day there was a holy meeting, as it is ordered in the law.

when all Israel comes to appear before Jehovah your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this Law in front of all Israel in their hearing. Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town. Assemble them that they may hear and learn and respect Jehovah your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this Law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to respect Jehovah your God, as long as you live on the land you will possess when you cross the Jordan River.

When the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their towns. All the people came together like one man into the wide place in front of the Water Gate. They requested Ezra the scribe that he would bring them the book of the Law of Moses that Jehovah gave to Israel. Ezra the priest brought the law to the meeting of the people. They were all able to listen to it. It was the first day of the seventh month. He read it in the wide place in front of the Water Gate from early morning till the middle of the day. Everyone who could understand it, men and women alike were able to listen to it. All the people got to hear the Book of the Law. read more.
Ezra the scribe took his place on a tower (podium) of wood that they had made for the purpose. By his side were placed Mattithiah and Shema and Anaiah and Uriah and Hilkiah and Maaseiah on the right; and on the left, Pedaiah and Mishael and Malchijah and Hashum and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. Ezra took the book and opened it before the eyes of all the people for he was higher than the people. When it was open, all the people stood on their feet. Ezra praised Jehovah, the great God. And all the people said: Amen! With lifted hands and bent heads they worshiped Jehovah. They dropped to their faces on the earth. And Jeshua and Bani and Sherebiah and Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites made the law clear to the people: and the people kept in their places. They read from the book the Law of God making it clear (translating it), so that their minds were able to take it in.

Then the king sent for all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to join him. The king went up to the Temple of Jehovah. All the inhabitants of Judah young and old also went to Jehovah's Temple. Josiah read everything written in the Book of the Promise found in Jehovah's Temple so they could all hear it. The king stood beside the pillar and made a promise to Jehovah that he would follow Jehovah and obey his commands, instructions, and laws with all his heart and mind. He confirmed the terms of the promise written in this book. All the people joined in the promise.

Then he returned to Nazareth the place where he was raised. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This was his custom. There he stood up to read. He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written: