And while the charges were being made against Him by the high priests and elders, He made no answer.

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to set any prisoner free whom the people wanted.

For he knew that they had turned Him over to the court out of envy.

Now while he was on the bench, his wife sent him this word, "Do not have anything to do with that righteous man, for I have this morning suffered excruciating pain in a dream caused by Him."

So Pilate, since he saw that he was making no headway with them, but that a riot was about to break out instead, took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, and said, "I am not responsible for this man's death; you must see to it yourselves."

He has put His trust in God; let God deliver Him now, if He cares for Him, for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

Now from twelve o'clock till three, darkness covered the whole land.

Now several women were there looking on from a distance, who accompanied Jesus from Galilee to care for Him,

Although it was now evening, a rich man named Joseph, from Arimathea, who was himself a disciple of Jesus,

Now there had been a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and went and rolled the boulder back and remained sitting upon it.

And the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

Now John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he used to live on dried locusts and wild honey.

Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God:

"What do you want of us, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, God's Holy One!"

They were all so dumbfounded that they kept discussing it among themselves, and asking, "What does this mean? It is a new teaching. He gives orders with authority even to foul spirits, and they obey Him."

And He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not let the demons speak a word, because they knew who He was.

and so many people gathered there that there was no longer any room even around the door. He was telling them His message.

Now Jesus at once felt in His spirit that they were arguing about this, and said, "Why are you arguing to yourselves about this?

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were keeping a fast. So some people came and asked Him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisees' disciples practice fasting, but yours never do?"

No one sews a patch of brand-new goods on an old coat; or, if he does, the patch tears away, the new from the old, and the hole becomes bigger than ever.

No one puts new wine into old wine-bottles, or, if he does, the wine will break the bottles, and the wine is lost, and the bottles too. New wine is to be put up in new bottles."

But no one can get into a giant's house and carry off his goods, unless he first binds the giant; after that he can make a clean sweep of his house.

But whoever speaks abusively against the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of a sin that has no end."

Some fell among the thorn seed, and the thorns grew up and choked them out and they yielded no grain.

He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, "Teacher, is it no concern to you that we are going down?"

Then He asked them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith yet?"

This man lived among the tombs, and no one could any longer subdue him even with a chain,

for he had often been fastened with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one was strong enough to overpower him.

Now there was a large drove of hogs grazing on the hillside.

So the woman, as she knew what had taken place for her, though frightened and trembling, came forward and fell on her knees before His feet, and told Him the whole truth.

But Jesus paid no attention to what was said, but said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only keep up your faith."

He let no one go with Him but Peter, James, and James's brother John.

But He strictly charged them to let nobody know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

He ordered them not to take anything for the journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in the purse;

King Herod heard of Him, for His name was now on everybody's lips, and people were saying that John the Baptist had risen from the dead, and that this was why such mighty powers were working in Him.

for Herod stood in awe of John, because he knew that he was an upright and holy man, and so he protected him. When he heard him speak, he was very much disturbed, and yet he liked to hear him.

And He said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and rest a little while." For there was an endless stream of people coming and going, and they had no time even to eat.

But many people saw them start and knew of it and ran around the lake from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

Now when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, while He was alone on land.

Now when He had left the crowd and gone home, His disciples were asking Him the meaning of this story.

And He answered them, "Are you too without understanding yet? Do you not know that nothing from the outside that goes into a man can make him foul,

Then He left there and went into the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He went into a house and wanted no one to know that He was there. But He could not escape public notice.

"My heart goes out in pity for these people, for they have been staying with me three days now, and they have nothing left to eat.

Now the Pharisees came out and began a discussion with Him, and to test Him asked Him to show them a spectacular sign from heaven.

But He sighed in spirit and said, "Why do the people of these times ask for a spectacular sign? I solemnly say, no sign at all will be given them."

Now they had forgotten to bring any bread; that is, they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

So they were discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

And as He noticed it He said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet know nor understand? Are your minds so dull?

Then He called the people to Him along with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must say, 'No' to self, put the cross on his shoulders, and keep on following me.

For he did not really know what to say, he was so frightened.

And as quick as a flash, on looking around, they saw no one with them but Jesus by Himself.

Then they left there and were making a trip through Galilee, and He did not want anybody to know it;

for He was now teaching His disciples, and saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be turned over into men's hands, and they will kill Him, but three days after that He will rise again."

Jesus said, "Do not try to stop him, for there is no one who will use my name to do a mighty deed, and then be able soon to abuse me.

and he and his wife must become one,' so they are no longer two but one.

And Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me perfectly good? No one is perfectly good but God Himself.

You know the commandments: Do not murder. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud. Practice honoring your father and mother."

Jesus said, "I solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farm for me and for the good news,

who will not receive now in this life a hundred times as much in houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, but along with them persecution, and in the world to come eternal life.

But many who are first now will be last then, and last now who will be first then."

Then Jesus called them to Him, and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule the heathen lord it over them, and their great men rule as despots over them;

Now in the distance He saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and He went up to it to see if He might find some figs on it, but when He got to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the time for figs.

So they said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus also said to them, "Nor am I going to tell you what sort of authority I have for doing as I do."

Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come back and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Have you never read this passage of Scripture: "'That stone which the builders threw away has now become the cornerstone;

Then they were trying to have Him arrested, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He aimed this story at them. And so they left Him and went away.

And they came up and said to Him, "We know that you always tell the truth, and pay no personal consideration to anyone, but teach the way of God honestly. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar, or not?

Should we pay it, or should we not?" Now because He saw their pretense, He said to them, "Why are you testing me so? Bring me a twenty-cent coin to look at."

Then some Sadducees, who claim that there is no resurrection, came up to Him and asked Him this question,

"Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man's brother died leaving a wife but no child, the man must marry the widow and raise up a family for his brother.

There were once seven brothers. The eldest married a wife and on dying left no child,

and the second married her and died leaving no child; and so did the third.

Now at the resurrection, which one's wife will she be? For all seven of them married her."

And this is the second, 'You must love your neighbor as you do yourself.' No other command is greater than these."

Then the scribe said to Him, "Indeed, Teacher, you have properly said that He is one by Himself, and there is no other but Him,

So Jesus said to him, as He saw that he had answered thoughtfully, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one ventured to ask Him any more questions.

Jesus began to say to them: "Look out that no one misleads you about it.

Now when they take you to court for trial, do not be worrying beforehand about what you should say, but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you that will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

"So when you see the destructive desecration standing where he has no right to stand" -- let the reader take notice -- "then let those who remain in Judea fly to the hills;

"Now learn what the story of the fig tree means. Just as soon as its branches grow tender, and put forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

So when you see all these things taking place, you will know that He is right at the door.

Keep looking, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will be.

So you must keep alert, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming -- in the evening or at midnight or at daybreak or early in the morning --

Now the feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread was two days later. So the high priests and scribes kept looking for some way to arrest Him by stratagem and have Him put to death,

And while they were sitting at table and eating, Jesus said, "I solemnly say to you, one of you, one who is now eating with me, is going to betray me."

I solemnly say to you, I will never again drink the product of the vine till the day when I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God."

When He went back again, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were so heavy they could hardly hold them open; and they did not know what answer to make Him.

He came back the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? No more of that! The hour has come. See! The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinful men.

Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is He; seize Him and lead Him safely away."

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?"

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.

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.

Then he commenced cursing and swearing, "I do not know this man that you are talking about."

Then again Pilate asked Him, "Have you no answer to make? Just see how many charges they are making against you!"

But Jesus made no further answer at all, so that Pilate was astonished.

Now at the time of the feast Pilate usually set a prisoner free whom the people requested.