But as for yourselves, be on your guard: I have forewarned you of everything.

"Learn from the fig-tree the lesson it teaches. As soon as its branch has become soft and it is bursting into leaf, you know that summer is near.

So also do you, when you see these things happening, be sure that He is near, at your very door.

Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away.

"But as to that day or the exact time no one knows--not even the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

It is like a man living abroad who has left his house, and given the management to his servants--to each one his special duty--and has ordered the porter to keep awake.

Be wakeful therefore, for you know not when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at cock-crow, or at dawn.

But Judas Iscariot, already mentioned as one of the Twelve, went to the High Priests to betray Jesus to them.

and whatever house he enters, tell the master of the house, 'The Rabbi asks, Where is my room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?'

Then he will himself show you a large room upstairs, ready furnished: there make preparation for us."

So the disciples went out and came to the city, and found everything just as He had told them; and they got the Passover ready.

And while they were at table Jesus said, "I solemnly tell you that one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me."

They were filled with sorrow, and began asking Him, one by one, "Not I, is it?"

"It is one of the Twelve," He replied; "he who is dipping his fingers in the dish with me.

For the Son of Man is going His way as it is written about Him; but alas for the man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been a happy thing for that man, had he never been born."

Also during the meal He took a Passover biscuit, blessed it, and broke it. He then gave it to them, saying, "Take this, it is my body."

"This is my blood," He said, "which is to be poured out on behalf of many--the blood which makes the Covenant sure.

Then said Jesus to them, "All of you are about to stumble and fall, for it is written, 'I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered in all directions.'

and He said to them, "My heart is oppressed with anguish to the very point of death: wait here and keep awake."

Be wakeful, all of you, and keep on praying, that you may not come into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

Rouse yourselves, let us be going: my betrayer is close at hand."

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man: lay hold of him, and take him safely away."

"Have you come out," said Jesus, "with swords and cudgels to arrest me, as if you had to fight with a robber?

Day after day I used to be among you in the Temple teaching, and you never seized me. But this is happening in order that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.'

Peter followed Jesus at a distance, as far as the outer court of the High Priest's palace. But there he remained sitting among the officers, and warming himself by the fire.

Then some came forward as witnesses and falsely declared,

At last the High Priest stood up, and advancing into the midst of them all, asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is the meaning of all this that these witnesses allege against you?"

You all heard his impious words. What is your judgement?" Then with one voice they condemned Him as deserving of death.

Thereupon some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, while striking Him with their fists and crying, "Prove that you are a prophet." The officers too struck Him with open hands as they took Him in charge.

Again the maidservant saw him, and again began to say to the people standing by, "He is one of them."

No sooner had he spoken than a cock crowed for the second time, and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, "Before the cock crows twice, you will three times disown me." And as he thought of it, he wept aloud.

Then, as the High Priests went on heaping accusations on Him,

In the same way the High Priests also, as well as the Scribes, kept on scoffing at Him, saying to one another, "He has saved others: himself he cannot save!

Some of the bystanders, hearing Him, said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah!"

Then a man ran to fill a sponge with sour wine, and he put it on the end of a cane and placed it to His lips, saying at the same time, "Wait! let us see whether Elijah will come and take him down."

all of whom in the Galilaean days had habitually been with Him and cared for Him, as well as many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.

Towards sunset, as it was the Preparation--that is, the day preceding the Sabbath--

and they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"

But he said to them, "Do not be terrified. It is Jesus you are looking for--the Nazarene who has been crucified. He has come back to life: He is not here: this is the place where they laid Him.

But go and tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee: and that there you will see Him, as He told you."

She went and brought the tidings to those who had been with Him, as they were mourning and weeping.

Afterwards He showed Himself in another form to two of them as they were walking, on their way into the country.

He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

And signs shall attend those who believe, even such as these. By making use of my name they shall expel demons. They shall speak new languages.

Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us

"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."

So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."

And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

and uttered a loud cry of joy. "Blest among women are you," she said, "and the offspring of your body is blest!

But why is this honour done me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."

Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--

And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.

His mother, however, said, "No, he is to be called John."

"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."

So he asked for a writing-tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered.

And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--

As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets--

To deliver us from our foes and from the power of all who hate us.

To grant us to be rescued from the power of our foes And so render worship to Him free from fear,

Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us,

For a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.

And this is the token for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord."

And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord, "a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons."

Symeon blessed them and said to Mary the mother, "This child is appointed for the falling and the uprising of many in Israel and for a token to be spoken against;

Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

And when He was twelve years old they went up as was customary at the time of the Feast, and,

When they saw Him, they were smitten with amazement, and His mother said to Him, "My child, why have you behaved thus to us? Your father and I have been searching for you in anguish."

"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"

And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying aloud! 'In the Desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight.

Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

And even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which fails to yield good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire."

he answered the question by saying to them all, "As for me, I am baptizing you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose very sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten: He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His winnowing-shovel is in His hand to clear out His threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into His storehouse; but the chaff He will burn up in fire unquenchable."

and the Holy Spirit came down in bodily shape, like a dove, upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, "Thou art My Son, dearly loved: in Thee is My delight."

"It is written," replied Jesus, "'It is not on bread alone that a man shall live.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'To the Lord thy God thou shalt do homage, and to Him alone shalt thou render worship.'"

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem and caused Him to stand on the roof of the Temple, and said to Him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here; for it is written,

The reply of Jesus was, "It is said, 'Thou shalt not put the Lord they God to the proof.'"

He came to Nazareth also, where He had been brought up; and, as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

And there was handed to Him the book of the Prophet Isaiah, and, opening the book, He found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed,

Then He proceeded to say to them, "To-day is this Scripture fulfilled in your hearing."

And they all spoke well of Him, wondering at the sweet words of kindness which fell from His lips, while they asked one another, "Is not this Joseph's son?"

"I tell you in solemn truth," He added, "that no Prophet is welcomed among his own people.

"Ha! Jesus the Nazarene, what have you to do with us? I know who you are--God's Holy One!"

All were astonished and awe-struck; and they asked one another, "What sort of language is this? For with authority and real power He gives orders to the foul spirits and they come out."

He ordered him to tell no one. "But go," He said, "show yourself to the Priest, and make the offering for your purification which Moses appointed, as evidence for them."

Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts?

Which is easier? --to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

But Jesus replied to them, "It is not men in good health who require a physician, but the sick.

Again they said to Him, "John's disciples fast often and pray, as do also those of the pharisees; but yours eat and drink."

"Can you compel the bridal party to fast," replied Jesus, "so long as they have the bridegroom among them?

Nor does any one after drinking old wine wish for new; for he says, 'The old is better.'"

"Have you never read so much as this," answered Jesus--"what David did when he and his followers were hungry;