Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

They will throw you and your children, [who are] within your walls, to the ground and they will not allow one stone to remain on top of another in your city because you did not recognize that [God was] visiting you." [Note: This "visitation" refers either to the redemption which they had rejected or to the punishment of the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70].

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

And they discussed [this] with one another, saying, "If we say 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.

and he added to send a third, and this one also, having wounded, they did cast out.

And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

He will come and put these tenants to death and will give the vineyard to others.” When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders heard this, they said, “May it never be!”

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

And they watched and sent forth spies, pretending themselves to be righteous men, so that they might seize upon a word of His, that they might deliver Him in this way to the power and authority of the governor.

They put this question to him, "Teacher, we know you are straight in what you say and teach, you do not look to human favour but teach the Way of God honestly.

"Show me the coin [used for paying the taxes]. [Note: This coin was equivalent to one day of a farm laborer's pay, or about $60-$84 in 1994]. Whose image and inscription are on this coin?" And they answered Him, "Caesar's."

They could not lay hold of this answer before the people; and, in their wonder at his reply, they held their tongues.

Presently there came up some Sadducees, who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this--

saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us if someone's brother dies having a wife, and this man is childless, that his brother should take the wife and {father} descendants for his brother.

And the second took the woman, and this man died childless.

and then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children.

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

And some of the scribes, in answer to this, said, Master, you have said well.

And after this they durst not ask him any question at all.

Then Jesus looked up [i.e., from his seated position at the entrance to the Temple], and saw people throwing their gifts [of money] into the treasury [Note: This was a large open-mouthed container used for receiving offerings for meeting expenses of Temple upkeep].

And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

for all these out of their superabundance did cast into the gifts to God, but this one out of her want, all the living that she had, did cast in.'

“As for all these things which you see, the time will come when there will not be one stone left on another that will not be torn down.”

They asked Him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to happen?”

he answered, take care, that you be not seduced: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ. it won't be long e'er this happens, therefore do not follow them.

When you hear of wars and disturbances [civil unrest, revolts, uprisings], do not panic; for these things must take place first, but the end will not come immediately.”

“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, turning you over to the synagogues and prisons, and bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

This will be a time and an opportunity for you to testify [about Me].

[But], by holding out steadfastly, you will gain your life. [Note: This means either "preserve your earthly life," or "attain never ending life"].

for this is the time of vengeance, when all that is writ, shall be accomplished.

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

"Then [Note: This event answers to the "immediately" of Matt. 24:29, and suggests the next major event on God's calendar] there will be [supernatural] signs [evident] in the sun and moon and stars. And on earth [there will be] distress among nations; they will be perplexed by the roaring of the ocean's churning waves. [Note: Probably this is figurative language for highly agitated conditions on earth].

And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great splendor [Note: This no doubt refers to the second coming of Christ. See II Pet. 3:9-10; Matt. 24:30-31; Rev. 1:7].

But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near."

When they put out [foliage], now you see for yourselves [and] know that by this time the summer is near.

So, whenever you see all this happen, be sure the Reign of God is at hand.

Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

For that is the way this 'day' will arrive for everyone [else] living on the entire earth.

Watch therefore continually and pray, that ye may obtain grace to fly all this that shall come. And that ye may stand before the son of man."

His habit at this time was to teach in the Temple by day, but to go out and spend the night on the Mount called the Oliveyard.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. [Note: This was the annual Jewish festival commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage under Moses' leadership].

This gave them great pleasure, and they agreed to pay him.

So he consented, and began looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus to them [at a time when He was] separated from the crowd [because the people might riot or stop them from seizing Him].

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

I eat this no more, until it may be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

for I tell you that from this time I will never drink the produce of the vine till the Kingdom of God has come."

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

And Jesus said to them, "The kings of the [unconverted] Gentiles lord it over their own people, and those who domineer over them are called 'Benefactors' [Note: This was a title used by Greek kings in Egypt and Syria].

But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant.

"Simon, Simon [i.e., Peter], Satan has earnestly requested the right to sift you like wheat. [Note: Grain was sifted by using a sieve-like device in which grain and particles of dirt and straw were shaken together, allowing the grain to fall through while the dirt and straw remained. This was an allusion to the agitating trials Peter was soon to endure, and survive].

And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Then He said to them, "But this time the person who has a money belt should take it, and also [he should take] a traveling bag. And if he does not have a sword, he should sell his coat and buy one.

For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.

But they said, "See, Master, here are two swords!" And he said to them, "Enough of this!"

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Then a certain one of them struck the head priest's slave and sheared off his right ear. [Note: It was Peter who struck this man, whose name was Malchus. See John 18:10].

But Jesus answered [and] said, "{Stop! No more of this!}" And he touched [his] ear [and] healed him.

When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice.

and besides all this, they loaded him with the most impious invectives.

But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

At this they exclaimed: "Why do we want any more evidence? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!"

And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

And on learning that he belonged to Herods jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was himself also at Jerusalem at this time.

Now that very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other—before this they had been enemies.

Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death.

But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

Now this man was in prison because of an attack against the government in the town, in which there had been loss of life

And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.

Then, as they were leading Jesus away, the soldiers [See Mark 15:16-21] grabbed hold of a man named Simon, from Cyrene [Note: This was a city in the northern African country of Libya], who was coming in from the countryside, and placed the cross [i.e., probably only the cross-beam portion] on him, so he could carry it while following Jesus.

For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!'

And if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

And when they came to the place called "The Skull" [Note: The Latin word for this place is "Calvary"], they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one at His right side and one at His left.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.

There was also an inscription written over him: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

And one of the evil-doers on the cross, with bitter feeling, said to him, Are you not the Christ? Get yourself and us out of this.

And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong."

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

"I tell you in solemn truth," replied Jesus, "that this very day you shall be with me in Paradise."

And by this time it was about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And having said this, he breathed his last.

And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.