So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things."

Then the man sent another, and that one they killed. So it was with many other servants. Some of these they beat, and others they killed.

But those farmers told one another, "This is the heir. Come on, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!'

So they grabbed him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

This was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?"

So they brought one. Then he asked them, "Whose face and name are on this?" They told him, "Caesar's."

So Jesus told them, "Give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were utterly amazed at him.

"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, he should marry the widow and have children for his brother.

Then the second married her and died without having children, and so did the third.

Jesus answered them, "Aren't you mistaken because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power?

Then one of the scribes came near and heard the Sadducees arguing with one another. He saw how well Jesus answered them, so he asked him, "Which commandment is the most important of them all?"

When Jesus saw how wisely the man answered, he told him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask him another question.

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is David's son?

David himself calls him "Lord,' so how can he be his son?" And the large crowd kept listening to him with delight.

They devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!"

"Do you see these large buildings?" Jesus responded. "Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be torn down."

Jesus began to say to them, "See to it that no one deceives you.

Many will come in my name and say, "I AM,' and they will deceive many people.

When they take you away and hand you over for trial, don't worry ahead of time about what you will say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that time, because it won't be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

"So when you see the destructive desecration standing where it should not be (let the reader take note), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.

The one who's on his housetop must not come down and go into his house to take anything out of it,

and the one who's in the field must not turn back to get his coat.

because those days will be a time of suffering, a kind that has not happened from the beginning of God's creation until now, and certainly will never happen again.

So be on your guard! I've told you everything before it happens."

Then people will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory.

In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door.

It's like a man who went on a trip. As he left home, he put his servants in charge, each with his own work, and he ordered the doorkeeper to be alert.

So keep on watching, because you don't know when the master of the house is coming whether in the evening, at three o'clock in the morning, or at dawn.

This perfume could have been sold for more than 300 denarii and the money given to the destitute." So they got extremely angry with her.

After they had listened to him, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So he began to look for a good opportunity to betray him.

When he goes into a house, say to its owner that the Teacher asks, "Where is my room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?'

So the disciples left and went into the city. They found everything just as Jesus had told them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

He told them, "It's one of you Twelve, the one who is dipping his bread into the bowl with me.

So he told them, "I'm deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Wait here and stay awake."

Again he came back and found them asleep, because they could not keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him.

Get up! Let's go! See, the one who is betraying me is near!"

So Judas immediately went up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and kissed him tenderly.

But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

Peter followed Jesus at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the servants and warming himself at the fire.

"We ourselves heard him say, "I will destroy this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another one not made by human hands.'"

Jesus said, "I AM, and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.'"

While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest's servant girls came by.

When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth."

The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!"

Again he denied it. After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, "Obviously you're one of them, because you are a Galilean!"

Pilate asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered him, "You say so."

So Pilate asked him again, "Don't you have any answer? Look how many accusations they're bringing against you!"

So the crowd came and began to request that Pilate do for them what he always did.

So Pilate asked them again, "Then what should I do with the man you call "the King of the Jews'?"

So Pilate, wanting to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them, but he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified.

The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters) and called out the whole guard.

They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted some thorns into a victor's crown, and placed it on his head.

Then they crucified him. They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice to see what each one would get.

When some of the people standing there heard this, they said, "Listen! He's calling for Elijah!"

So someone ran and soaked a sponge in some sour wine. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink, saying, "Wait! Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down!"

When the centurion who stood facing Jesus saw how he had cried out and breathed his last, he said, "This man certainly was the Son of God!"

Pilate was amazed to hear that Jesus had already died, so he summoned the centurion to ask him if he was in fact dead.

Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. (It was a very large stone.)

As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were utterly astonished.

But go and tell his disciples especially Peter that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn't say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.

So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

When Zechariah was serving with his division of priests in God's presence,

When Zechariah saw him, he was startled, and fear overwhelmed him.

because he will be great in the Lord's presence. He will never drink wine or any strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

He will bring many of Israel's descendants back to the Lord their God.

Meanwhile, the people kept waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed in the sanctuary so long.

to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Nothing is impossible with respect to any of God's promises."

Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her.

She went into Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

So they motioned to the baby's father to see what he wanted to name him.

He granted us deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear

to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death's shadow, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

So all the people went to their hometowns to be registered.

When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about."

So they went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in the feeding trough.

When they saw this, they repeated what they had been told about this child.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

which you prepared for all people to see

Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed."

Meanwhile, the child continued to grow and to become strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor rested upon him.

When Jesus' parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!"

He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

Everyone will see the salvation that God has provided.'"

John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, "We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

The ax already lies against the roots of the trees. So every tree not producing good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire."

Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother's wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done.

So if you will worship me, all this will be yours."

With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"

and to announce the year of the Lord's favor."

he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud."

All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, "This is Joseph's son, isn't it?"

So he told them, "You will probably quote this proverb to me, "Doctor, heal yourself! Do everything here in your hometown that we hear you did in Capernaum.'"

I'm telling you the truth there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when it didn't rain for three years and six months and there was a severe famine everywhere in the land.

There were also many lepers in Israel in the prophet Elisha's time, yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."

So news about him spread to every place in the surrounding region.