Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes taught them.

My first account, O Theophilus, dealt with all that Jesus began doing and teaching from the beginning down to the day when,

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi'; for one is your Teacher, and you are all brothers;


and he began to teach in their synagogues, and was glorified by all.

This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him. "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent from God; for no man can do these signs which you are continually doing, unless God is with him."

On another Sabbath he went into a synagogue and was teaching; and there was there a man whose right hand was withered.

So they sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are honest, and that you are teaching the way of God in sincerity; and are not afraid of any one, for you do not court men's favor.

When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

So when they came, they said: "Teacher, we know that you are sincere and are not afraid of any one, for you do not regard the face of men; nay, but you reach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay poll-tax to Caesar or not?

So they put a question to him saying. "Rabbi, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not regard any man's person, but teach the way of God honestly.

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and when he had seated himself, his disciples came to him,

After finishing his instructions to his twelve disciples, Jesus left that place, in order to teach and to preach in the neighboring cities.

Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me.

Afterwards Jesus began to teach by the seaside, and a vast multitude of people gathered about him, so that he went on board a boat on the sea, and sat there, while all the people stayed on shore, at the water's edge.

But they repeatedly insisted, "He is stirring up the people throughout all Judea with his teaching which started from Galilee."


Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. read more.
Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a great crowd of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying. "Whoever I kiss is the man; arrest him." So he came straight up to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him eagerly. read more.
"Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. And, behold, one of these who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him. "Put back your sword into its place! for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Do you not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father to furnish me at this very moment with twelve legions of angels? "But if I did, how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say that thus it must happen?" Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me. "But all this has happened in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled."

At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely." So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said: read more.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire.

While he was still speaking there came a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus in order to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, you are betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
Then one of them did strike a blow at the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. "Permit me to do this at least," said Jesus, as he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness."

Judas the Traitor also knew this place; for Jesus and his disciples often met there. So after getting troops and some Temple police from the chief priests and Pharisees, Judas came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went forth to meet them, and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" read more.
"For Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. He said to them, "I am he." (Now Judas also, the betrayer, was standing with them.) When Jesus said "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground; so he asked them once more, "Whom are you looking for?" and they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." "I have already told you that I am he," said Jesus. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these go their way." (In order that the word which he had spoken might be fulfilled, "Of those whom thou hast given me I have not lost one.") Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, and striking at the high priest's slave, cut off his right ear. (The slave's name was Malchus.) Then Jesus said to Peter. "Put up your sword in its sheath. the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?" So the troops and their commandant and the Jewish police took Jesus, and bound him,



Then he went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "O, my Father, if this cup cannot pass except I drink it, Thy will be done."

So he left them and went away again, and prayed the third time in the same words as before.

Then he came to the disciples and said: "Sleep on now, and take your rest. Look! the hour is at hand; the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of wicked men. "Rouse yourselves! Let us go. My betrayer is close at hand!" Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a great crowd of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. read more.
Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying. "Whoever I kiss is the man; arrest him." So he came straight up to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him eagerly. "Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. And, behold, one of these who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him. "Put back your sword into its place! for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Do you not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father to furnish me at this very moment with twelve legions of angels? "But if I did, how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say that thus it must happen?" Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me. "But all this has happened in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.


Barely had he spoken these words when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, accompanied by a great crowd of men with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying. "Whoever I kiss is the man; arrest him." So he came straight up to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and kissed him eagerly. read more.
"Friend, do that for which you came," said Jesus. Then they came forward and laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. And, behold, one of these who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and smote the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him. "Put back your sword into its place! for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. "Do you not suppose that I am able to appeal to my Father to furnish me at this very moment with twelve legions of angels? "But if I did, how could the Scriptures be fulfilled that say that thus it must happen?" Then Jesus said to the crowds. "Are you come out as against a robber, with swords and staves to arrest me? Day after day, I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not apprehend me. "But all this has happened in order that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then all his disciples forsook him and fled; but those who had apprehended Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had assembled. Now Peter was following him, afar off, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and when he got in, he was sitting with the officers, to see the end. And the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to get false evidence against Jesus, in order that they might have him executed; but they found none, although many false witnesses came forward. However, at last two came forward who said, "This fellow declared, 'I can destroy the Temple of God and build it in three days.'" Rising to his feet the high priest asked Jesus. "Do you make no answer? What is it that these are testifying against you?" But Jesus kept silence. Again the high priest addressed him, "I adjure you by the Living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!" "I am He," Jesus answered; "yet I tell you that from this time on you will see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming upon the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his garments, saying. "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? For behold, now you have heard his blasphemy! "What is your verdict?" "He ought to die," they answered. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and some struck him with the palms of their hands, and cried. "Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it who struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and one of the maidservants came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said. Soon afterward he went out into the porch, and another maid saw him, and said to those who were there, "This fellow certainly was with Jesus, the Nazarene!" And again he denied it with an oath, saying, "I never knew the man." A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "You also are certainly one of them, for your speech betrays you." Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I never knew the man." Immediately the cock crew! Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

At that instant, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up, and with him a mob armed with swords and clubs, sent by the high priests and Scribes and elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign. "The one I kiss," he said, "is the man. Arrest him, and take him away safely." So he came and going straight up to Jesus he said: read more.
"Rabbi," and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and took him. But one of the bystanders drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus interposed, saying. "Are you come out to arrest me with swords and clubs, as if I were a robber? Day after day I was face to face with you in the Temple courts, teaching, and you did not seize me. But this is done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled." Then they all forsook him and fled. One young man, however, began following him, with only a linen sheet thrown round his naked body. They seized him, but he left the linen sheet and fled away naked. Then they took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and Scribes came with him. Peter also had followed Jesus at a distance, until he was inside the court of the high priest. There he was sitting among the officers, warming himself in the light of the fire. Meanwhile the high priests and all of the Sanhedrin were trying to get evidence against Jesus, so as to have him put to death, but they found none; for though many gave false witness against him, their testimony did not agree. Some came forward and swore falsely, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will tear down this temple made by hands, and in three days I will build another temple not made by hands.'" But even their evidence did not agree. Then the high priest rose and stood forth among them. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked Jesus; "What is it that these testify against you?" But he remained silent, and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him. "Are you the Christ," he said, "the Son of the Blessed?" "I am," Jesus answered, "and you all shall see the Son of man seated on the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his vestments. "Why do we need any further witness?" he exclaimed. "Did you hear his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" Then they all condemn him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him while striking him and saying, "Prophesy." The officers, too, received him into custody with blows. Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, there came one of the maid servants of the high priest, and saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him, and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it. He said: "I don't know, I don't understand what you are saying." Then he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. Again the maid servant saw him, and began again to tell the bystanders, "He is one of them." A second time he continued to deny it. After a little the by-standers began to say to Peter again, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." But he began with curses an solemn oaths to say, "I do not know the man you are talking about." At that instant for the second time a cock crew. Then Peter recalled the word which Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice." And as he thought of it, he began to weep aloud.

While he was still speaking there came a crowd, and he who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus in order to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, "Judas, you are betraying the Son of man with a kiss?" Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?" read more.
Then one of them did strike a blow at the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. "Permit me to do this at least," said Jesus, as he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the corps of priests and captains of the temple and elders who had come out to arrest him. "Have ye come for me with swords and clubs to arrest me like a robber? "When daily I was with you in the temple you did not stretch out your hands to take me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off. And when they had lighted a fire in the center of the court, and had sat down together, Peter was taking his seat among them. But a certain maid servant saw him taking his seat near the fire and, with a sharp glance at him, she said, "This fellow was with him, too!" But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I know nothing about him." A little later a man saw him, and said, "You too are one of them" But Peter declared, "Man, I am not." But an hour afterwards another man kept insisting, saying. "Really, this fellow was with him. Why, he is a Galilean." "Man," said Peter, "I do not know what you mean." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crew. Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, "This very day, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter went outside and wept with bitter crying. Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him. They would blindfold him and ask him. "Prophesy! Tell who struck you!" And they said many other insulting things against him. When it became the day the elders if the people met with the high priests and the Scribes and had brought before the Sanhedrin, saying. "Are you the Christ? Tell us!" "If I tell you," he answered, "you will not believe; "And if I ask you, you will not answer. "But from henceforth the Son of man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." Then they all said, "Are you then the Son of God." "What need we of further evidence? for we ourselves have heard it from his own lips."

So after getting troops and some Temple police from the chief priests and Pharisees, Judas came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon him, went forth to meet them, and asked them, "Who is it that you are looking for?" "For Jesus of Nazareth," they answered. He said to them, "I am he." (Now Judas also, the betrayer, was standing with them.) read more.
When Jesus said "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground; so he asked them once more, "Whom are you looking for?" and they replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." "I have already told you that I am he," said Jesus. "If, then, you are looking for me, let these go their way." (In order that the word which he had spoken might be fulfilled, "Of those whom thou hast given me I have not lost one.") Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, and striking at the high priest's slave, cut off his right ear. (The slave's name was Malchus.) Then Jesus said to Peter. "Put up your sword in its sheath. the cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?" So the troops and their commandant and the Jewish police took Jesus, and bound him, and led him to Annas first. (For Annas was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year??14 the Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was for their advantage that one man should die for the people.) Meanwhile Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple who was known to the high priest, and they went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest's palace. But Peter took his stand outside, near the door. So the other disciple who was known to the high priest came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. The doorkeeper (a maid servant) then said to Peter, "Are not you also one of this man's disciples?" "No I am not," he answered. Now the slaves and the attendants were standing and warming themselves about a charcoal fire, which they had made because it was cold; and Peter also stood with them, and was warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him. "I have spoken to all the world openly. I always taught in a synagogue and in the temple, places where all the Jews are wont to assemble, and in secret I have spoken nothing. "Why do you question me? Ask those who heard what I have said to them; these witnesses here know what I said." When he had spoken these words, one of the police standing by gave him a blow with his hand, saying as he did so, "Is that the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus replied "If I have said anything wrong, give evidence concerning the wrong; but if I said what was true, why do you strike me?" Then Annas sent him in chains to Caiaphas, the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you not?" He denied it, saying "I am not." One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did not I myself see you with him in the garden." Peter again denied it; and at that very moment a cock crew. From the house of Caiaphas they took Jesus to the Praetorium, and it was dawn. They themselves would not enter the Praetorium, in order that they might not be ceremonially defiled, but might be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came outside to them and asked, "What charge do you bring against this man?" In reply they said, "If he had not been a criminal, we should not have handed him over you." "Take him yourselves," answered Pilate, "and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We are not allowed to put anyone to death" (that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled in which he predicted the kind of death he was to die). So Pilate went into the Praetorium again, and summoned Jesus. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he said. Jesus answered, "Are you saying this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" "I am not a Jew, am I?" replied Pilate; "It is your own nation and the high priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered him. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants have fought hard that I should not be handed the Jews; but in reality my kingdom is not of such origins." "You are a king, then? You!" said Pilate. "You say truly that I am a king." answered Jesus, "for this purpose I was born, and to this end came I into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every man who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" As he said this, he went outside again to the Jews and said to them. "I find no crime in this man. Now it is a custom of yours that I release one prisoner to you at the time of the Passover feast. Do you wish me to release to you the King of the Jews?" Then they all shouted again. "No, not him! Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a robber.