The New Testament Part 21

CHAPTER XVII.

CHRIST'S SERMON AFTER THE LAST SUPPER.

1 [15:1]I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

[15:2]Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit he trims, that it may bear more fruit.

[15:3]You are now pure, by means of the word which I have spoken to you; [15:4]continue in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it continues in the vine, so you cannot, unless you continue in me. [15:5]I am the vine, you are the branches. He that continues in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit; for separated from me, you can do nothing. [15:6]If any one continues not in me he is cast without as a branch, and is withered; and they collect them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [15:7]If you continue in me, and my words continue in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be [given] you. [15:8]By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and be my disciples. [15:9]As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you; continue in my love. [15:10]If you keep my commandments you shall continue in my love, as I have kept my Father's commandments and continue in his love. [15:11]I have spoken these things to you that my joy may be in you, and your joy be completed.

[15:12]This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. [15:13]No man has greater love than this, that one should give his life for his friends. [15:14]You are my friends if you do what I command you; [15:15]I no longer call you servants, for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends: for all things which I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. [15:16]You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should continue, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.

[15:17]These things I charge you, that you love one another.

2 [15:18]If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before you.

[15:19] If you were of this world, the world would be a friend to its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. [15:20]Remember the word which I said to you, a servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my word, they will also keep yours. [15:21]But all these things they will do to you, on my account, because they know not him that sent me.

[15:22]If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no pretext for their sin. [15:23]He that hates me, hates my Father also. [15:24]If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they would not have had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. [15:25]But [they do this] that the word written in their law may be fulfilled, They hated me without cause. [15:26]But when the Comforter has come, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me; [15:27]and you shall also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

3 [16:1]These things I have said to you, that you may not be offended.

[16:2] They shall put you out of the synagogues; but the hour is coming when every one that kills you will think he renders G.o.d a service.

[16:3]And these things they will do, because they have not known the Father nor me. [16:4]But these things I have told you, that when the time comes you may remember that I told you of them. But I told you not these things at the beginning, because I was with you. [16:5]But now I go to him that sent me, and no one of you asks me, Where do you go?

[16:6]But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. [16:7]But I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I should go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you. [16:8]And when he has come, he will convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: [16:9]of sin, because they believe not on me; [16:10]and of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and you behold me no more; [16:11]and of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

4 [16:12]I have many things yet to say to you, but you cannot bear them now; [16:13]but when he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will lead you in all the truth; for he will not speak of himself, but he will speak whatever he shall hear, and tell you things to come. [16:14]He shall glorify me, because he shall receive from me and tell you. [16:15]All things that the Father has, are mine; on this account I said, He shall receive of me and tell you.

5 [16:16]A little while and you shall not see me; and again a little while and you shall see me. [16:17]Then some of his disciples said one to another, What is this that he says to us, A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me? and, Because I go to the Father? [16:18]They said therefore, What is this that he says, The little while? We do not know what he says.

6 [16:19]Jesus knew that they wished to ask him, and said to them, Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this that I said, A little while and you shall not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me? [16:20]I tell you most truly, that you shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall become joy. [16:21]For when a woman is in labor she has pain, because her time has come; but when she has borne the child she no longer remembers the distress, because of joy that a man is born into the world. [16:22]And you therefore now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you. [16:23]And in that day you shall ask me nothing; I tell you most truly, whatever you shall ask the Father, he will give you in my name. [16:24] Till now you have asked nothing in my name; ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be complete.

7 [16:25]These things have I spoken to you in parables. The time is coming when I will no more speak to you in parables, but I will tell you plainly of the Father. [16:26]In that day you shall ask in my name, and I tell you not that I will ask the Father for you; [16:27]for the Father himself is a friend to you, because you have been friends to me, and believed that I came forth from G.o.d. [16:28]I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again I leave the world and go to the Father.

8 [16:29]Then his disciples said to him, Behold, now you speak plainly, and say no parable; [16:30]now we know that you know all things, and have no need that any one should ask you; on this account we believe that you have come forth from G.o.d. [16:31]Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? [16:32]Behold, the time is coming, and has come, that you shall be scattered every one to his own, and leave me alone; and I am not alone, for the Father is with me. [16:33]These things have I told you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have affliction; but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.

CHAPTER XVIII.

CHRIST'S PRAYER FOR HIS DISCIPLES.

1 [17:1]JESUS spoke these words and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee, [17:2]as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that as to all that thou hast given him he should give them eternal life.

[17:3]And this is the eternal life; that they shall know thee, the only true G.o.d, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. [17:4]I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gayest me to do.

[17:5]And now glorify thou me, Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

2 [17:6]I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou gayest me out of the world; they were thine, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word. [17:7]Now they have known that all things which thou hast given me are of thee, [17:8]because the words which thou hast given me I have given them; and they have received and known truly that I came forth from thee, and believed that thou didst send me. [17:9]I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me, for they are thine, [17:10]and all mine are thine, and thine mine, and I am glorified in them. [17:11]And I am no longer in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep in thy name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we also are. [17:12]When I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name which thou gayest me, and preserved [them], and no one of them has been lost, except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled; [17:13]but now I come to thee, and I say these things in the world that they may have my joy made complete in them.

3 [17:14]I have given them thy word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, as I am not of the world. [17:15]I ask not that thou wouldst take them out of the world, but that thou wouldst keep them from evil. [17:16]They are not of the world, as I am not of the world. [17:17]Sanctify them by thy truth; thy word is truth.

[17:18]As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world: [17:19]and I sanctify myself for them, that they also may be sanctified by truth.

4 [17:20]And I ask not for these only, but for those also who shall believe on me through their word, [17:21]that all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. [17:22]And the glory which thou hast given me I have given them, that they may be one as we are one, [17:23]I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. [17:24]Father, what thou hast given me, I will that they should be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me; because thou didst love me before the foundation of the world; [17:25]and, righteous Father, the world has not known thee, but I have known thee, and these have known that thou didst send me. [17:26]And I have declared to them thy name, and will declare it, that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, as I also am in them.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE APPREHENSION OF CHRIST, HIS EXAMINATION BY THE JEWS, PETER'S DENIAL OF HIM.

1 [18:1]JESUS having said these words went out with his disciples across the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered and his disciples. [18:2]And Judas who betrayed him knew the place, for Jesus often retired there with his disciples. [18:3]Then Judas taking the guard and the officers of the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with torches, and lamps, and weapons.

[18:4]Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that were coming upon him, went out and said to them, Whom do you seek? [18:5]They answered him, Jesus the Nazoraean. Jesus said to them, I am he. And Judas who betrayed him stood with them. [18:6]When, therefore, he said to them, I am he, they went backwards and fell on the ground. [18:7]Then he asked them again, Whom do you seek? And they said, Jesus, the Nazoraean.

[18:8]Jesus answered, I told you that I am he; if, therefore, you seek me, let these go; [18:9]that the word might be fulfilled which he said, Of those whom thou gayest me I have lost none. [18:10]Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and struck the servant of the chief priest, and cut off his right ear; and the name of the servant was Malchus.

[18:11]Then Jesus said to Peter, Put the sword in the sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not drink it?

2 [18:12]Then the guard and the chiliarch and the officers of the Jews apprehended Jesus, and bound him, [18:13]and led him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest that year; [18:14]and Caiaphas was the one who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should be destroyed for the people.

3 [18:15]But Simon Peter followed Jesus, and the other disciple; and that disciple was known to the chief priest, and went in with Jesus to the chief priest's court; [18:16]but Peter stood at the door without.

Then the other disciple who was known to the chief priest went out and spoke to the door-keeper, and brought in Peter. [18:17]Then the female servant, the door-keeper, said to Peter, Are you also one of the disciples of this man? He said, I am not. [18:18]And the servants and officers having made a fire because it was cold, stood and warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

4 [18:19]Then the chief priest asked Jesus of his disciples, and his teaching. [18:20]Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in a synagogue, and in the temple, where the Jews always a.s.semble, and in secret I have said nothing. [18:21]Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; behold, they know what I said. [18:22]He having said these things, one of the officers who stood by gave Jesus a blow, saying, Do you answer the chief priest thus? [18:23]Jesus answered him, If I spoke wrong, testify of the wrong; but if well, why do you beat me? [18:24]Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the chief priest.

5 [18:25]And Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Then they said to him, Are you also one of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not. [18:26] One of the servants of the chief priest, being a relation of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with him? [18:27]Then Peter denied again; and immediately a c.o.c.k crew.

CHAPTER XX.

CHRIST'S TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION BEFORE PILATE.

1 [18:28]THEN they led him from Caiaphas to the Praetorium. And it was morning; and they entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the pa.s.sover. [18:29]Then Pilate went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this man?

[18:30]They answered and said to him, If he was not a criminal we should not have delivered him up to you. [18:31] Then Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put any one to death; [18:32]that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what death he was about to die.

2 [18:33]Then Pilate went into the Praetorium and called Jesus, and said to him, Are you the king of the Jews? [18:34]Jesus answered, Do you say this of yourself, or did others tell you of me? [18:35]Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me; what have you done? [18:36]Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom had been of this world my officers would have fought for me, that I should not be given up to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not here. [18:37]Then Pilate said to him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, As you say, I am a king. For this was I born, and for this I came into the world, that I should testify to the truth; every one who is of the truth hears my voice. [18:38]Pilate said to him, What is truth? And having said this he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in him. [18:39]But you have a custom that I should release one to you at the pa.s.sover; are you willing, therefore, that I should release to you the king of the Jews?

[18:40]Then all cried again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. But Barabbas was a robber.

3 [19:1]Then Pilate took and scourged Jesus. [19:2]And the soldiers having plaited a crown of thorns put it on his head; and they put a purple garment about him, [19:3]and came to him and said, Hail, king of the Jews! And they struck him with the open hand. [19:4]Then Pilate came out again and said to them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in him. [19:5]Then Jesus came out, wearing the th.o.r.n.y crown and the purple garment. And he said to them, Behold the man! [19:6]When therefore the chief priests and officers saw him, they cried, saying, Crucify him! crucify him! Pilate said to them, Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no fault in him.

[19:7]The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Son of G.o.d.

4 [19:8]When therefore Pilate heard this charge he was more afraid, [19:9]and entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, Whence are you? But Jesus gave him no answer. [19:10]Pilate said to him, Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and I have power to crucify you? [19:11]Jesus answered, You would have had no power against me if it had not been given you from above; therefore he that delivered me to you has a greater sin.

5 [19:12]From that time Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried, saying, If you release this man you are not a friend of Caesar; every one who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. [19:13]Then Pilate hearing these words led Jesus out, and sat on the tribunal, in a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. [19:14]And it was the preparation of the pa.s.sover, it was about the sixth hour [noon]; and he said to the Jews, Behold your king! [19:15]Then they cried out, Away with him, away with him! crucify him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. [19:16]Then therefore he delivered him to them to be crucified.

CHAPTER XXI.

CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION, DEATH, AND BURIAL.

1 [19:17]THEN they took Jesus, and putting the cross on him he went out to what is called the place of a cranium, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha, [19:18] where they crucified him, and two others with him, one on one side and the other on the other, and Jesus between.

[19:19]And Pilate wrote an inscription and put on the cross. And it was written, JESUS THE NAZORAEAN, THE KING OF THE JEWS. [19:20]Many of the Jews therefore read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. [19:21]Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews, but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

[19:22]Pilate answered, what I have written I have written.

2 [19:23]Then the soldiers, when they crucified Jesus, took his clothes and made four parts, a part to each soldier, and his coat. But his coat was without seam, woven from the top through the whole. [19:24]They said, therefore, one to another, Let us not divide this, but cast lots for it whose it shall be; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, which says, They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. The soldiers therefore did indeed these things.

3 [19:25]And there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and the sister of his mother, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary the Magdalene.

[19:26]Then Jesus seeing his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, said to his mother, Woman, behold your son. [19:27]Then he said to the disciple, Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own [house].