The New Testament Part 22

4 [19:28]After this, Jesus knowing that all things were already finished, that the Scripture might be fully accomplished, said, I thirst. [19:29]Then a vessel was set full of vinegar; and filling a sponge with vinegar, and putting it on a hyssop stalk, they presented it to his mouth. [19:30]When therefore Jesus took the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and inclining his head gave up the spirit.

5 [19:31]Then the Jews, that the bodies might not continue on the cross on the sabbath, for it was the preparation, for that was a great sabbath, asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and they be taken down. [19:32]Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other crucified with him, [19:33]and coming to Jesus, when they saw him already dead, they broke not his legs; [19:34]but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. [19:35]He who saw has testified, and his testimony is true, for he knows that he says what is true, that you also may believe. [19:36]For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Not a bone of him shall be broken; [19:37]and again another Scripture says, They shall look on him whom they have pierced.

6 [19:38]After these things Joseph from Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take down the body of Jesus; and Pilate permitted him. Then he came and took his body. [19:39]And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. [19:40]Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it with bandages, with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to prepare for burial. [19:41]And there was in the place where he was crucified a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one was yet laid.

[19:42]In that therefore they laid Jesus, on account of the preparation of the Jews, because the tomb was near.

CHAPTER XXII.

CHRIST AFTER THE RESURRECTION.

1 [20:1]AND on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came in the morning, while it was yet dark, to the tomb and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. [20:2]Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.

[20:3]Then went Peter and the other disciple, and came to the tomb.

[20:4]And the two ran together; and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the tomb, [20:5]and stooping down saw the bandages lying, but he went not in. [20:6]Then Simon Peter came following him, and went into the tomb, and beheld the bandages lying, [20:7]and the napkin which was on his head not lying with the bandages but folded up in a place by itself. [20:8]Then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and saw and believed; [20:9]for they did not yet know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. [20:10]Then the disciples went away by themselves.

2 [20:11]But Mary stood at the tomb outside, weeping. Then as she wept she stooped down to the tomb, [20:12]and saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. [20:13]And they said to her, Woman, why do you weep?

She said to them, Because they have taken my Lord and I know not where they have laid him. [20:14]Having said these words she turned around and beheld Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. [20:15]Jesus said to her, Woman, why do you weep? whom do you seek? She, supposing that he was the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have borne him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him. [20:16]Jesus said to her, Mary. She, turning around, said to him in Hebrew, Rabboni, which is interpreted, Teacher. [20:17]Jesus said to her, Do not touch me; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my G.o.d and your G.o.d. [20:18]Mary the Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he said these things to her.

3 [20:19]Then when it was evening, on that first day of the week, and the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be to you.

[20:20]And having said this he showed them both his hands and his side; then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [20:21]Then he said to them again, Peace be to you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you. [20:22]And having said this he breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. [20:23]Those whose sins you forgive, are forgiven; and whose you retain, are retained.

4 [20:24]But Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. [20:25]Then the other disciples said to him, We have seen the Lord; but he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the impression of the nails, and put my finger in the impression of the nails, and put my hand in his side, I will not believe. [20:26]And after eight days his disciples were again within, and Thomas with them.

Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be to you. [20:27]Then he said to Thomas, Reach here your finger and behold my hands, and reach your hand and put it in my side, and be not faithless but believing. [20:28]Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my G.o.d. [20:29]Jesus said to him, Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and believed.

5 [20:30]Jesus performed also many other miracles in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book; [20:31]but these are recorded that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d, and that believing you may have life in his name.

6 [21:1]After these things he showed himself again to the disciples at the lake of Tiberias; and he showed himself thus. [21:2]Simon Peter, and Thomas called the Twin, and Nathaniel who was from Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

[21:3]Simon Peter said to them, I am going a fis.h.i.+ng. They said to him, We will also go with you. They went out and entered into the s.h.i.+p; and on that night caught nothing, [21:4]but when it was now morning Jesus stood on the sh.o.r.e; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

[21:5]Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any thing to eat?

They answered him, No. [21:6]And he said to them, Cast the net on the right side of the s.h.i.+p and you shall find. Then they cast it, and they were not able to draw it from the number of fishes. [21:7]Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord. Then Simon Peter, hearing that it was the Lord, girded on his coat, for he was naked, and cast himself into the lake. [21:8]But the other disciples came with the boat, drawing the net of fishes, for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits distant. [21:9]Then when they came to land they saw coals placed, and a fish laid upon [them], and bread. [21:10] Jesus said to them, Bring of the fish that you have now caught. [21:11]Simon Peter went and drew the net to the land, full of great fishes a hundred and fifty-three; and though there were so many the net was not broken. [21:12]Jesus said to them, Come and breakfast. No one of the disciples dared to ask him, Who are you? for they knew that he was the Lord. [21:13]Jesus came and took the bread and gave them, and the fish likewise. [21:14]This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he had arisen from the dead.

7 [21:15]When therefore they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I am a friend to you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. [21:16]Again he said to him a second time; Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I am a friend to you. He said to him, Feed my sheep. [21:17] He said to him a third time; Simon, son of John, are you a friend to me? Peter was grieved that he said to him the third time, Are you a friend to me? and he said to him, Lord you know all things; you know that I am a friend to you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. [21:18]I tell you most truly, that when you were young you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you become old, you shall stretch out your hands and another shall bind you and carry you where you would not; [21:19]but he said this signifying by what death he should glorify G.o.d; and having said this, he said to him, Follow me.

8 [21:20]And Peter turning around saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also reclined at the supper on his breast and said, Lord, who is it that is to betray you? [21:21]Peter seeing him said to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man [do]? [21:22]Jesus said to him, If I wish him to continue till I come, what is that to you? follow me.

[21:23]The report then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die; but Jesus said not to him, He shall not die; but, If I wish him to continue till I come, what is that to you?

9 [21:24]This is the disciple who testifies of these things and has written them; and we know that his testimony is true. [21:25]And there are many other things which Jesus did, which, if they should be written particularly, I do not suppose the world itself could contain the books written.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

CHAPTER I.

CHRIST'S ASCENSION, AND THE ELECTION OF AN APOSTLE IN THE PLACE OF JUDAS.

1 [1:1]I WROTE my first account, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus did and taught, [1:2]till the day that having given charge to the apostles whom he chose by the Holy Spirit he was taken up; [1:3]to whom also he presented himself living after his suffering, by many proofs, being seen by them during forty days, and speaking things relating to the kingdom of G.o.d. [1:4]And a.s.sembling them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which [says he] you have heard from me; [1:5]that John baptized indeed with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit after a few days.

2 [1:6]They therefore having come together asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? [1:7]And he said to them, It is not your [province] to know the times or seasons which the Father has appointed by his own authority; [1:8]but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. [1:9]And having said these words, as they were looking on he was taken up, and a cloud received him from their sight. [1:10]And as they looked steadily to heaven while he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing; [1:11]and they said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking at heaven? This Jesus taken up from you to heaven shall so come in the manner in which you have seen him go to heaven.

3 [1:12]Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called [the Mount] of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey [distant]. [1:13]And when they came, they went up into the upper room where staid Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the [brother] of James. [1:14]All these continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

4 [1:15]And in those days Peter standing up in the midst of the brothers, said--the mult.i.tude together was about a hundred and twenty-- [1:16]Men and brothers, it was necessary that the Scripture should be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who became a guide to them that apprehended Jesus; [1:17]For he was numbered with us, and obtained the inheritance of this service. [1:18]This man therefore purchased a field with the price of the wickedness, and falling headlong burst in the middle and all his bowels were poured out; [1:19]and this became known to all who lived at Jerusalem, so that that field was called in their language Aceldamach, which is Field of blood. [1:20]For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his dwelling be desolate and let no one dwell in it, and his superintendency let another take. [1:21]It is necessary therefore that one of the men who have gone with us all the time in which the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, [1:22]beginning from the baptism of John till the day on which he was taken up from us, should be made with us a witness of his resurrection.

5 [1:23]And they proposed two; Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. [1:24]And praying, they said, Do thou, Lord, the searcher of all hearts, show which of these two thou hast chosen [1:25]to take the place of this service and apostles.h.i.+p from which Judas fell by transgression to go to his place. [1:26]And they cast their lots, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

CHAPTER II.

THE DAY OF PENTECOST AND ITS BLESSINGS.

1 [2:1]AND when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one mind together. [2:2]And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind borne along, and it filled all the house where they were sitting; [2:3]and there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and [one] sat on each one of them; [2:4]and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

2 [2:5]And there were Jews living at Jerusalem, pious men, of every nation under heaven; [2:6]and when this sound was [heard], the mult.i.tude came together and were astonished, for they each one heard them speaking in his own language. [2:7]And they were astonished and wondered, saying, Are not all these that speak Galileans? [2:8]And how do we hear each one in our own language in which we were born, [2:9]Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [2:10]Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Lybia about Cyrene, and the Roman strangers, both Jews and proselytes, [2:11]Cretes and Arabs, do we hear them speak in our tongues of the great works of G.o.d. [2:12]And they were all astonished and perplexed, saying one to another, What does this mean? [2:13]But others mocking said, They are full of sweet wine.

3 [2:14]But Peter standing up with the eleven lifted up his voice and said to them, Men of Judea, and all who live at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and attend to my words. [2:15]For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day [9 A.M.], [2:16]but this is what was said by the prophet; [2:17]In the last days, says G.o.d, I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; [2:18]and upon my male servants and upon my female servants in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. [2:19]And I will show prodigies in heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

[2:20]The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and ill.u.s.trious day of the Lord comes. [2:21]And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

4 [2:22]Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus the Nazoraean, a man approved by G.o.d to you by mighty works and prodigies and miracles, which G.o.d performed by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know, [2:23]this man, delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of G.o.d, you have affixed to the cross, and killed by the hand of the wicked, [2:24]him has G.o.d raised up, having loosed the pains of death, as it was not possible that he should be held by it.

[2:25]For David says of him, I saw the Lord always before me, he is on my right hand that I should not be moved; [2:26]therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad, and my flesh, moreover, shall also live in hope; [2:27]for thou wilt not leave my soul in hades, nor suffer thy Holy One to see destruction. [2:28]Thou hast made me know the ways of life, thou wilt fill me with joy with thy presence.

5 [2:29]Men and brothers, let me speak to you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [2:30] Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that G.o.d swore with an oath to him to set a descendant of his on his throne, [2:31]foreseeing he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that he was not left in hades neither did his flesh see destruction. [2:32]This Jesus has G.o.d raised up, whose witnesses we all are. [2:33]Being therefore exalted on the right hand of G.o.d, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured this out which you both see and hear. [2:34]For David ascended not to heaven, but he says, The Lord said to my lord, Sit on my right hand [2:35]till I make your enemies your footstool. [2:36]Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly, that G.o.d has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.

6 [2:37]And hearing [this] they were distressed in mind, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brothers, what shall we do?

[2:38]And Peter said to them, Change your minds, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [2:39]For the promise is to you and your children, and to all that are afar off, as many as the Lord our G.o.d shall call. [2:40]And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

7 [2:41]Then those that received his word were baptized, and there were added on that day about three thousand souls; [2:42]and they attended constantly to the teaching and companions.h.i.+p of the apostles, the breaking of bread and the prayers. [2:43]And fear was on every soul, and many prodigies and miracles were performed by the apostles.

[2:44]And all who believed were together and had all things common; [2:45]and they sold their possessions and estates, and distributed them to all as any one had need; [2:46]and continuing day by day with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they partook of food with gladness and simplicity of mind, [2:47]praising G.o.d, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added the saved, day by day, to the a.s.sembly [church].

CHAPTER III.

THE IMPRISONMENT OF PETER AND JOHN.

1 [3:1]AND Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, which is the ninth hour. [3:2]And a certain man lame from his birth was carried and placed daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask charity of those going into the temple; [3:3]who seeing Peter and John about to enter into the temple, asked to receive a charity. [3:4]But Peter looking steadily at him with John, said, Look on us. [3:5]And he gave his attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. [3:6]But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, this I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, walk. [3:7]And taking him by the right hand he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened, [3:8]and leaping up he stood and walked and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, praising G.o.d. [3:9]And all the people saw him walking and praising G.o.d; [3:10] and they knew him, that he was the one who sat for charity at the beautiful gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him.

2 [3:11]And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. [3:12]And Peter seeing it answered the people, Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this? or why do you look intently at us as if by our power or piety we had made him walk? [3:13]The G.o.d of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, the G.o.d of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied before Pilate when he decided to release him; [3:14]but you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked a murderer to be given you, [3:15]but killed the Prince of life, whom G.o.d has raised from the dead, whose witnesses we are. [3:16]And by the faith of his name, his name has made strong this man whom you behold and know, and the faith which is by him has given him this entire soundness before you all.

[3:17]And now, brothers, I know that you did it without knowledge, as did also your rulers; [3:18]but what G.o.d had before declared by the mouth of all the prophets that his Anointed should suffer, he has so accomplished. [3:19]Change your minds, therefore, and turn yourselves, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refres.h.i.+ng may come from the presence of the Lord, [3:20]and he send to you Jesus Christ before appointed, [3:21]whom heaven must receive till the times of the restoration of all things of which G.o.d has spoken by the mouth of his holy prophets since the world began. [3:22]Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord your G.o.d raise up to you, of your brothers, like me; him shall you hear in all things which he shall speak to you; [3:23]and every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. [3:24]And all the prophets, from Samuel and those following him in order, who have spoken, have also announced these days. [3:25]You are the children of the prophets, and of the promise which G.o.d promised to our fathers, saying to Abraham, And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. [3:26]G.o.d having raised up his servant has sent him to you first, to bless you by turning each [one of you] from your evil ways.

3 [4:1]And while they were speaking to the people, the priests, and the commander of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, [4:2]being displeased because they taught the people and declared by Jesus the resurrection of the dead; [4:3]and they laid hands on them and put them in prison till the next day; for it was now evening. [4:4]But many of those that heard the word believed, and the number of the men became about five thousand.

4 [4:5]And on the next day the rulers, and elders, and scribes [4:6]a.s.sembled at Jerusalem, and Annas the chief priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all that were of the family of the chief priesthood, [4:7]and placing them in the midst, asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this? [4:8] Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and elders of Israel, [4:9]if we are to-day examined concerning the good work done to the sick man, by what means he has been cured, [4:10]be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazoraean, whom you crucified, whom G.o.d raised from the dead, by him has this man stood before you sound. [4:11]This is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the head of a corner.

[4:12]And there is salvation in no other; for there is no other name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved.