Chapter 16

(50)And lo! a man named Joseph, being a member of the council, a good man, and a just; (51)(who had not given his assent to their determination and deed;) being of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who himself also expected the coming of the kingdom of God. (52)He went in to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. (53)And taking it down from the cross, he wrapped it in linen cloth, and laid it in a sepulchre hewn out of a rock, where none had ever yet lain. (54)And that was the preparation-day, and the sabbath's twilight[22] was approaching.

(55)Then the women also, his attendants, who had followed him out of Galilee, observed the sepulchre, and how his corpse was laid out. (56)And returning, they made preparation of aromatics and unguents; and they rested the sabbath-day, according to the commandment.

CHAP. XXIV.

NOW on the first day of the week, at the earliest dawn of day, they came to the sepulchre, bringing the aromatics which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2)And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3)And on entering, found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4)And it came to pass, as they were in the greatest perplexity concerning this matter, then behold, two men stood by them in refulgent garments: (5)and when they were exceedingly terrified, and inclined their face to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6)he is not here; he is risen: remember how he spoke to you, while he was yet in Galilee, (7)saying, That the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. (8)And they remembered his declarations, (9)and returning from the sepulchre, told all these things to the eleven, and to the rest. (10)Now there were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the other women who were with them, that told these things to the apostles. (11)And their declarations seemed in their view as a mere fancy, and they gave them no credence. (12)Then Peter rising up, ran off to the sepulchre, and leaning forward saw the linen clothes laid separately, and went away wondering in himself what was become of him.

(13)And behold, two of them were going the same day to a village, distant about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, called Emmaus. (14)And they were conversing with each other, concerning all those things which had happened. (15)And it came to pass, as they were conversing together, and talking the matter over, even Jesus himself drew near, and walked on with them. (16)But their eyes were under a restraint, that they might not discover him. (17)And he said unto them, What are these discourses that ye interchange among you, as ye are walking, and bear such a face of dejection? (18)Then one of them, named Cleopas, answering said, Art thou the only sojourner at Jerusalem, who hath not known the singular events of those days? (19)And he said to them, Of what sort? and they said to him, Those which relate to Jesus the Nazarean, who was a man, a prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people: (20)and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to a sentence of death, and crucified him. (21)But we had entertained hopes that this was the person who should have redeemed Israel: and ah! besides all these things, to-day concludes that third day since these things were done. (22)And indeed, certain women belonging to us exceedingly amazed us who were very early at the sepulchre; (23)and not finding his body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who told them that he was alive. (24)And some of those who were with us went to the sepulchre, and found every thing just as the women had said: but him they did not see. (25)And he said unto them, O ye void of understanding, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! (26)Ought not the Messiah to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? (27)And beginning from Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them in all the scriptures, the things relating to himself. (28)And they drew nigh to the village, whither they were going: and he was proceeding on, as if going farther. (29)And they warmly pressed him, saying, Stay with us: for the evening draws on, and the day declines. And he went in to stay with them. (30)And it came to pass, when he was sitting down at table with them, taking up a loaf, he blessed it, and breaking, distributed it to them. (31)Then their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he became invisible to them. (32)And they said to each other, Did not our hearts burn within us, as he talked with us on the road, and as he distinctly opened to us the scriptures? (33)And rising up the same hour, they returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them crowded together, (34)saying, The Lord is risen assuredly, and hath appeared to Simon. (35)Then these recounted what had passed on the road, and how he was known to them by the breaking of the bread.

(36)While they were relating these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you! (37)But terrified and affrighted, they thought they saw a spirit. (38)And he said to them, Why are ye under such agitation of mind? and why do reasonings arise in your hearts? (39)look upon my hands and my feet, that it is my very self: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. (40)And thus speaking, he exposed to them his hands and his feet. (41)But when they still could not credit it for joy, and marvelled, he said unto them, Have ye here any thing eatable? (42)Then they gave him a part of a broiled fish, and a piece of honey-comb. (43)And receiving it, he did eat in their presence. (44)And said unto them, These are the sayings which I spake unto you, when I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. (45)Then opened he thoroughly their understanding, that they should understand the scriptures, (46)and said to them, That thus it is written, and thus must the Messiah suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day (47)and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name unto all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (48)And ye are the witnesses of these things. (49)And, behold, I send unto you the promise of my Father: but sit ye down in the city of Jerusalem, until ye shall be endued with power from on high. (50)And he led them without _the city_ as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. (51)And it came to pass, as he pronounced the benediction upon them, he was parted from them, and taken up into heaven. (52)And they, after paying him their adorations, returned to Jerusalem with vast joy: (53)and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN.

CHAP. I.

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2)He was in the beginning with God. (3)All things were made by him; and without him was not one thing made that was made. (4)In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5)And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

(6)A man was sent from God, whose name was John. (7)He came for a witness, that he might bear testimony concerning the Light, that all men through him might believe. (8)He was not the Light, but sent that he should bear testimony concerning the Light. (9)He was that true Light, which illumines every man by his coming into the world. (10)He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11)He came unto his peculiar people, and his peculiar people did not receive him. (12)But as many as did receive him, on them he bestowed authority to become children of God, even on those who believe on his name: (13)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14)And the Word became incarnate, and tabernacled with us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

(15)John bore witness concerning him, and cried, saying, This is he of whom I said, He that is coming after me, is before me: because before me he was. (16)And from his plenitude we all have received, even grace corresponding with _his_ grace. (17)For the law was given by Moses, but the grace and the reality came by Jesus Christ. (18)No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath thoroughly described him.

(19)And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites, that they should question him, Who art thou? (20)And he confessed, and denied it not; but acknowledged, I am not the Messiah. (21)And they asked him, What then? art thou Elias? and he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? and he answered, No. (22)Then said they to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who sent us: What description givest thou of thyself? (23)He said, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way for the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. (24)And they who were sent, were of the Pharisees. (25)And they questioned him, and said to him, Why then dost thou baptise, if thou be not the Messiah, nor Elias, nor that prophet? (26)John answered them, saying, I baptise with water: but in the midst of you hath stood a person, whom ye have not known; (27)it is he, though coming after me, who was before me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. (28)These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptising.

(29)The next day John seeth Jesus coming to him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, (30)This is he of whom I spake, After me cometh a man who was before me: for before me he existed. (31)And I knew him not: though that he might be manifested to Israel, therefore am I come baptising with water. (32)And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it rested upon him. (33)And I did not know him: but he that sent me baptising with water, he said to me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending as a dove, and resting upon him, that is he who baptiseth with the Holy Ghost. (34)And I have seen it, and have borne testimony that this is the Son of God.

(35)On the morrow John was again standing with two of his disciples; (36)and looking upon Jesus as he walked by, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (37)And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (38)Then Jesus turned about, and seeing them following, saith to them, What are ye seeking? They said unto him, Rabbi (which signifies, when translated, Master), where is thy abode? (39)He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he abode, and continued with him that day: and it was about the tenth hour.

(40)One of the two, who had heard from John mention of Jesus, and had followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. (41)He first finds his own brother Simon, and saith to him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being translated, the Christ). (42)And he brought him to Jesus. Then Jesus looking on him, said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonas: thou shalt be called Cephas, which, interpreted _in Greek_, is Petros, a Rock.

(43)The next day Jesus resolved to go into Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, Follow me. (44)Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (45)Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith to him, We have found him whom Moses in the law has described, and the prophets, Jesus the son of Joseph, who is of Nazareth. (46)And Nathaniel said to him, Can any thing good come out of Nazareth? Philip saith to him, Come and see. (47)Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite in reality, in whom there is no guile! (48)Nathaniel saith unto him, From whence canst thou know me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. (49)Nathaniel answered and said to him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the king of Israel. (50)Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, dost thou believe? thou shalt see greater things than these. (51)And he saith to him, Verily, verily, I tell you, From henceforth ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

CHAP. II.

AND on the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (2)So Jesus also, and his disciples, were invited to the marriage. (3)And the wine being exhausted, the mother of Jesus saith to him, They have no more wine. (4)Jesus saith unto her, What is that to me and thee, woman? my hour is not yet come. (5)His mother saith to the waiters, Whatsoever he orders you, do it. (6)Now there stood there six large stone jars, for the customary purifying ablution of the Jews, containing two or three baths each. (7)Jesus saith to them, Fill these jars with water. And they filled them to the brim. (8)And he said unto them, Draw out now, and carry to the president of the table. So they carried it. (9)And when the president of the table had tasted the water become wine, and knew not whence it came: (but the waiters knew, who drew the water;) the president of the table called the bridegroom, (10)and saith to him, Every man at first produces the good wine; and after men have drunk plentifully, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept back the good wine until now. (11)This beginning of miracles Jesus wrought in Cana of Galilee, and displayed his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

(12)After this he went down to Capernaum, he and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and he continued there not many days. (13)And the passover of the Jews was nigh, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14)And he found in the temple those who sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the moneychangers seated: (15)and having made a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and scattered the money of the exchangers, and overturned the tables; (16)and said to those who sold doves, Take these hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise. (17)Then the disciples remembered that it was written, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." (18)The Jews then addressed him, and said to him, What miracle shewest thou, seeing thou actest thus? (19)Jesus answered and said to them, Pull down this temple, and in three days I will rear it up again. (20)Then said the Jews, This temple has been forty-six years in building, and canst thou rear it up in three days? (21)Now he had spoken with reference to the temple of his own body. (22)When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had spoken thus unto them; and they believed the scriptures, and the word which Jesus had spoken.

(23)Now while he was at Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, when they beheld the miracles which he did. (24)But Jesus himself did not trust himself to them, because he knew them all, (25)and because he had no need that any man should testify respecting man; for he knew what was in man.

CHAP. III.

NOW there was a man of the Pharisees, whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: (2)this man came to Jesus in the night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles which thou dost, unless God be with him. (3)Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (4)Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (5)Jesus replied, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6)That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7)Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (8)The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound of it, but knowest not from whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth: just so is every one who is born of the Spirit. (9)Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? (10)Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things? (11)Verily, verity, I tell thee, That what we know we speak, and what we have seen we affirm; and ye receive not our testimony. (12)If I have told you of earthly things, and ye believe not, how will you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (13)Though no man hath ascended into heaven, except he that descended from heaven, that Son of man the I am in heaven. (14)And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, in like manner must the Son of man be lifted up: (15)that every one who believeth on him may not perish, but have life eternal. (16)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that every one who believeth in him should not perish, but have life eternal. (17)For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world by him might be saved. (18)He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is already under condemnation, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19)Now this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. (20)For every one whose practices are foul hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his actions may not be brought to conviction. (21)But he who practices the truth, cometh to the light, that his actions may be evident, as being done for God.

(22)After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; and there he abode with them, and baptised. (23)Now John also was baptising at Enon, near to Salem, for there were many streams of water there: and they came, and were baptised. (24)For as yet John was not cast into prison.

(25)Then a dispute arose between the disciples of John and the Jews with regard to purification. (26)And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, lo! this man baptiseth, and all men come to him. (27)John answered and said, A man cannot assume any thing, except it be given him from heaven. (28)Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Messiah, but that I am sent before him. (29)It is the bridegroom, who possesses the bride: and the friend of the bridegroom, standing by and hearing him, rejoiceth exceedingly at the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (30)He must grow great, but I diminutive. (31)He that cometh from above is above all: he whose origin is from earth is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: he who cometh from heaven is above all. (32)And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; though no man receiveth his testimony. (33)He that receiveth his testimony hath avouched that God is true. (34)For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him. (35)The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (36)He that believeth on the Son hath life eternal: and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth upon him.

CHAP. IV.

AS soon then as the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptised more disciples than John (2)(though Jesus himself did not baptise, but his disciples), (3)he left Judea, and went again into Galilee. (4)Now he must necessarily pass through Samaria. (5)Then he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sichar, near the spot of ground which Jacob gave to his son Joseph. (6)And Jacob's well was there. Therefore Jesus, weary with his journey, e'en sat himself down on the well: it was about the sixth hour. (7)A woman of Samaria comes to draw water: Jesus saith to her, Give me to drink. (8)(For his disciples were gone into the city to buy provisions.) (9)The Samaritan woman therefore saith to him, How canst thou, a Jew, ask of me, who am a Samaritan woman, to drink? for Jews avoid all intercourse with Samaritans. (10)Jesus answered and said to her, If thou hadst known the gift of God, and who he is that speaketh to thee, thou wouldest have requested him, and he would have given thee life-giving water. (11)The woman saith unto him, Thou hast no bucket, and the well is deep: whence then canst thou have this water that giveth life? (12)Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle? (13)Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one who drinketh of this water shall thirst again: (14)but whosoever shall drink of the water which I shall give him, he shall no more thirst to eternity; but the water which I will give him, shall be in him a fountain of water springing up to life eternal. (15)The woman saith to him, Sir, give me this water, that I may no more thirst, nor come hither to draw. (16)Jesus saith to her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. (17)The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus saith to her, Thou hast spoken right, that thou hast no husband: (18)for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in this thou hast spoken true. (19)The woman saith to him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (20)Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye affirm, That the place where we ought to worship is at Jerusalem. (21)Jesus saith to her, Woman, believe me, that the hour approaches, when ye shall worship the Father neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem. (22)Ye worship ye know not what: we worship what we do know: for salvation cometh from the Jews. (23)But the hour is coming, yea, is now come, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such worshippers of him. (24)God is a Spirit: and they who worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. (25)The woman saith, I know that Messiah is coming (who is called Christ): when he cometh, he will inform us of all things. (26)Jesus saith unto her, I that am speaking to thee am he.

(27)And upon this came his disciples, and wondered that he talked with the woman: yet no one said, What art thou seeking? or, Why art thou talking with her?

(28)Then the woman left her pitcher, and went into the city, and said to the men, (29)Come with me; behold a man, who told me all things that I ever did: is not this the Messiah? (30)Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

(31)In the mean time his disciples invited him, saying, Rabbi, eat. (32)But he said to them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. (33)Then said his disciples to each other, Hath any person brought him ought to eat? (34)Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (35)Do ye not say, That yet there are four months, and then the harvest cometh? behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look upon the fields; for they are now white for harvest. (36)And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (37)For herein is the saying true, That one soweth and another reapeth. (38)I have sent you to reap that on which ye have bestowed no labour: others have laboured, and ye have entered into their labour.