Chapter 8

When ye hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled, for such things must needs be. But the end shall not be yet. First, nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be earthquakes in divers places, and famines and crises. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

But, take heed. They shall deliver you up to councils. In the synagogues ye shall be beaten. Ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. The gospel must first be published among all nations.

When they lead you away and deliver you up, take no thought or plan beforehand what ye shall speak. Whatever ye need to say shall be given you in that hour, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.

In that time, brother shall betray brother even unto death; father shall betray his son; and children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. Ye shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. But he that shall endure to the end shall be saved.

When ye see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let him who reads understand), then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains. Let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house to take anything out of his house. Let him that is in the field not turn back again to get his garment. And woe to those who are with child. And pray that your flight be not in the winter. Unless the Lord shortened those days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the days. For in those days shall be affliction such as was not seen from the beginning of God's creation to this time.

In the days after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall not give her light, the stars shall fall, and the powers in the heavens shall be shaken. Then the Son of man will appear in the clouds with great power and in glory. He shall send His angels, and shall gather together His elect from the four winds and from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

So if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, He is there; do not believe him. False Christs and false prophets shall rise and show signs and wonders to seduce, if it be possible, even the elect. But take heed. I have warned you of these things.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is near. In the same way, when ye see these things come to pass, know that it is near, as close as at the door.

This generation shall not pass until all these things are done. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But, of the day and the hour, no man knows, no, not the angels in heaven or the Son, but the Father only knows. Take heed. Watch and pray. Ye know not when the time is.

For the Son of Man is like a man taking a distant journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, assigned each his work, and left the porter to watch. Therefore, ye watch also for ye know not when the master of the house will come - during evening, or at midnight, or at the break of dawn, or in daylight. Therefore, be alert lest, in His coming suddenly, He find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all, Watch.

14 The feast of the passover and of unleavened bread was in two days. The chief priests and the scribes considered how they might take Him by craft and put Him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. As He sat at dinner, a woman came to Him carrying an alabaster box of very precious ointment of spikenard. She broke the container and anointed Jesus' head with the oil.

Some of the others at the table became indignant and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? It might have been sold for a great price and the money given to the poor. And they murmured against her. But Jesus said, Let her alone. Why trouble her? She has done a good work. Ye have the poor with you always, and, whenever ye will, ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burying. Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the world, this that she has done shall also be told.

Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. They were glad to hear of his offer and promised to give him money. Then Judas schemed about how he might conveniently betray Him.

On the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover lamb, His disciples said to Jesus, Where shall we go to prepare that thou may eat the passover? He sent two of His disciples into the city. He told them, There you shall meet a man bearing a pitcher of water. Follow him. Wherever he shall go in, say to the good man of the house, The Master wants to know where the guestchamber is where He shall eat the passover with His disciples. This man will show you a large upper room that is furnished and prepared. Make ready for us there.

The two disciples went into the city and found all as Jesus had said to them. They made ready the passover. In the evening Jesus came with the disciples. As they sat and ate, Jesus said, One of you who eats with me shall betray me. They began to be sorrowful, and, one by one, ask Him, Is it I? Is it I?

Jesus answered, It is one of the twelve that dips with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goes as it is written of Him: But woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! Better were it for that man if he had never been born.

As they ate, Jesus took bread and blessed it. He broke it and gave it to them. He said, Take and eat. This is my body. Then He took the cup and, when He had given thanks, He gave it to them. They all drank from it. And He said to them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.

After they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Jesus said, Ye shall all be offended because of me this night for it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But, after that, I am risen and I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter said, Although all shall be offended, I will not. Jesus said to him, This day, even this night, before the cock crows twice, thou shall deny me thrice. But Peter spoke the more vehemently, I will not deny you in any way, even if it means I should die. Likewise, they all said the same.

They came to a place named Gethsemane. Jesus said to His disciples, Sit here while I go to pray. He took Peter and James and John with Him. He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful and heavy unto death. Wait here and watch. Jesus went forward a little, and fell on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee; take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.

He came back and found them sleeping. Jesus said to Peter, Simon, why do you sleep? Could you not watch one hour with me? Watch ye and pray so you do not give in to temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

Then Jesus went away a second time and prayed with the same words. When He returned, He found them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy) They did not know what to say to Him.

The third time, when He returned to them, Jesus said, It is enough. The hour has come. The Son of man is now betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go. The one who betrays me is at hand.

Immediately, while He yet spoke, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. He was with a great multitude who were armed with swords and staves, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders. He that betrayed Jesus had given them a signal, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He. Take Him and lead Him away swiftly. Judas immediately went to Him and said, Master, master; then kissed Him.

They laid their hands on Him, and took Him. One of them that stood by drew a sword, smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them, Have ye come to take me with swords and staves as against a thief? I was with you daily, teaching in the temple, and ye did not take me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled. Then they all left Him and fled. There followed Him a young man who had a linen cloth cast about his naked body. When they grabbed him and laid hold of him, he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

They led Jesus to the high priest. All the chief priests and the elders and the scribes were assembled there. Peter, following from afar, went to the palace of the high priest and sat with the servants who warmed themselves at a fire.

The chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death; but they found none. Many bore false witness against Him, but their witness did not agree. Then there arose a certain false witness who said, We heard Him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days, I will build another made without hands. But this witness still did not agree with the rest.

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, Answer thou nothing? What is it that these witness against thee? Jesus held His peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Then the high priest called out, What need we of any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy. What think ye? They all condemned Him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say to Him, Prophesy; and the servants struck Him with the palms of their hands.

As Peter was outside, one of the maids of the high priest saw him warming himself and said, Thou also was with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied and said, I do not know nor understand what you say. He went to the porch; and the cock crowed. A maid saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again.

Then, a little after, those who stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them. Thou art a Galilaean by thy speech. Peter began to curse and swear and said, I do not know this man of whom ye speak. The cock crowed a second time. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said to him: Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me three times. When Peter remembered this he wept.

15 First thing the next morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. And Pilate asked Him, Art thou the King of the Jews? He answered, Thou say it. The chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Pilate said to Him, Answer thou nothing? Do you behold how many things they witness against thee? But Jesus still answered nothing and Pilate marvelled.

Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whoever the people chose. And there was one named Barabbas, who lay bound with those involved in insurrection with him and who had committed murder in the insurrection. The multitude began to cry aloud their desire for Pilate to do as he had done before. Pilate said to the multitude, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews? But the chief priests told the people that Pilate would rather release Barabbas to them.

Pilate asked, What do you want me to do to Him whom ye call the King of the Jews? They cried out, Crucify Him. Then Pilate said to them, Why, what evil has He done? And they cried out the more, Crucify Him.

And so Pilate, to content the people, released Barabbas to them. After he had Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified. The soldiers led Him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they called together the whole troop. They clothed Him with purple, platted a crown of thorns, and put it around His head. They saluted Him, Hail, King of the Jews! They smote Him on the head with a reed, spit on Him, and bowing their knees, worshipped Him.

After they mocked Him, they took off the purple cloth and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to be crucified. They compelled a man named Simon, a Cyrenian and the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was passing by on his way out of the country, to bear His cross.

They took Him to the place called Golgotha, the place of a skull. They gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink but He received it not. When they had crucified Him, they parted His garments, casting lots for what every man should take.

It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The superscription of His accusation was written and hung over Him: The King of the Jews. Along with Him they crucified two thieves; one on His right hand, and the other on His left. The scripture was fulfilled: And He was numbered with the transgressors.

Those who passed by railed at Him. They said, Ah, thou that destroys the temple and builds it up again in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross. The chief priests along with the scribes said among themselves, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may see and believe. Those who were crucified with Him reviled Him. And, when the sixth hour came, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

At the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? Some of those who stood by, when they heard this, said, Behold, He calls Elias. And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, gave it to Him to drink. They said, Let Him alone. Let us see whether Elias will come to take Him down. Then Jesus cried with a loud voice and took His last breath.

The veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to bottom. And, when the centurion who stood near Him saw this, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

There were also women looking on from afar; among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and Joses, and Salome (who also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him and ministered to Him), and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.

When evening came, because it was the preparation day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, who also waited for the kingdom of God, went to Pilate to request the body of Jesus. Pilate marvelled that He was already dead. He called the centurion to him to find out how long He had been dead. When he learned it from the centurion, he released the body. Joseph brought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. He laid Him in a sepulchre hewn out of rock, and rolled a stone across the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where He was laid.

16 When the sabbath was past, very early in the morning the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, went to the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. With them they brought sweet spices that they might anoint Him. They said among themselves, Who shall roll the stone away from the door of the sepulchre for us? Then, when they looked, they saw that the large stone was rolled away.

Entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. They were frightened. But he said, Be not afraid. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee. There ye shall see Him, just as He told you. They went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed. They said nothing to any one because they were afraid.

Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept. When they had heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

Then He appeared, in another form, to two of them as they walked in the country. These two went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at supper. He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He was risen.

Then He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents. And, if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

So then after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere; the Lord working with them and confirming the word with these signs.

Amen.

The Gospel of Luke

1. Forasmuch as many eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have set forth and delivered to us a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of these things from the very beginning, to write to you, most excellent Theophilus, in order that thou might know the certainty of the things thou has been instructed.

In the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. They had no child because Elisabeth was barren. They were both well up in years.

According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot, while he executed his duty before God, was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. The multitude gathered outside to pray during the time of incense.

There appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was troubled and fell down in fear. But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard. Thy wife, Elisabeth, shall bear thee a son and thou shall name him John. You shall have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth. He shall be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall not drink wine or strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

He shall turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He shall go in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I know this? I am an old man, and my wife an old woman. The angel said to him, I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and am sent to speak to thee, and to show thee these glad tidings. Behold, thou shall be dumb and unable to speak until the day these things are performed because thou believe not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.

The people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.

It came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his official duties were accomplished, he went home. His wife, Elisabeth, conceived, and hid herself for five months. She said, Thus has the Lord now done for me that which takes away my reproach among others.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. The angel appeared to a virgin named Mary and espoused to Joseph, of the house of David. He said to her, Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women. When she saw him, she was troubled by his words.

Then the angel said to her, Fear not, Mary, for thou has found favor with God. Thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call His name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. The Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. And, of His kingdom there shall be no end.

Then Mary said to the angel, How shall this be since I know not a man? The angel answered, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee so the holiness that is born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth, has conceived a son in her old age. It is the sixth month with her who was once thought barren. With God nothing is impossible. Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done according to thy word. Then the angel departed from her.

Mary arose with haste and went to a city of Juda in the hill country. Here she entered the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard this salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke out with a loud voice, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. How is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she that believed for there shall be a demonstration of those things which were told her by the Lord.

Mary said, My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden and, henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. He that is mighty has done great things to me. Holy is His name. His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham, and to His seed forever.

Mary stayed with her cousin, Elisabeth about three months, then returned to her own house. Elisabeth's time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. Her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy on her; and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. They called him Zacharias after the name of his father. But his mother said, No. He shall be called John. And they said to her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. Then they made signs to his father asking how he would have him called. He asked for a writing table, and wrote, His name is John. Then Zacharias' mouth was opened immediately, his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God.

This news was carried throughout all the hill country of Judaea. All who heard were filled with wonder at what kind of child this would be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.