Chapter 6

024:051 he will treat him with the utmost severity and assign him a place among the hypocrites: there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

025:001 "Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.

025:002 Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

025:003 For the foolish, when they took their torches, did not provide themselves with oil;

025:004 but the wise, besides their torches, took oil in their flasks.

025:005 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, so that meanwhile they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

025:006 But at midnight there is a loud cry, "`The bridegroom! Go out and meet him!'

025:007 "Then all those bridesmaids roused themselves and trimmed their torches.

025:008 "`Give us some of your oil,' said the foolish ones to the wise, `for our torches are going out.'

025:009 "`But perhaps,' replied the wise, `there will not be enough for all of us. Go to the shops rather, and buy some for yourselves.'

025:010 "So they went to buy. But meanwhile the bridegroom came; those bridesmaids who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.

025:011 "Afterwards the other bridesmaids came and cried, "`Sir, Sir, open the door to us.'

025:012 "`In solemn truth I tell you,' he replied, `I do not know you.'

025:013 "Keep awake therefore; for you know neither the day nor the hour.

025:014 "Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care.

025:015 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one-- to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home.

025:016 Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more.

025:017 In the same way he who had the two gained two more.

025:018 But the man who had received the one went and dug a hole and buried his master's money.

025:019 "After a long lapse of time the master of those servants returned, and had a reckoning with them.

025:020 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "`Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.'

025:021 "`You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'

025:022 "The second, who had received the two talents, came and said, "`Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.'

025:023 "`Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; `you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.'

025:024 "But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "`Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed.

025:025 So being afraid I went and buried your talent in the ground: there you have what belongs to you.'

025:026 "`You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, `did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed?

025:027 Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest.

025:028 So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has the ten.'

025:029 (For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.)

025:030 `But as for this worthless servant, put him out into the darkness outside: *there* will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.'

025:031 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then will He sit upon His glorious throne,

025:032 and all the nations will be gathered into His presence. And He will separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

025:033 and will make the sheep stand at His right hand, and the goats at His left.

025:034 "Then the King will say to those at His right, "`Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world.

025:035 For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome;

025:036 when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.'

025:037 "`When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, `did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink?

025:038 When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee?

025:039 When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?'

025:040 "But the King will answer them, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'

025:041 "Then will He say to those at His left, "`Begone from me, with the curse resting upon you, into the Fire of the Ages, which has been prepared for the Devil and his angels.

025:042 For when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat; when thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink;

025:043 when homeless, you gave me no welcome; ill-clad, you clothed me not; sick or in prison, you visited me not.'

025:044 "Then will they also answer, "`Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or homeless or ill-clad or sick or in prison, and not come to serve Thee?'

025:045 "But he will reply, "`In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you withheld such services from one of the humblest of these, you withheld them from me.'

025:046 "And these shall go away into the Punishment of the Ages, but the righteous into the Life of the Ages."

026:001 When Jesus had ended all these discourses, He said to His disciples,

026:002 "You know that in two days' time the Passover comes. And the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."

026:003 Then the High Priests and Elders of the People assembled in the court of the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas,

026:004 and consulted how to get Jesus into their power by stratagem and put Him to death.

026:005 But they said, "Not during the Festival, lest there be a riot among the people."

026:006 Now when Jesus was come to Bethany and was at the house of Simon the Leper,

026:007 a woman came to Him with a jar of very costly, sweet-scented ointment, which she poured over His head as He reclined at table.

026:008 "Why such waste?" indignantly exclaimed the disciples;

026:009 "for this might have been sold for a considerable sum, and the money given to the poor."

026:010 But Jesus heard it, and said to them, "Why are you vexing her? For she has done a most gracious act towards me.

026:011 The poor you always have with you, but me you have not always.

026:012 In pouring this ointment over me, her object was to prepare me for burial.

026:013 In solemn truth I tell you that wherever in the whole world this Good News shall be proclaimed, this deed of hers shall be spoken of in memory of her."

026:014 At that time one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the High Priests

026:015 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I betray him to you?" So they weighed out to him thirty shekels,

026:016 and from that moment he was on the look out for an opportunity to betray Him.

026:017 On the first day of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus with the question, "Where shall we make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

026:018 "Go into the city," He replied, "to a certain man, and tell him, `The Teacher says, My time is close at hand. It is at your house that I shall keep the Passover with my disciples.'"

026:019 The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and got the Passover ready.

026:020 When evening came, He was at table with the twelve disciples,

026:021 and the meal was proceeding, when Jesus said, "In solemn truth I tell you that one of you will betray me."

026:022 Intensely grieved they began one after another to ask Him, "Can it be I, Master?"

026:023 "The one who has dipped his fingers in the bowl with me," He answered, "is the man who will betray me.

026:024 The Son of Man is indeed going as is written concerning Him; but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It had been a happy thing for that man if he had never been born."

026:025 Then Judas, the disciple who was betraying Him, asked, "Can it be I, Rabbi?" "It is you," He replied.

026:026 During the meal Jesus took a Passover biscuit, blessed it and broke it. He then gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take this and eat it: it is my body."

026:027 And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you;

026:028 for this is my blood which is to be poured out for many for the remission of sins--the blood which ratifies the Covenant.

026:029 I tell you that I will never again take the produce of the vine till that day when I shall drink the new wine with you in my Father's Kingdom."

026:030 So they sang the hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

026:031 Then said Jesus, "This night all of you will stumble and fail in your fidelity to me; for it is written, `I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered in all directions.'

026:032 But after I have risen to life again I will go before you into Galilee."

026:033 "All may stumble and fail," said Peter, "but I never will."

026:034 "In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that this very night, before the cock crows, you will three times disown me."

026:035 "Even if I must die with you," declared Peter, "I will never disown you." In like manner protested all the disciples.

026:036 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, "Sit down here, whilst I go yonder and there pray."

026:037 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zabdi. Then He began to be full of anguish and distress,

026:038 and He said to them, "My soul is crushed with anguish to the very point of death; wait here, and keep awake with me."

026:039 Going forward a short distance He fell on His face and prayed. "My Father," He said, "if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou willest."

026:040 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and He said to Peter, "Alas, none of you could keep awake with me for even a single hour!

026:041 Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

026:042 Again a second time He went away and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is impossible for this cup to pass without my drinking it, Thy will be done."

026:043 He came and again found them asleep, for they were very tired.

026:044 So He left them, and went away once more and prayed a third time, again using the same words.

026:045 Then He came to the disciples and said, "Sleep on and rest. See, the moment is close at hand when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men.

026:046 Rouse yourselves. Let us be going. My betrayer is close at hand."

026:047 He had scarcely finished speaking when Judas came-- one of the Twelve--accompanied by a great crowd of men armed with swords and bludgeons, sent by the High Priests and Elders of the People.

026:048 Now the betrayer had agreed upon a sign with them, to direct them. He had said, "The one whom I kiss is the man: lay hold of him."

026:049 So he went straight to Jesus and said, "Peace to you, Rabbi!" And he kissed Him eagerly.

026:050 "Friend," said Jesus, "carry out your intention." Then they came and laid their hands on Jesus and seized Him firmly.

026:051 But one of those with Jesus drew his sword and struck the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

026:052 "Put back your sword again," said Jesus, "for all who draw the sword shall perish by the sword.

026:053 Or do you suppose I cannot entreat my Father and He would instantly send to my help more than twelve legions of angels?

026:054 In that case how are the Scriptures to be fulfilled which declare that thus it must be?"

026:055 Then said Jesus to the crowds, "Have you come out as if to fight with a robber, with swords and bludgeons to apprehend me? Day after day I have been sitting teaching in the Temple, and you did not arrest me.

026:056 But all this has taken place in order that the writings of the Prophets may be fulfilled." At this point the disciples all left Him and fled.

026:057 But the officers who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the High Priest, at whose house the Scribes and the Elders had assembled.

026:058 And Peter kept following Him at a distance, till he came even to the court of the High Priest's palace, where he entered and sat down among the officers to see the issue.

026:059 Meanwhile the High Priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death;

026:060 but they could find none, although many false witnesses came forward. At length there came two

026:061 who testified, "This man said, `I am able to pull down the Sanctuary of God and three days afterwards to build a new one.'"

026:062 Then the High Priest stood up and asked Him, "Have you no answer to make? What is it these men are saying in evidence against you?"

026:063 Jesus however remained silent. Again the High Priest addressed Him. "In the name of the ever-living God," he said, "I now put you on your oath. Tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

026:064 "I am He," replied Jesus. "But I tell you that, later on, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Omnipotence, and coming on the clouds of the sky."

026:065 Then the High Priest tore his robes and exclaimed, "Impious language! What further need have we of witnesses! See, you have now heard the impiety.

026:066 What is your verdict?" "He deserves to die," they replied.

026:067 Then they spat in His face, and struck Him--some with the fist, some with the open hand--

026:068 while they taunted Him, saying, "Christ, prove yourself a Prophet by telling us who it was that struck you."

026:069 Peter meanwhile was sitting outside in the court of the palace, when one of the maidservants came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilaean."

026:070 He denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you mean."

026:071 Soon afterwards he went out and stood in the gateway, when another girl saw him, and said, addressing the people there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene."

026:072 Again he denied it with an oath. "I do not know the man," he said.

026:073 A short time afterwards the people standing there came and said to Peter, "Certainly you too are one of them, for your brogue shows it."

026:074 Then with curses and oaths he declared, "I do not know the man." Immediately a cock crowed,

026:075 and Peter recollected the words of Jesus, how He had said, "Before the cock crows you will three times disown me." And he went out and wept aloud, bitterly.

027:001 When morning came all the High Priests and the Elders of the people consulted together against Jesus to put Him to death;

027:002 and binding Him they led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate the Governor.

027:003 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He was condemned, smitten with remorse he brought back the thirty shekels to the High Priests and Elders

027:004 and said, "I have sinned, in betraying to death one who is innocent." "What does that matter to us?" they replied; it is your business."

027:005 Flinging the shekels into the Sanctuary he left the place, and went and hanged himself.

027:006 When the High Priests had gathered up the money they said, "It is illegal to put it into the Treasury, because it is the price of blood."

027:007 So after consulting together they spent the money in the purchase of the Potter's Field as a burial place for people not belonging to the city;

027:008 for which reason that piece of ground received the name, which it still bears, of `the Field of Blood.'

027:009 Then were fulfilled the words spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, "And I took the thirty shekels, the price of the prized one on whom Israelites had set a price,

027:010 and gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me."

027:011 Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Governor, and the latter put the question, "Are you the King of the Jews?" "I am their King," He answered.

027:012 When however the High Priests and the Elders kept bringing their charges against Him, He said not a word in reply.

027:013 "Do you not hear," asked Pilate, "what a mass of evidence they are bringing against you?"

027:014 But He made no reply to a single accusation, so that the Governor was greatly astonished.

027:015 "Now it was the Governor's custom at the Festival to release some one prisoner, whomsoever the populace desired;

027:016 and at this time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

027:017 So when they were now assembled Pilate appealed to them. "Whom shall I release to you," he said, "Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?"

027:018 For he knew that it was from envious hatred that Jesus had been brought before him.

027:019 While he was sitting on the tribunal a message came to him from his wife. "Have nothing to do with that innocent man," she said, "for during the night I have suffered terribly in a dream through him."

027:020 The High Priests, however, and the Elders urged the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to demand the death of Jesus.

027:021 So when the Governor a second time asked them, "Which of the two shall I release to you?"--they cried, "Barabbas!"

027:022 "What then," said Pilate, "shall I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?" With one voice they shouted, "Let him be crucified!"

027:023 "Why, what crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they kept on furiously shouting, "Let him be crucified!"

027:024 So when he saw that he could gain nothing, but that on the contrary there was a riot threatening, he called for water and washed his hands in sight of them all, saying, "I am not responsible for this murder: you must answer for it."

027:025 "His blood," replied all the people, "be on us and on our children!"

027:026 Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he ordered to be scourged, and gave Him up to be crucified.

027:027 Then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and called together the whole battalion to make sport of Him.

027:028 Stripping off His garments, they put on Him a general's short crimson cloak.

027:029 They twisted a wreath of thorny twigs and put it on His head, and they put a sceptre of cane in His right hand, and kneeling to Him they shouted in mockery, "Long live the King of the Jews!"

027:030 Then they spat upon Him, and taking the cane they repeatedly struck Him on the head with it.

027:031 At last, having finished their sport, they took off the cloak, clothed Him again in His own garments, and led Him away for crucifixion.

027:032 Going out they met a Cyrenaean named Simon; whom they compelled to carry His cross,

027:033 and so they came to a place called Golgotha, which means `Skull-ground.'

027:034 Here they gave Him a mixture of wine and gall to drink, but having tasted it He refused to drink it.

027:035 After crucifying Him, they divided His garments among them by lot,

027:036 and sat down there on guard.

027:037 Over His head they placed a written statement of the charge against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

027:038 At the same time two robbers were crucified with Him, one at His right hand and the other at His left.

027:039 And the passers-by reviled Him. They shook their heads at Him

027:040 and said, "You who would pull down the Sanctuary and build a new one within three days, save yourself. If you are God's Son, come down from the cross."

027:041 In like manner the High Priests also, together with the Scribes and the Elders, taunted Him.

027:042 "He saved others," they said, "himself he cannot save! He is the King of Israel! Let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.

027:043 His trust is in God: let God deliver him now, if He will have him; for he said, `I am God's Son.'"

027:044 Insults of the same kind were heaped on Him even by the robbers who were being crucified with Him.

027:045 Now from noon until three o'clock in the afternoon there was darkness over the whole land;

027:046 but about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is to say, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

027:047 "The man is calling for Elijah," said some of the bystanders.

027:048 One of them ran forthwith, and filling a sponge with sour wine put it on the end of a cane and offered it Him to drink;

027:049 while the rest said, "Let us see whether Elijah is coming to deliver him."

027:050 But Jesus uttered another loud cry and then yielded up His spirit.

027:051 Immediately the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom: the earth quaked; the rocks split;

027:052 the tombs opened; and many of God's people who were asleep in death awoke.

027:053 And coming out of their tombs after Christ's resurrection they entered the holy city and showed themselves to many.

027:054 As for the Captain and the soldiers who were with Him keeping guard over Jesus, when they witnessed the earthquake and the other occurrences they were filled with terror, and exclaimed, "Assuredly he was God's Son."

027:055 And there were a number of women there looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee ministering to His necessities;

027:056 among them being Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zabdi.