DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE PREDICTED

13 Asbm he was going out of the temple,bn one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher,bo look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”bp

2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?bq Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE

3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olivesbr across from the temple,bs Peter,bt James,bu John,bv and Andrewbw asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”

5 Jesus told them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name,a saying, ‘I am he,’b and they will deceivec many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars,d don’t be alarmed;e these things must take place,f but it is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.g There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines.A These are the beginningh of birth pains.i

PERSECUTIONS PREDICTED

9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts,B,j and you will be floggedk in the synagogues.l You will stand before governors and kingsm because of me,n as a witnesso to them.p 10 And it is necessary that the gospelq be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betrayr brother to death,s and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name,t but the one who endures to the end will be saved.u

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

14 “When you see the abomination of desolationC,v standing where it should not be” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judeaw must flee to the mountains. 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house,x 16 and a man in the field must not go back to get his coat.y 17 Woez to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days!

18 “Prayaa itD won’t happen in winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation,ab the kind that hasn’t been from the beginningac of creationad until now and never will be again. 20 If the Lordae had not cut those days short,af no one would be saved. But he cut those days short for the sake of the elect,ag whom he chose.ah

21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘See, here is the Messiah!ai See, there!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and will perform signs and wondersaj to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:ak The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; 25 the starsal will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.am 26 Then they will see the Son of Manan comingao in cloudsap with great poweraq and glory.ar 27 He will send out the angelsas and gather his electat from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.au

THE PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE

28 “Learnav this lessonaw from the figax tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.ay 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognizeE that heF is near—at the door.

30 “Truly I tell you,az this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earthab will pass away,bb but my words will never pass away.bc

NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR

32 “Now concerning that daybd or hour no one knows—neither the angelsbe in heaven nor the Sonbf—but only the Father.bg

33 “Watch! Be alert!G For you don’t know when the timebh is coming.bi

34 “It is likebj a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants,bk gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert,bl since you don’t know when the masterbm of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping.bn 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

THE PLOT TO KILL JESUS

14 Itbo was two days before the Passoverbp and the Festivalbq of Unleavened Bread.br The chief priests and the scribesbs were looking for a cunningbt way to arrest Jesus and kill him.bu 2 “Not during the festival,” they said, “so that there won’t be a riot among the people.”

THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY

3 Whilea he was in Bethanyb at the house of Simon the leper,* c as he was reclining at the table,d a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured it on his head.e 4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for more than three hundred denariiB,f and given to the poor.”g And they began to scold her.

6 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a noble thingh for me. 7 You always have the poori with you, and you can do what is good for them whenever you want, but you do not always have me.j 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my bodyk in advance for burial.l 9 Truly I tell you,m wherever the gospeln is proclaimed in the whole world,o what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

10 Thenp Judas Iscariot,q one of the Twelve,r went to the chief priestss to betray Jesust to them. 11 And when they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money.u So he started looking for a good opportunity to betrayv him.

PREPARATION FOR PASSOVER

12 Onw the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb,x his disciplesy asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?”

13 So he sent two of his disciples and told them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacherz says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” 16 So the disciplesaa went out, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

BETRAYAL AT THE PASSOVER

17 Whenab evening came, he arrived with the Twelve.ac 18 While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”

19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?”

20 He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve—the one who is dipping bread in the bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Manad will go just as it is writtenae about him,af but woeag to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.”

THE FIRST LORD’S SUPPER

22 Asah they were eating, he took bread,ai blessed and brokeaj it, gave it to them,ak and said, “Take it; this is my body.”al 23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks,am he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant,C,an which is poured outao for many.ap 25 Truly I tell you,aq I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vinear until that day when I drink it newD,as in the kingdom of God.”at

26 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.au

PETER’S DENIAL PREDICTED

27 Thenav Jesus said to them, “All of you will fall away,E because it is written:aw

I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheepax will be scattered.F,ay

28 But after I have risen,az I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”ba

29 Peterbb told him, “Even if everyone falls away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”bc

31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” And they all said the same thing.

THE PRAYER IN THE GARDEN

32 Thenbd they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he told his disciples,be “Sit here while I pray.”bf 33 He took Peter,bg James,bh and Johnbi with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 He said to them, “I am deeply grievedG to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.”bj 35 He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the houra might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba,A Father!b All things are possiblec for you. Take this cupd away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” 37 Then he came and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, “Simon,e are you sleeping?f Couldn’t you stay awake one hour? 38 Stay awake and prayg so that you won’t enter into temptation.B,h The spiriti is willing, but the fleshj is weak.” 39 Once again he went away and prayed, saying the same thing. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. They did not know what to say to him.k 41 Then he came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The time has come. See, the Son of Manl is betrayed into the hands of sinners.m 42 Get up;n let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

JUDAS’S BETRAYAL OF JESUS

43 Whileo he was still speaking, Judas,p one of the Twelve,q suddenly arrived. With him was a mob, with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes,r and the elders.s 44 His betrayer had given them a signal. “The one I kiss,” he said, “he’s the one; arrest him and take him away under guard.” 45 So when he came, immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!”t and kissed him. 46 They took hold of him and arrested him. 47 One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

48 Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal,C to capture me? 49 Every day I was among you, teaching in the temple,u and you didn’t arrest me. But the Scripturesv must be fulfilled.”w

50 Then they all deserted him and ran away.x 51 Now a certain young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following him. They caught hold of him, 52 but he left the linen cloth behind and ran away naked.y

JESUS FACES THE SANHEDRIN

53 Theyz led Jesus away to the high priest,aa and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribesab assembled.ac 54 Peterad followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the servants,* ae warming himself by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrinaf were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death,ag but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimonyah against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, stating, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands,ai and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’ ” 59 Yet their testimony did not agreeaj even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t you have an answer to what these men are testifying against you?” 61 But he kept silent and did not answer.ak Again the high priest questioned him, “Are you the Messiah,al the Sonam of the Blessedan One?”

62 “I am,”ao said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Manap seated at the right handaq of Power and coming with the cloudsar of heaven.”E,as

63 Then the high priestat tore his robesau and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?av 64 You have heard the blasphemy.aw What is your decision?” They all condemned him as deserving death.ax

65 Then some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to beat him, saying, “Prophesy!”ay The temple servantsaz also took him and slapped him.

PETER DENIES HIS LORD

66 Whileba Peterbb was in the courtyard below, one of the high priest’s maidservants came. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”bc

68 But he denied it: “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about.” Then he went out to the entryway,F and a rooster crowed.G

69 When the maidservant saw him again, she began to tell those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”

70 But again he denied it. After a little while those standing there said to Peter again, “You certainly are one of them, since you’re also a Galilean.”H,bd

71 Then he started to curse and swear,be “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

72 Immediately a rooster crowed a second time,a and Peter remembered when Jesus had spoken the word to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

JESUS FACES PILATE

15 Asb soon as it was morning, having held a meeting with the elders,c scribes,d and the whole Sanhedrin, the chief priestse tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.f

2 So Pilate asked him, “Are you the kingg of the Jews?”h

He answered him, “You say so.”

3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilatei questioned him again, “Aren’t you going to answer? Look how many things they are accusing you of!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer, and so Pilate was amazed.

JESUS OR BARABBAS

6 Atj the festivalk Pilatel used to release for the people a prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was in prison with rebels who had committed murderm during the rebellion.n 8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for them as was his custom. 9 Pilate answered them, “Do you want me to release the kingo of the Jewsp for you?” 10 For he knew it was because of envyq that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd so that he would release Barabbas to them instead. 12 Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call the king of the Jews?”

13 Again they shouted, “Crucify him!”

14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?”

But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!”

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them; and after having Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.

MOCKED BY THE MILITARY

16 Ther soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residences) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed him in a purplet robe, twisted together a crownu of thorns, and put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail,v kingw of the Jews!” 19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees,x they were paying him homage. 20 After they had mockedy him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.

CRUCIFIED BETWEEN TWO CRIMINALS

They led him out to crucify him. 21 Theyz forced a man coming in from the country, who was passing by, to carry Jesus’s cross.aa He was Simon of Cyrene,ab the father of Alexander and Rufus.ac

22 Theyad brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of the Skullae). 23 They tried to give him wineaf mixed with myrrh,ag but he did not take it.

24 Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, casting lotsah for them to decide what each would get. 25 Now it was nine in the morningA when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge written against him was: The Kingai of the Jews.aj 27 Theyak crucified two criminalsB,al with him, one on his right and one on his left.*

29 Thoseam who passed by were yelling insultsan atD him, shaking their heads,ao and saying, “Ha! The one who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,ap 30 save yourself by coming down from the cross!”aq 31 In the same way, the chief priests with the scribesar were mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! 32 Let the Messiah,as the Kingat of Israel,au come down now from the cross,av so that we may see and believe.”aw Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.

THE DEATH OF JESUS

33 Whenax it was noon,E darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.* ay 34 And at three Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lemá sabachtháni?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”G,az

35 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “See, he’s calling for Elijah.”

36 Someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, fixed it on a stick, offered him a drink,ba and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

37 Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 Then the curtainbb of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way heA breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”B,a

40 Thereb were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene,c Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galileed these women followed him and took care of him. Many other women had come up with him to Jerusalem.e

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

42 Whenf it was already evening, because it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forwardg to the kingdom of God,h came and boldly went to Pilatei and asked for Jesus’s body.j 44 Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had already died. 45 When he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. 46 After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tombk cut out of the rock and rolled a stonel against the entrance to the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalenem and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.