Chapter 9
1 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
2 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
3 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
4 But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.
5 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation."
6 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all!
7 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."
8 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,
9 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
10 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
11 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
12 He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
13 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.
14 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
15 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
16 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
17 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
18 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
19 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.
20 As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'
21 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
22 "Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—
23 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep.
24 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave.
25 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.
26 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
27 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.
28 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
29 "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
30 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.
31 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
32 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
33 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
34 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.
35 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
36 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
37 "The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.
38 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
39 "So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
40 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
41 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
42 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.
43 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
44 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
45 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
46 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
47 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
48 For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
49 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
50 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
51 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
52 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
53 "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
54 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.
55 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."
56 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
57 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' "
58 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
59 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.
60 And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
61 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely you don't mean me, Lord?"
62 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.
63 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
64 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "You have said so."
65 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
66 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
67 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
68 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
69 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
70 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
71 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, "What you are about to do, do quickly."
72 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
73 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
74 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
75 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
76 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.
77 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
78 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
79 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
80 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
81 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
82 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
83 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
84 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.
85 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
86 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
87 Jesus replied, "Do what you came for, friend."Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
88 With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
89 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
90 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.
91 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
92 But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
93 A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
94 About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
95 Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.
96 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."
97 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
98 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.
99 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward
100 and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.' "
101 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
102 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.
103 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.
104 But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.
105 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
106 So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
107 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
108 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
109 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
110 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").
111 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
112 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
113 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
114 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
115 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
116 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
117 Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?""Nothing," they answered.
118 It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors' ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
119 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.