Mark 15

Standing Before Pilate

1 At dawn's first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.

2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"3 The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.

4 Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations."5 Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.

6 It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for.7 There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome.8 As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner,9 Pilate anticipated them: "Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?"10 Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him.

11 But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas.12 Pilate came back, "So what do I do with this man you call King of the Jews?"

13 They yelled, "Nail him to a cross!"

14 Pilate objected, "But for what crime?" But they yelled all the louder, "Nail him to a cross!"

15 Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.

16 The soldiers took Jesus into the palace (called Praetorium) and called together the entire brigade.17 They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thorn bush on his head.18 Then they began their mockery: "Bravo, King of the Jews!"19 They banged on his head with a club, spit on him, and knelt down in mock worship.20 After they had had their fun, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they marched out to nail him to the cross.

The Crucifixion

21 There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus' cross.

22 The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning "Skull Hill."23 They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn't take it.24 And they nailed him to the cross. They divided up his clothes and threw dice to see who would get them.

25 They nailed him up at nine o'clock in the morning.26 The charge against him-the king of the jews-was printed on a poster.27 Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left.29 People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days -30 so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!"

31 The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others-but he can't save himself!32 Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We'll all become believers then!" Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.

33 At noon the sky became extremely dark.34 The darkness lasted three hours. At three o'clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

35 Some of the bystanders who heard him said, "Listen, he's calling for Elijah."36 Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down."

37 But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath.38 At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle.39 When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, "This has to be the Son of God!"

Taken to a Tomb

40 There were women watching from a distance, among them Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome.41 When Jesus was in Galilee, these women followed and served him, and had come up with him to Jerusalem.

42 Late in the afternoon, since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, Sabbath eve),43 Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Jewish Council, came. He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout for the kingdom of God. Working up his courage, he went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.44 Pilate questioned whether he could be dead that soon and called for the captain to verify that he was really dead.45 Assured by the captain, he gave Joseph the corpse.

46 Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening.47 Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, watched the burial.

Mark 16

The Resurrection

1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him.2 Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb.3 They worried out loud to each other, "Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?"

4 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back-it was a huge stone-and walked right in.5 They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

6 He said, "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He's been raised up; he's here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty.7 Now-on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You'll see him there, exactly as he said."

8 They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.

9 [After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared early on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, whom he had delivered from seven demons.10 She went to his former companions, now weeping and carrying on, and told them.11 When they heard her report that she had seen him alive and well, they didn't believe her.

12 Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside.13 They went back and told the rest, but they weren't believed either.

14 Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up.15 Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all.16 Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.

17 "These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues,18 they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well."

19 Then the Master Jesus, after briefing them, was taken up to heaven, and he sat down beside God in the place of honor.20 And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.]

Luke 1

1 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us,2 using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives.3 Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus,4 so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught. A Childless Couple Conceives

A Childless Couple Conceives

5 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.6 Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God.7 But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

8 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment,9 it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense.10 The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering.11 Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense.12 Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

13 But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John.14 You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you-many will delight in his birth.

15 He'll achieve great stature with God.16 He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God.17 He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics-he'll get the people ready for God."

18 Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."

19 But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news.20 But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time-God's time."

21 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary.22 When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

23 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home.[24 It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy.25 "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

A Virgin Conceives

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth27 to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary.28 Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty, Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.

29 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that.30 But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you:31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.32 He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.' The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David;33 He will rule Jacob's house forever-no end, ever, to his kingdom."

34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."

35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.

36 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months' pregnant!37 Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."38 And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. Blessed Among Women

Blessed Among Women

39 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country,40 straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit,42 and sang out exuberantly, You're so blessed among women, and the babe in your womb, also blessed!43 And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me?44 The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, The babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.45 Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!

46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news;47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.48 God took one good look at me, and look what happened-I'm the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten,49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.51 He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the callous rich were left out in the cold.54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

The Birth of John

57 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son.58 Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

59 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father.60 But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."

61 "But," they said, "no one in your family is named that."62 They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.

63 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise.64 Surprise followed surprise-Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

65 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else.66 Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."

67 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,68 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he came and set his people free.69 He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives, and in the very house of David his servant,70 Just as he promised long ago through the preaching of his holy prophets:71 Deliverance from our enemies and every hateful hand;72 Mercy to our fathers, as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,73 What he swore to our father Abraham -74 a clean rescue from the enemy camp, So we can worship him without a care in the world,75 made holy before him as long as we live.76 And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest," will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,77 Present the offer of salvation to his people, the forgiveness of their sins.78 Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's Sunrise will break in upon us,79 Shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, Then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.

80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.