unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? And they said, 22 Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus which is called Christ? They all say, Let 23 him be crucified. And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him 24 be crucified. So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man: see ye to it. 25 And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, 26 and on our children. Then released he unto them Barabbas: but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

27

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the 2palace, and gathered unto 28 him the whole band. And they stripped him, and put 29 on him a scarlet robe. And they plaited a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, 20 King of the Jews! And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the 31 head. And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.

And as they came out, they 32 found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they 5compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross. And 33 when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull, they gave him wine to drink 34 mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink. And when they had 35 crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots: and they sat and 36 watched him there. And they 37 set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS

THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then 38

are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand, and one on the left. And they that passed by railed 39 on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that de- 40 stroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross. In like manner also 41 the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; 7him- 42 self he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him. He trusteth on God; 43 let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God. And 44 the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.

2 Gr. Præto

45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the 1land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, 2 why hast thou forsaken 47 me? And some of them that stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Eli48 jah. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him 49 to drink. And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.3 50 And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his 51 spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were 52 rent; and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen 53 asleep were raised; and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and ap54 peared unto many. Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was 5 the 55 Son of God. And many women were there beholding from afar, which had followed Jesus from Galilee, minister

ing unto him: among whom 56 was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

And when even was come, 57 there came a rich man from Arimathæa, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: this man went to 58 Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up. And Joseph took the body, 59 and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his 60 own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene 61 was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

which 62

Now on the morrow, is the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, 63 Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. Command there- 64 fore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first. Pilate said 65 unto them, "Ye have a guard: go your way, 7make it as sure

66 as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.

28 1

Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the 2 sepulchre. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the 3 stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as 4 snow and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and 5 became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which hath been cruci6 fied. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where 7 the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see 8 him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his 9 disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and 10 worshipped him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they

depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Now while they were going, 11 behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass. And when they were assem- 12 bled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, say- 13 ing, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And 14 if this 2 come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. So they 15 took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day.

But the eleven disciples 16 went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when 17 they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came to 18 them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye there- 19 fore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching 20 them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you 3alway, even unto the end of the world.

age

2 Or, come to a hearing 4 Or, the consummation of the

11

2,

3

in

Even as it is written Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way; The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord,

Make his paths straight; 4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance 5 unto remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the country of Judæa, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their 6 sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild 7 honey. And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes

down and unloose. I baptized 8 you with water; but he shall baptize you with the 5 Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those 9 days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. And straightway coming 10 up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him: and a voice 11 came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.

And straightway the Spirit 12 driveth him forth into the wilderness. And he was in 13 the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Now after that John was 14 delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, The time 15 is fulfilled, and the kingdom

2 Some ancient au4 Or, in 5 Or, Holy