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Matthew 26:36-46
The Agony in the Garden.
26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
26:37 He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.
26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me."
26:39 He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will."
26:40 When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
26:41 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
26:42 Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!" 26:43 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.
26:44 He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again.
26:45 Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.
26:46 Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand."

Mathew 27: 27-31
Mockery by the Soldiers.
27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
27:28 They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.
27:29 Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
27:30 They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head.
27:31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

Matthew 28:1-10
The Resurrection of Jesus.
28:1 After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.
28:3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow.
28:4 The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men.
 28:5 Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.
28:6 He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."
28:8 Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.
28:9 And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

Mark 14:32 - 42
The Agony in the Garden.
14:32 Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
14:33 He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed.
14:34 Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch."
14:35 He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him;
14:36 he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will."
14:37 When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
14:38 Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
14:39 Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing.
14:40 Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him.
14:41 He returned a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.
14:42 Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand."

Mark 15: 6-32
The Sentence of Death.
15:6 Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested.
15:7 A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion.
15:8 The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed.
15:9 Pilate answered, "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?"
15:10 For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.
15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.
15:12 Pilate again said to them in reply, "Then what (do you want) me to do with (the man you call) the king of the Jews?"
15:13 They shouted again, "Crucify him."
15:14 Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Crucify him."
15:15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:16-20
Mockery by the Soldiers.
15:16 The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort.
15:17 They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him.
15:18 They began to salute him with, "Hail, King of the Jews!"
15:19 and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage.
15:20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him.

The Way of the Cross.
15:21 They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

The Crucifixion.
15:22 They brought him to the place of Golgotha (which is translated Place of the Skull).
15:23 They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it.
15:24 Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take.
15:25 It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. 15:26 The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews."
15:27 With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left.
15:28 )
15:29 Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
15:30 save yourself by coming down from the cross."
15:31 Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself.
15:32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.

Mark 16:1-8
The Resurrection of Jesus.
16:1 When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.
16:2 Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.
16:3 They were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?"
16:4 When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large.
16:5 On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed.
16:6 He said to them, "Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him.
16:7 But go and tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.'"
16:8 Then they went out and fled from the tomb, seized with trembling and bewilderment. They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Mark 16: 19-20
The Ascension of Jesus.
16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
16:20 But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Luke 1:26-38
Announcement of the Birth of Jesus
1:26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.
1:28 And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
1:29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
 1:30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
1:32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
1:33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
1:34 But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"
1:35 And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
1:36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
1:37 for nothing will be impossible for God."
1:38 Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1: 39-56
Mary Visits Elizabeth.
1:39 During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
1:40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
1:41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
1:42 cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
1:43 And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
1:44 For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
1:45 Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

The Canticle of Mary.
1:46 And Mary said:
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
1:47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
1:48 For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
1:49 The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
1:51 He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
1:52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
1:53 The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
1:54 He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,
1:55 according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
1:56 Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Luke 2:1-14
The Birth of Jesus.
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
2:2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
2:3 So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
2:4 And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
2:5 to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
2:6 While they were there, the time came for her to have her child,
2:7 and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.
2:9 The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.
2:10 The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
2:11 For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.
2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
2:13 And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
2:14 "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

The Visit of the Shepherds.
2:15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
2:16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
2:17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
2:18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
2:19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
2:20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus.
2:21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2: 22 - 38
The Presentation in the Temple.
2:22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
2:23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,"
2:24 and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
2:28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
2:29 "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,
2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
2:31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
2:32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."
2:33 The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
2:34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
2:35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
2:37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
2:38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Return to Nazareth.
2:39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
2:40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Luke 2: 41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple.
2:41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
2:42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.
2:43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
2:44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
2:45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
2:46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions,
2:47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.
2:48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."
2:49 And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?"
2:50 But they did not understand what he said to them.
2:51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus advanced (in) wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

Luke22: 39-46
The Agony in the Garden.
22:39 Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him.
22:40 When he arrived at the place he said to them, "Pray that you may not undergo the test."
22:41 After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed,
22:42 saying, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done."
22:43 (And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him.
22:44 He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.)
22:45 When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief.
22:46 He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test."
Luke 23:33-49
The Crucifixion.
23:33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left.
23:34 (Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.") They divided his garments by casting lots.
23:35 The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God."
23:36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine
23:37 they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself."
23:38 Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us."
23:40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
23:41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal."
23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
23:43 He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

The Death of Jesus.
23:44 It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon
23:45 because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
23:46 Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last.
23:47 The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said, "This man was innocent beyond doubt."
23:48 When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts;
23:49 but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

John 18:28-40
The Trial before Pilate.
18:28 Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover.
18:29 So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring (against) this man?"
18:30 They answered and said to him, "If he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you."
18:31 At this, Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." The Jews answered him, "We do not have the right to execute anyone,"
18:32 in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled that he said indicating the kind of death he would die.
18:33 So Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
18:34 Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?"
18:35 Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"
18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants (would) be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
18:37 So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."
18:38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he again went out to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in him.
18:39 But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover. Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?"
18:40 They cried out again, "Not this one but Barabbas!" Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

John 19:1-30
19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.
19:2 And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head, and clothed him in a purple cloak,
19:3 and they came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck him repeatedly.
19:4 Once more Pilate went out and said to them, "Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no guilt in him."
19:5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak. And he said to them, "Behold, the man!"
19:6 When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him. I find no guilt in him."
19:7 The Jews answered, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."
19:8 Now when Pilate heard this statement, he became even more afraid,
19:9 and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" Jesus did not answer him.
19:10 So Pilate said to him, "Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?"
19:11 Jesus answered (him), "You would have no power over me if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin."
19:12 Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, "If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar."
19:13 When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out and seated him on the judge's bench in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
19:14 It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon. And he said to the Jews, "Behold, your king!"
19:15 They cried out, "Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
19:16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus,

The Crucifixion of Jesus.
19:17 and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
19:18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.
19:19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews."
19:20 Now many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
19:21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that he said, 'I am the King of the Jews.'"
19:22 Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."
19:23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four shares, a share for each soldier. They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top down.
19:24 So they said to one another, "Let's not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be," in order that the passage of scripture might be fulfilled (that says):
"They divided my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots." This is what the soldiers did. 19:25 Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
19:26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son."
19:27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
19:28 After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I thirst."
19:29 There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
19:30 When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Acts 1:6-12
The Ascension of Jesus.
1:6 When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
1:7 He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
1:8 But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
1:9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
1:10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
1:11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."
1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.

Acts 2: 1-41
The Coming of the Spirit.
2:1 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.
2:2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.
2:3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
2:4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
2:6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
2:7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
2:8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language?
2:9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,
2:11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."
2:12 They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, "What does this mean?"
2:13 But others said, scoffing, "They have had too much new wine."

II: THE MISSION IN JERUSALEM
Peter's Speech at Pentecost.
2:14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, "You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 2:15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
2:17 'It will come to pass in the last days,' God says, 'that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
2:18 Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.
2:19 And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.
2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,
2:21 and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.'
2:22 You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
2:23 This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
2:24 But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
2:25 For David says of him: 'I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
2:26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
2:27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
2:29 My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day.
2:30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
2:31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.
2:32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.
2:33 Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you (both) see and hear.
2:34 For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand
2:35 until I make your enemies your footstool."'
2:36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?"
2:38 Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
2:39 For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call."
2:40 He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
Hope for the Christian Dead.
4:13 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God,through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
4:15 Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who arealive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
4:16 For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of anarchangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven,and the dead in Christ will rise first.
4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
4:18 Therefore, console one another with these words.
Revelations 12: 1-18
The Woman and the Dragon.
12:1 A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.
12:2 She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.
12:3 Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems.
12:4 Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.
12:5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne.
12:6 The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God, that there she might be taken care of for twelve hundred and sixty days.
12:7 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back,
12:8 but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.
12:9 The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
"Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night.
12:11 They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death.
12:12 Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them. But woe to you, earth and sea, for the Devil has come down to you in great fury, for he knows he has but a short time."
12:13 When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child.
12:14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half-year.
12:15 The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current.
12:16 But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon spewed out of its mouth.
12:17 Then the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God's commandments and bear witness to Jesus.
12:18 It took its position on the sand of the sea.
Judith 15: 1-13
15:1 On hearing what had happened, those still in their tents were amazed,
15:2 and overcome with fear and trembling. No one kept ranks any longer; they scattered in all directions, and fled along every road, both through the valley and in the mountains.
15:3 Those also who were stationed in the mountain district around Bethulia took to flight. Then all the Israelite warriors overwhelmed them.

Pursuit.
15:4 Uzziah sent messengers to Betomasthaim, to Choba and Kona, and to the whole country of Israel to report what had happened, that all might fall upon the enemy and destroy them.
15:5 On hearing this, all the Israelites, with one accord, attacked them and cut them down as far as Choba. Even those from Jerusalem and the rest of the mountain region took part in this, for they too had been notified of the happenings in the camp of their enemies. The Gileadites and the Galileans struck the enemy's flanks with great slaughter, even beyond Damascus and its territory.
15:6 The remaining inhabitants of Bethulia swept down on the camp of the Assyrians, plundered it, and acquired great riches.
15:7 The Israelites who returned from the slaughter took possession of what was left, till the towns and villages in the mountains and on the plain were crammed with the enormous quantity of booty they had seized.
15:8 The high priest Joakim and the elders of the Israelites, who dwelt in Jerusalem, came to see for themselves the good things that the Lord had done for Israel, and to meet and congratulate Judith.
15:9 When they had visited her, all with one accord blessed her, saying:
"You are the glory of Jerusalem, the surpassing joy of Israel; You are the splendid boast of our people.
15:10 With your own hand you have done all this; You have done good to Israel, and God is pleased with what you have wrought. May you be blessed by the Lord Almighty forever and ever!" And all the people answered, "Amen!"
15:11 For thirty days the whole populace plundered the camp, giving Judith the tent of Holofernes, with all his silver, his couches, his dishes, and all his furniture, which she accepted. She harnessed her mules, hitched her wagons to them, and loaded these things on them.
15:12 All the women of Israel gathered to see her; and they blessed her and performed a dance in her honor. She took branches in her hands and distributed them to the women around her,
15:13 and she and the other women crowned themselves with garlands of olive leaves. At the head of all the people, she led the women in the dance, while the men of Israel followed in their armor, wearing garlands and singing hymns.

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