Gospel of Luke 20.20-26
20Jesus' enemies kept watching him closely, because they wanted to
hand him over to the Roman governor. So they sent some men who pretended
to be good. But they were really spies trying to catch Jesus saying
something wrong. 21The spies said to him, "Teacher, we know that you
teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone
with the same respect, no matter who they are. 22Tell us, should we pay
taxes to the Emperor or not?"
23Jesus knew that they were trying to trick him. So he told them,
24"Show me a coin." Then he asked, "Whose picture and name are on it?"
"The Emperor's," they answered.
25Then he told them, "Give the Emperor what belongs to him and
give God what belongs to God." 26Jesus' enemies could not catch him
saying anything wrong there in front of the people. They were amazed at
his answer and kept quiet.
Gospel of Luke 23
6When Pilate heard this, he asked, "Is this man from Galilee?" 7After Pilate learned that Jesus came from the region ruled by Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time. 8For a long time Herod had wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he finally had this chance. He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him work a miracle. 9Herod asked him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not answer. 10Then the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses stood up and accused him of all kinds of bad things. 11Herod and his soldiers made fun of Jesus and insulted him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. 12That same day Herod and Pilate became friends, even though they had been enemies before this.
13Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people. 14He told them, "You brought Jesus to me and said he was a troublemaker. But I have questioned him here in front of you, and I have not found him guilty of anything that you say he has done. 15Herod didn't find him guilty either and sent him back. This man doesn't deserve to be put to death! 16-17I will just have him beaten with a whip and set free." 18But the whole crowd shouted, "Kill Jesus! Give us Barabbas!" 19Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a riot in the city and had murdered someone. 20Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds. 21But they kept shouting, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!" 22Pilate spoke to them a third time, "But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free." 23The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death. 24Finally, Pilate gave in. 25He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.
26As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27A large crowd was following Jesus, and in the crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for him. 28Jesus turned to the women and said: Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me! Cry for yourselves and for your children. 29Someday people will say, "Women who never had children are really fortunate!" 30At that time everyone will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" They will say to the hills, "Hide us!" 31If this can happen when the wood is green, what do you think will happen when it is dry? 32Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus. 33When the soldiers came to the place called "The Skull," they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus. 34-35Jesus said, "Father, forgive these people! They don't know what they're doing." While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, "He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God's chosen Messiah!" 36The soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine. 37They said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!" 38Above him was a sign that said, "This is the King of the Jews." 39One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, "Aren't you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!" 40But the other criminal told the first one off, "Don't you fear God? Aren't you getting the same punishment as this man? 41We got what was coming to us, but he didn't do anything wrong." 42Then he said to Jesus, "Remember me when you come into power!" 43Jesus replied, "I promise that today you will be with me in paradise."
44Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. 45The sun stopped shining, and the curtain in the temple split down the middle. 46Jesus shouted, "Father, I put myself in your hands!" Then he died. 47When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, "Jesus must really have been a good man!" 48A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. 49All of Jesus' close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.
50-51There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God's kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided. 52Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 53He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used. 54It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and watched how Jesus' body was placed in the tomb. 56Then they went to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial. But on the Sabbath they rested, as the Law of Moses commands.
Acts of the Apostles 10
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, who was the captain of a
group of soldiers called "The Italian Unit." 2Cornelius was a very
religious man. He worshiped God, and so did everyone else who lived in
his house. He had given a lot of money to the poor and was always praying
to God.
3One afternoon at about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He
saw an angel from God coming to him and calling him by name. 4Cornelius
was surprised and stared at the angel. Then he asked, "What is this all
about?"
The angel answered, "God has heard your prayers and knows about
your gifts to the poor. 5Now send some men to Joppa for a man named Simon
Peter. 6He is visiting with Simon the leather maker, who lives in a house
near the sea." 7After saying this, the angel left.
Cornelius called in two of his servants and one of his soldiers
who worshiped God. 8He explained everything to them and sent them off to
Joppa.
9The next day about noon these men were coming near Joppa. Peter
went up on the roof of the house to pray 10and became very hungry. While
the food was being prepared, he fell sound asleep and had a vision. 11He
saw heaven open, and something came down like a huge sheet held up by its
four corners. 12In it were all kinds of animals, snakes, and birds. 13A
voice said to him, "Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them."
14But Peter said, "Lord, I can't do that! I've never eaten
anything that is unclean and not fit to eat."
15The voice spoke to him again, "When God says that something can
be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat."
16This happened three times before the sheet was suddenly taken
back to heaven.
17Peter was still wondering what all of this meant, when the men
sent by Cornelius came and stood at the gate. They had found their way to
Simon's house 18and were asking if Simon Peter was staying there.
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit
said to him, "Three men are here looking for you. 20Hurry down and go
with them. Don't worry, I sent them."
21Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the one you are
looking for. Why have you come?"
22They answered, "Captain Cornelius sent us. He is a good man who
worships God and is liked by the Jewish people. One of God's holy angels
told Cornelius to send for you, so he could hear what you have to say."
23Peter invited them to spend the night.
The next morning, Peter and some of the Lord's followers in Joppa
left with the men who had come from Cornelius. 24The next day they
arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was waiting for them. He had also
invited his relatives and close friends.
34Peter then said:
Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. 35God
is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no
matter what nation they come from. 36This is the same message
that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus
Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them.
37You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea. It
all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be
baptized. 38God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from
Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and
healing everyone who was under the power of the devil. 39We all
saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus was put to death on a cross. 40But three days
later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. 41Not
everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank
with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God
chose to tell others about him.
42God told us to announce clearly to the people that
Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the
dead. 43Every one of the prophets has said that all who have
faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit took control of
everyone who was listening. 45Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come
with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given
to Gentiles. 46Now they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages
and praising God.
Peter said, 47"These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit,
just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from
baptizing them." 48Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Acts of the Apostles 23.12-26.32
The next morning more than forty Jewish men got together and
vowed that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed
Paul. 14Then some of them went to the chief priests and the nation's
leaders and said, "We have promised God that we would not eat a thing
until we have killed Paul. 15You and everyone in the council must go to
the commander and pretend that you want to find out more about the
charges against Paul. Ask for him to be brought before your court.
Meanwhile, we will be waiting to kill him before he gets there."
16When Paul's nephew heard about the plot, he went to the fortress
and told Paul about it. 17So Paul said to one of the army officers, "Take
this young man to the commander. He has something to tell him."
18The officer took him to the commander and said, "The prisoner
named Paul asked me to bring this young man to you, because he has
something to tell you."
19The commander took the young man aside and asked him in private,
"What do you want to tell me?"
20He answered, "Some men are planning to ask you to bring Paul
down to the Jewish council tomorrow. They will claim that they want to
find out more about him. 21But please don't do what they say. More than
forty men are going to attack Paul. They have made a vow not to eat or
drink anything until they have killed him. Even now they are waiting to
hear what you decide."
22The commander sent the young man away after saying to him,
"Don't let anyone know that you told me this."
23The commander called in two of his officers and told them, "By
nine o'clock tonight have two hundred soldiers ready to go to Caesarea.
Take along seventy men on horseback and two hundred foot soldiers with
spears. 24Get a horse ready for Paul and make sure that he gets safely
through to Felix the governor."
25The commander wrote a letter that said:
26Greetings from Claudius Lysias to the Honorable
Governor Felix:
27Some Jews grabbed this man and were about to kill him.
But when I found out that he was a Roman citizen, I took some
soldiers and rescued him.
28I wanted to find out what they had against him. So I
brought him before their council 29and learned that the charges
concern only their religious laws. This man isn't guilty of
anything for which he should die or even be put in jail.
30As soon as I learned that there was a plot against
him, I sent him to you and told their leaders to bring charges
against him in your court.
31The soldiers obeyed the commander's orders, and that same night
they took Paul to the city of Antipatris. 32The next day the foot
soldiers returned to the fortress and let the soldiers on horseback take
him the rest of the way. 33When they came to Caesarea, they gave the
letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
34The governor read the letter. Then he asked Paul and found out
that he was from Cilicia. 35The governor said, "I will listen to your
case as soon as the people come to bring their charges against you."
After saying this, he gave orders for Paul to be kept as a prisoner in
Herod's palace.
24 Five days later Ananias the high priest, together with some of their
leaders and a lawyer named Tertullus, went to the governor to present
their case against Paul. 2So Paul was called in, and Tertullus stated the
case against him:
Honorable Felix, you have brought our people a long
period of peace, and because of your concern our nation is much
better off. 3All of us are always grateful for what you have
done. 4I don't want to bother you, but please be patient with
us and listen to me for just a few minutes.
5This man has been found to be a real pest and
troublemaker for our people all over the world. He is also a
leader of a group called Nazarenes. 6-8When he tried to
disgrace the temple, we arrested him. If you question him, you
will find out for yourself that our charges are true.
9The Jewish crowd spoke up and agreed with what Tertullus had
said.
10The governor motioned for Paul to speak, and he began:
I know that you have judged the people of our nation for
many years, and I am glad to defend myself in your court.
11It was no more than twelve days ago that I went to
worship in Jerusalem. You can find this out easily enough.
12Never once did the Jews find me arguing with anyone in the
temple. I didn't cause trouble in their meeting places or in
the city itself. 13There is no way that they can prove these
charges that they are now bringing against me.
14I admit that their leaders think that the Lord's Way
which I follow is based on wrong beliefs. But I still worship
the same God that my ancestors worshiped. And I believe
everything written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets. 15I
am just as sure as these people are that God will raise from
death everyone who is good or evil. 16And because I am sure, I
try my best to have a clear conscience in whatever I do for God
or for people.
17After being away for several years, I returned here to
bring gifts for the poor people of my nation and to offer
sacrifices. 18This is what I was doing when I was found going
through a ceremony in the temple. I wasn't with a crowd, and
there was no uproar.
19Some Jews from Asia were there at that time, and if
they have anything to say against me, they should be here now.
20Or ask the ones who are here. They can tell you that they
didn't find me guilty of anything when I was tried by their own
council. 21The only charge they can bring against me is what I
shouted out in court, when I said, "I am on trial today because
I believe that the dead will be raised to life!"
22Felix knew a lot about the Lord's Way. But he brought the trial
to an end and said, "I will make my decision after Lysias the commander
arrives." 23He then ordered the army officer to keep Paul under guard,
but not to lock him up or to stop his friends from helping him.
Several days later Felix and his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish,
went to the place where Paul was kept under guard. They sent for Paul and
listened while he spoke to them about having faith in Christ Jesus. 25But
Felix was frightened when Paul started talking to them about doing right,
about self-control, and about the coming judgment. So he said to Paul,
"That's enough for now. You may go. But when I have time I will send for
you." 26After this, Felix often sent for Paul and talked with him,
because he hoped that Paul would offer him a bribe.
27Two years later Porcius Festus became governor in place of
Felix. But since Felix wanted to do the Jewish leaders a favor, he kept
Paul in jail.
Three days after Festus had become governor, he went from Caesarea to
Jerusalem. 2There the chief priests and some Jewish leaders told him
about their charges against Paul. They also asked Festus 3if he would be
willing to bring Paul to Jerusalem. They begged him to do this because
they were planning to attack and kill Paul on the way. 4But Festus told
them, "Paul will be kept in Caesarea, and I am soon going there myself.
5If he has done anything wrong, let your leaders go with me and bring
charges against him there."
6Festus stayed in Jerusalem for eight or ten more days before
going to Caesarea. Then the next day he took his place as judge and had
Paul brought into court. 7As soon as Paul came in, the leaders from
Jerusalem crowded around him and said he was guilty of many serious
crimes. But they could not prove anything. 8Then Paul spoke in his own
defense, "I have not broken the Law of my people. And I have not done
anything against either the temple or the Emperor."
9Festus wanted to please the leaders. So he asked Paul, "Are you
willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried by me on these charges?"
10Paul replied, "I am on trial in the Emperor's court, and that's
where I should be tried. You know very well that I have not done anything
to harm the Jewish nation. 11If I had done something deserving death, I
would not ask to escape the death penalty. But I am not guilty of any of
these crimes, and no one has the right to hand me over to these people. I
now ask to be tried by the Emperor himself."
12After Festus had talked this over with members of his council,
he told Paul, "You have asked to be tried by the Emperor, and to the
Emperor you will go!"
13A few days later King Agrippa and Bernice came to Caesarea to
visit Festus. 14They had been there for several days, when Festus told
the king about the charges against Paul. He said:
Felix left a man here in jail, 15and when I went to
Jerusalem, the chief priests and the Jewish leaders came and
asked me to find him guilty. 16I told them that it isn't the
Roman custom to hand a man over to people who are bringing
charges against him. He must first have the chance to meet them
face to face and to defend himself against their charges.
17So when they came here with me, I wasted no time. On
the very next day I took my place on the judge's bench and
ordered him to be brought in. 18But when the men stood up to
make their charges against him, they did not accuse him of any
of the crimes that I thought they would. 19Instead, they argued
with him about some of their beliefs and about a dead man named
Jesus, who Paul said was alive.
20Since I did not know how to find out the truth about
all this, I asked Paul if he would be willing to go to
Jerusalem and be put on trial there. 21But Paul asked to be
kept in jail until the Emperor could decide his case. So I
ordered him to be kept here until I could send him to the
Emperor.
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would also like to hear what
this man has to say."
Festus answered, "You can hear him tomorrow."
23The next day Agrippa and Bernice made a big show as they came
into the meeting room. High ranking army officers and leading citizens of
the town were also there. Festus then ordered Paul to be brought in 24and
said:
King Agrippa and other guests, look at this man! Every
Jew from Jerusalem and Caesarea has come to me, demanding for
him to be put to death. 25I have not found him guilty of any
crime deserving death. But because he has asked to be judged by
the Emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.
26I have to write some facts about this man to the
Emperor. So I have brought him before all of you, but
especially before you, King Agrippa. After we have talked about
his case, I will then have something to write. 27It makes no
sense to send a prisoner to the Emperor without stating the
charges against him.
Agrippa told Paul, "You may now speak for yourself."
Paul stretched out his hand and said:
2King Agrippa, I am glad for this chance to defend
myself before you today on all these charges that my own people
have brought against me. 3You know a lot about our religious
customs and the beliefs that divide us. So I ask you to listen
patiently to me.
4-5All the Jews have known me since I was a child. They
know what kind of life I have lived in my own country and in
Jerusalem. And if they were willing, they could tell you that I
was a Pharisee, a member of a group that is stricter than any
other. 6Now I am on trial because I believe the promise God
made to our people long ago.
7Day and night our twelve tribes have earnestly served
God, waiting for his promised blessings. King Agrippa, because
of this hope, some of their leaders have brought charges
against me. 8Why should any of you doubt that God raises the
dead to life?
9I once thought that I should do everything I could to
oppose Jesus from Nazareth. 10I did this first in Jerusalem,
and with the authority of the chief priests I put many of God's
people in jail. I even voted for them to be killed. 11I often
had them punished in our meeting places, and I tried to make
them give up their faith. In fact, I was so angry with them,
that I went looking for them in foreign cities.
12King Agrippa, one day I was on my way to Damascus with
the authority and permission of the chief priests. 13About noon
I saw a light brighter than the sun. It flashed from heaven on
me and on everyone traveling with me. 14We all fell to the
ground. Then I heard a voice say to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul,
why are you so cruel to me? It's foolish to fight against me!"
15"Who are you?" I asked.
Then the Lord answered, "I am Jesus! I am the one you
are so cruel to. 16Now stand up. I have appeared to you,
because I have chosen you to be my servant. You are to tell
others what you have learned about me and what I will show you
later."
17The Lord also said, "I will protect you from the Jews
and from the Gentiles that I am sending you to. 18I want you to
open their eyes, so that they will turn from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God. Then their sins will be
forgiven, and by faith in me they will become part of God's
holy people."
19King Agrippa, I obeyed this vision from heaven.
20First I preached to the people in Damascus, and then I went
to Jerusalem and all over Judea. Finally, I went to the
Gentiles and said, "Stop sinning and turn to God! Then prove
what you have done by the way you live."
21That is why some men grabbed me in the temple and
tried to kill me. 22But all this time God has helped me, and I
have preached both to the rich and to the poor. I have told
them only what the prophets and Moses said would happen. 23I
told them how the Messiah would suffer and be the first to be
raised from death, so that he could bring light to his own
people and to the Gentiles.
24Before Paul finished defending himself, Festus shouted, "Paul,
you're crazy! Too much learning has driven you out of your mind."
25But Paul replied, "Honorable Festus, I am not crazy. What I am
saying is true, and it makes sense. 26None of these things happened off
in a corner somewhere. I am sure that King Agrippa knows what I am
talking about. That's why I can speak so plainly to him."
27Then Paul said to Agrippa, "Do you believe what the prophets
said? I know you do."
28Agrippa asked Paul, "In such a short time do you think you can
talk me into being a Christian?"
29Paul answered, "Whether it takes a short time or a long time, I
wish you and everyone else who hears me today would become just like me!
Except, of course, for these chains."
30Then King Agrippa, Governor Festus, Bernice, and everyone who
was with them got up. 31But before they left, they said, "This man isn't
guilty of anything. He doesn't deserve to die or to be put in jail."
32Agrippa told Festus, "Paul could have been set free, if he had
not asked to be tried by the Roman Emperor."