World English Bible · Under Rome
John 12
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Then, six days before , came to , where was, who had been , whom he . So they made him a supper there. , but was one of those who sat with him. Therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and ' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. Then , son, one of his , who would betray him, said, "Why wasn't this ointment sold for three hundred and given to ?" Now he said this, not because he cared for , but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. But said, "Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. For you always have with you, but you don't always have me." A large therefore of the learned that he was there; and they came, not for ' sake only, but that they might see also, whom he had . But the conspired to put to also, because on account of him many of the went away and in . On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that was coming to , they took the of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, "! is he who comes in the name of , the King of Israel!" , having found a young donkey, sat on it. As , "Don't be afraid, daughter of . Behold, your King comes, sitting on a donkey's colt." His didn't understand these things at first, but when was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him, and that they had done these things to him. therefore that was with him when he called out of the and him from was testifying about it. For this cause also went and met him, because they heard that he had done this sign. The therefore said among themselves, "See how you accomplish nothing. Behold, the world has gone after him." Now there were certain among those who went up to at the feast. Therefore, these came to , who was from of , and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see ." came and told , and in turn, came with , and they told . answered them, "The time has come for to be glorified. Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to . If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, will him. "Now is troubled. What shall I say? ', me from this time'? But I came to this time for this cause. , your name!" Then a voice came out of , saying, "I have both glorified it and will it again." Therefore who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, " has spoken to him." answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now is the of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." But he said this, signifying by what kind of he should . answered him, "We have heard out of that . How do you say, ' must be lifted up'? Who is this ?" therefore said to them, "Yet a little while is with you. Walk while you have , that doesn't overtake you. He who walks in doesn't know where he is going. While you have , in , that you may become children of ." said these things, and he departed and hid himself from them. But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn't in him, that the word of the might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ", who has our report? To whom has the arm of been ?" For this cause they couldn't , for said again: "He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their , lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their , and would turn, and I would heal them." said these things when he saw his , and spoke of him. Nevertheless, even many of the in him, but because of the they didn't it, so that they wouldn't be put out of the , for they loved men's more than . cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. He who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a into the world, that whoever believes in me may not in . If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn't , I don't judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to the world. He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke will judge him in the last day. For I spoke not from myself, but who sent me gave me a , what I should say and what I should speak. I know that his is . The things therefore which I speak, even as has said to me, so I speak."
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.