World English Bible · Under Rome
Matthew 26
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When had finished all these words, he said to his , "You know that after two days is coming, and will be up to be ." Then the , the , and the of the people were gathered together in the court of the , who was called . They together that they might take by deceit and kill him. But they said, "Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people." Now when was in , in the house of the , a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat . But when his saw this, they were indignant, saying, "Why this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to ." However, knowing this, said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me. For you always have with you, but you don't always have me. For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Most certainly I tell you, wherever this is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of as a memorial of her." Then one of the twelve, who was called , went to the and said, "What are you willing to give me if I him to you?" So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. From that time he sought opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of , came to , saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat ?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep at your house with my ."'" did as commanded them, and they prepared . Now when evening had come, he was with the twelve . As they were eating, he said, "Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me." They were exceedingly sorrowful, and each began to ask him, "It isn't me, is it, ?" He answered, "He who dipped his hand with me in the dish will betray me. goes even as of him, but woe to that man through whom is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born." , who betrayed him, answered, "It isn't me, is it, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You said it." As they were eating, took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." He took , gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my of the , which is poured out for many for the remission of . But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in Kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to . Then said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for , 'I will strike the , and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am up, I will go before you into ." But answered him, "Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble." said to him, "Most certainly I tell you that tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." said to him, "Even if I must with you, I will not deny you." All of also said likewise. Then came with them to a place called , and said to his , "Sit here, while I go there and ." He took with him and the two sons of , and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. Then said to them, " is exceedingly sorrowful, even to . Stay here and watch with me." He went forward a little, fell on , and , saying, ", if it is possible, let this pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I , but what you ." He came to and found them sleeping, and said to , "What, couldn't you watch with me for one hour? Watch and , that you don't enter into . indeed is willing, but is weak." Again, a second time he went away and , saying, ", if this can't pass away from me unless I drink it, your be done." He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. He left them again, went away, and a third time, saying the same words. Then he came to his and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and is betrayed into the hands of . Arise, let's be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand." While he was still speaking, behold, , one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with and clubs, from the and of the people. Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, "Whoever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him." Immediately he came to , and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. said to him, "Friend, why are you here?" Then they came and laid hands on , and took him. Behold, one of those who were with stretched out his hand and drew his , and struck the the , and his ear. Then said to him, "Put your back into its place, for all those who take will . Or do you think that I couldn't ask , and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of ? How then would be fulfilled that it must be so?" In that hour said to the , "Have you come out as against a robber with and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in teaching, and you didn't arrest me. But all this has happened that of might be fulfilled." Then all left him and fled. Those who had taken led him away to the , where the and the were gathered together. But followed him from a distance to the court of the , and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end. Now the , the , and the whole council sought false against , that they might put him to , and they found none. Even though many false came forward, they found none. But at last two false came forward and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy of , and to build it in three days.'" The stood up and said to him, "Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?" But stayed silent. The answered him, "I adjure you by the living that you tell us whether you are , the Son of ." said to him, "You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see sitting at of , and coming on the clouds of ." Then the tore his clothing, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more ? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy. What do you think?" They answered, "He is worthy of !" Then they spat in and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him, saying, " to us, you ! Who hit you?" Now was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, "You were also with , the Galilean!" But he denied it before them all, saying, "I don't know what you are talking about." When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him and said to those who were there, "This man also was with of ." Again he denied it with an , "I don't know the man." After a little while those who stood by came and said to , "Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known." Then he began to and to , "I don't know the man!" Immediately the rooster crowed. remembered the word which had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." Then he went out and wept bitterly.
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
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.