18 ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should 21 ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? 23 They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am 25 innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the 26 people and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and 28 gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put 29 on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before 30 him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews! And they spit upon him, 31 and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him 33 they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called 34 Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled 35 with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon 36, 37 my vesture did they cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING 38 OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39, 40

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou 41 be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests 42 mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the 43 cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, 44 if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

45

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth 46 hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli! Eli! lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for 48 Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with 49 vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.

50

51

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the 52 bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were 53 opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto

many.

Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God.

And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from

1 Or, governor's house.

56 Galilee, ministering unto him: among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. 57 WHEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathæa, named 58 Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged 59 the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And 60 when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own 'new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a 61 great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62 NOW the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests 63 and pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that 64 deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, 'He is risen from 65 the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, 66 Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

28

IN the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, 2 there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, 3 and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His counten4 ance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the 5 keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was cru6 cified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where 7 the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, 8 I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail! 10 And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and 12 showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they

were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money 13 unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away 14 while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, 15 and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus 17 had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him : but some 18 doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto 19 me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and 2 teach all nations, baptizing 20 them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Amen.

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO

S. MARK.

1 THE beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall 2, 3 prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare

1 Or, had been.

2 Or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations.

4 ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilder5 ness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were 6 all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he 7 did eat locusts and wild honey; and preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and 8 unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

9

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

12, 13

14

And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

NOW after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching 15 the Gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel.

16

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother 17 casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, 18 Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straight19 way they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also 20 were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

21

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered 22 into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he 23 taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in 24 their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us

alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to 25 destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked 26 him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit 27 had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the 28 unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

29

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into 30 the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's 31 mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

32

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, 33 and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered toge34 ther at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils 3 to speak, because they knew him.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and 36 departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were 37 with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, 38 All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, 39 that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, 41 and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; 42 be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed 43 from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent 3 Or, to say that they knew him,

1 Or, unto.

2 Or, cloven, or, rent.

44 him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which 45 Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

2

AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, inso2 much that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door : 3 and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one 4 sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they 5 had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven 6 thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their 7 hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God 8 only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or 10 to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

13

AND he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto 14 him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphæus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose 15 and followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for 16 there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that 77 he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

18

And the disciples of John and of the pharisees used to fast and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the pharisees fast, but 19 thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bride20 groom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom 21 shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of 2 new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that 22 filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred but new wine must be put into new bottles.

23

AND it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; 24 and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not 25 lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he 26 had need, and was an hungered, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the showbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them 27 which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for 28 man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

3 AND he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on 2,3 the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which 4 had the withered hand, s Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to

1 Or, at the place where the custom was

received.

2 Or, raw, or, unwrought.

3 Gr. Arise, stand forth in the midst.

do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held 5 their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the 6 other. And the pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

7

BUT Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multi8 tude from Galilee followed him, and from Judæa, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumæa, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great 9 multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the 10 multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch 11 that they 2 pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou 12 art the son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make

13

him known.

AND he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and 14 they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and 15 that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, 16, 17 and to cast out devils: and Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of

Zebedee, and John the brother of James; (and he surnamed them Boanerges, 18 which is, The sons of thunder:) and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphæus, and Thaddæus, and 19 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him.

20

AND they went into an house. And the multitude cometh together again, 21 so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his 4 friends heard of it, 22 they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself, And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the 23 prince of the devils casteth he out devils. And he called them unto him, and 24 said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom 25 be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

26

And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath 27 an end. No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except 28 he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies where29 with soever they shall blaspheme: but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy 30 Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto 32 him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, 33 Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered 34 them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? and he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren ! 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister,

and mother.

4 AND he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the 2 whole multitude was by the sea on the land. And he taught them many things 3 by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, Hearken; Behold, there went 4 out a sower to sow and it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, 5 and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no 6 depth of earth: but when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had 7 no root, it withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew 8 up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and 9 some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

10

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of 11 him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the

4 Or, kinsmen.