New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him;
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It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes made designs how they might take him by deceit and put him to death:
2 for they said, "Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people."
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But they said, Not while the feast is going on, for fear there may be trouble among the people.
3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
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And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, seated at table, there came a woman with a bottle of perfumed oil of great price; and when the bottle was broken she put the perfume on his head.
4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in this way?
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But some of them were angry among themselves, saying, For what purpose has this oil been wasted?
5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her.
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We might have got more than three hundred pence for it, and given the money to the poor. And they said things against her among themselves.
6 But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.
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But Jesus said, Let her be; why are you troubling her? she has done a kind act to me.
7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.
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The poor you have ever with you, and whenever you have the desire you may do them good: but me you have not for ever.
8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
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She has done what she was able: she has put oil on my body to make it ready for its last resting-place.
9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
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And truly I say to you, Wherever the good news goes out through all the earth, what this woman has done will be talked of in memory of her.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.
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And Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, so that he might give him up to them.
11 When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
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And hearing what he said, they were glad, and gave him their word to make him a payment of money. And he took thought how he might best give him up to them.
12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
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And on the first day of unleavened bread, when the Passover lamb is put to death, his disciples said to him, Where are we to go and make ready for you to take the Passover meal?
13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,
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And he sent two of his disciples, and said to them, Go into the town, and there will come to you a man with a vessel of water: go after him;
14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, "The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'
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And wherever he goes in, say to the owner of the house, The Master says, Where is my guest-room, where I may take the Passover with my disciples?
15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
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And he will take you up himself to a great room with a table and seats: there make ready for us.
16 So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
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And the disciples went out and came into the town, and saw that it was as he had said: and they made ready the Passover.
17 When it was evening, he came with the twelve.
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And when it was evening he came with the twelve.
18 And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me."
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And while they were seated taking food, Jesus said, Truly I say to you, One of you will be false to me, one who is taking food with me.
19 They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not I?"
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They were sad, and said to him one by one, Is it I?
20 He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me.
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And he said to them, It is one of the twelve, one who is putting his bread with me into the same plate.
21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."
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The Son of man goes, even as the Writings say of him: but cursed is that man through whom the Son of man is given up! It would have been well for that man if he had never been given birth.
22 While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body."
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And while they were taking food, he took bread, and after blessing it, he gave the broken bread to them, and said, Take it: this is my body.
23 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.
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And he took a cup, and when he had given praise, he gave it to them: and they all had a drink from it.
24 He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
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And he said to them, This is my blood of the testament, which is given for men.
25 Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
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Truly I say to you, I will take no more of the fruit of the vine till the day when I take it new in the kingdom of God.
26 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
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And after a song of praise to God they went out to the Mountain of Olives.
27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters; for it is written, "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
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And Jesus said to them, You will all be turned away from me: for it is in the Writings, I will put the keeper of the sheep to death, and the sheep will be put to flight.
28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."
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But after I have come back from the dead, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 Peter said to him, "Even though all become deserters, I will not."
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But Peter said to him, Though the others may be turned away from you, I will not.
30 Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times."
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And Jesus said to him, Truly, I say to you that you, today, even this night, before the cock's second cry, will say three times that you have no knowledge of me.
31 But he said vehemently, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And all of them said the same.
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But he said with passion, If I have to be put to death with you, I will not be false to you. And they all said the same.
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
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And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he said to his disciples, Be seated here while I say a prayer.
33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.
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And he took with him Peter and James and John, and grief and great trouble came on him.
34 And he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake."
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And he said to them, My soul is very sad, even to death: be here a little time, and keep watch.
35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
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And he went forward a little, and falling down on the earth, made request that, if possible, the hour might go from him.
36 He said, "Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want."
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And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me: but even so let not my pleasure, but yours be done.
37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?
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And he came, and saw them sleeping, and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? were you not able to keep watch one hour?
38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
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Keep watch with prayer, so that you may not be put to the test; the spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is feeble.
39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.
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And again he went away, and said a prayer, using the same words.
40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.
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And again he came and saw them sleeping, because their eyes were very tired; and they had nothing to say in answer.
41 He came a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
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And he came the third time, and said to them, Go on sleeping now and take your rest: it is enough; the hour has come; see, the Son of man is given up into the hands of evil men.
42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand."
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Get up, let us be going; see, he who gives me up is near.
43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
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And straight away, while he was still talking, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great band with swords and sticks, from the chief priests and the scribes and those in authority.
44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."
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Now he who had been false to him had given them a sign, saying, The one to whom I give a kiss, that is he; take him, and get him away safely.
45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him.
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And when he had come, he went straight to him and said, Master; and gave him a kiss.
46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.
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And they put their hands on him, and took him.
47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
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But a certain one of those who were near took out his sword, and gave the servant of the high priest a blow, cutting off his ear.
48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?
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And Jesus said to them, Have you come out as against a thief, with swords and sticks to take me?
49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled."
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I was with you every day in the Temple teaching, and you did not take me; but this is done so that the Writings may come true.
50 All of them deserted him and fled.
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And they all went away from him in fear.
51 A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,
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And a certain young man went after him, with only a linen cloth about his body; and they put their hands on him;
52 but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
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But he got away unclothed, without the linen cloth.
53 They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled.
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And they took Jesus away to the high priest; and there came together with him all the chief priests and those in authority and the scribes.
54 Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.
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And Peter had come after him at a distance, even into the house of the high priest; and he was seated with the captains, warming himself in the light of the fire.
55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.
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Now the chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for witness against Jesus so that they might put him to death; and they were unable to get any.
56 For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.
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For a number gave false witness against him and their witness was not in agreement.
57 Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,
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Then some got up and gave false witness against him, saying,
58 "We heard him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.' "
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He said in our hearing, I will put an end to this Temple which is made with hands, and in three days I will make another without hands.
59 But even on this point their testimony did not agree.
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And even so their witness was not in agreement.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?"
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And the high priest got up in the middle of them, and said to Jesus, Do you say nothing in answer? what is it which these say against you?
61 But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"
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But he kept quiet and said nothing. Again the high priest questioning him said, Are you the Christ, the son of the Holy One?
62 Jesus said, "I am; and "you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and "coming with the clouds of heaven.' "
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And Jesus said, I am: and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need witnesses?
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And the high priest, violently parting his robes, said, What more need have we of witnesses?
64 You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?" All of them condemned him as deserving death.
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His words against God have come to your ears: what is your opinion? And they all said it was right for him to be put to death.
65 Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" The guards also took him over and beat him.
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And some put shame on him and, covering his face, gave him blows and said to him, Now say what is to come: and the captains took him and gave him blows with their hands.
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.
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And while Peter was down in the open square of the building, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came;
67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, "You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth."
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And seeing Peter warming himself by the fire, she gave him a look, and said, You were with this Nazarene, even Jesus.
68 But he denied it, saying, "I do not know or understand what you are talking about." And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed.
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But he said, I have no knowledge of him, or of what you are saying: and he went out into the doorway; and there came the cry of a cock.
69 And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them."
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And the girl saw him, and said again to those who were near, This is one of them.
70 But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean."
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But again he said it was not so. And after a little time, again those who were near said to Peter, Truly you are one of them; for you are a Galilaean.
71 But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know this man you are talking about."
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But, with curses and oaths, he said, I have no knowledge of the man about whom you are talking.
72 At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
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And in the same minute, the cock gave a second cry. And it came to Peter's mind how Jesus had said to him, Before the cock's second cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of me. And at this thought he was overcome with weeping.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.