1

CHAP. XXI.

AND looking up, he saw the rich men cast2 ing their gifts into the treasury. And he saw 3 also a poor widow casting in two mites. And

he said, I assure you that this poor widow hath 4 cast in more than they all. For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God but she of her penury hath cast in all the living she had.

5 And as some were speaking of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones, and gifts, he 6 said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown 7 down. And they said unto him, Master, when shall these things be? And what the sign when these things are to be fulfilled? 8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: For many will come in my name, saying, I am he,* and this time is near; but go not 9 after them. And when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for thesc things must first take place: but the endt is 10 not immediately. Then he said unto them,

Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom 11 against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines and pestilences; and fearful sights, and great signs shall 12 be from heaven. But before all these events, they will lay their hands on you, and persecute

* That is, the Messiah, or Christ.

That is, the destruction of Jerusalem.
That is, political and civil revolutions.

you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, bringing you before kings and ru13 lers for my name's sake. And all this shall take 14 place for a testimony to you. Resolve there

fore with yourselves, not to pre-meditate what 15 ye shall answer. For I will give you words

and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not 16 be able to gainsay, nor resist. And ye will be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends and some of you they 17 will cause to be put to death. And ye will be 18 hated of all men for my name's sake. But there 19 shall not an hair of your head perish. In your 20 patience possess ye your souls.* And when ye shall see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is 21 near. Then let them who are in Judea flee to to the mountains; and let them who are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them who 22 are in the country enter into it. For these are

the days of vengeance, that all things which 23 are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days: for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.†

*Or by your patience ye shall preserve your lives.

† It seems from this verse, that after Christianity is propagated, and prevails among most gentile nations, the Jews shall be restored to Judea. This is the opinion of many

persons.

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And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea 26 and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for apprehension of those things which are coming on the earth for the 27 powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud 28 with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption 29 draweth near. And he spake this parable to

them; Behold the fig-tree, and all other trees: 30 When they shoot out, ye sce and know of your 31 own selves, that the summer is near. So when

ye see these things come to pass, know ye also 32 that the kingdom of God is near. Verily I

say unto you, this generation shall not pass 33 away, till all be fulfilled.* Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.

34

Take heed then to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and 35 that day come upon you uuawares. For as a

snare it shall come on all them that dwell on 36 the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 37 And in the day he taught in the temple: and

* All the events and judgments predicted in this passage, must then have reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, and of the Jews, by the Romans.

at night he went out of the city, and abode in the mount that is called, the mount of Olives.* 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.

1

CHAP. XXII.

NOW the feast of unleavened bread, which 2 is called the passover, was near. And the chief priests and scribes sought means to kill him for they feared the people.

3

Then Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and consulted with the chief priests and officers, how he might betray 5 him unto them. And they were glad, and 6 covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. 7 Meantime was the day of unleavened bread, 8 when the passover must be killed.† And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare 9 us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we pre10 pare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, a man will meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him 11 into the house where he entereth. And ye shall say unto the good man of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest

* Jesus did this for several days successively.

The passover was a great feast of the Jews, which al were required to attend.

chamber, where I shall eat the passover with 12 my disciples? And he shall shew you a large up13 per room furnished: there make ready. And

they went and found as he said unto them: and 14 they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apos15 tles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired* to cat this passover with 16 you before I suffer. For I say unto you, I

will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfill17 ed in the kingdom of God.† And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and 18 divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

19

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in 20 remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth 22 me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man gocth as it was determined: but wo unto that man by whom he is betrayed. 23 And they began to inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

24

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be considered the great

* That is, I have very earnestly desired to eat, &c.

+ The meaning is, that he should not again partake of any thing before his erneifixion. Strietly speaking, the kingdom of God commenced after the resurrection of our Lord.