The first New Testament printed in English · Chapter 38The gospell of Saynct Mathew (5)
This chapter is not translated yet. You are reading the original.
And it followed: when Iesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples: ye know that after ij. days shall be ester, and the son of man shall be delivered to be crucified.
Then assembled together the chief priests and scribes and seniors of the people into the palace of the high priest, called Caiphas: and held a counsel, how they might take Iesus by subtlety, and kill him. but they said, not on the holy day, lest any trouble arise among the people.
When Iesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman, which had an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at the board. When his disciples saw that, they had indignation saying: what needed this waste? This ointment might have been well sold, and given to the poor. When Iesus understood that, he said unto them: why trouble ye the woman? she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye shall have poor folk always with you: but me shall ye not have always. And in that she casted this ointment on my body, she did it to bury me with all. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout all the world, there shall also this that she hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Then one of the twelve called Iudas Iscariot went unto the chief priests, and said: what will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they appointed unto him thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
The first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Iesus saying unto him: where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the ester lamb? And he said: Go into the city, unto such a man, and say to him: the master saith, my time is almost come, I will keep mine ester at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Iesus had appointed them, and made ready the ester lamb.
When the even was come, he sat down with the xij. And as they did eat, he said: Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him: is it I master? He answered and said: he that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, shall betray me. The son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe be to that man, by whom the son of man shall be betrayed. It had been good for that man, if he had never been born.
Then Iudas which betrayed him, answered and said: is it I master? He said unto him: thou hast said. As they did ate, Iesus took bread and gave thanks, brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said: Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it them, saying: drink of it every one. This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many, for the forgiveness of sins. I say unto you: I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine tree, until that day, when I shall drink it new with you in my father's kingdom.
And when they had said grace, they went out into mount olivet. Then said Iesus unto them: all ye shall fall this night because of me. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galile. Peter answered, and said unto him: though all men should be hurt by thee, yet would I not be hurt. Iesus said unto him: verily I say unto thee, that this same night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him: If I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
Then went Iesus with them into a place, which is called Gethsemane, and said unto his disciples: sit ye here while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebede, and began to wax sorrowful and to be in agony. Then said Iesus unto them: my soul is heavy even unto the death. Tarry ye here: and watch with me. And he went away a little apart, and fell flat on his face, and prayed saying: O my father, if it possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he came unto the disciples, and found them asleep, and said to Peter: what, could ye not watch with me one hour? watch and pray, that ye fall not into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
He went away once more, and prayed, saying: O my father, if this cup cannot pass away from me, but that I drink of it, thy will be fulfilled. And he came, and found them asleep again. For their eyes were heavy. And he left and went again, and prayed the third time saying the same words. Then came he to his disciples and said unto them: Sleep henceforth, and take your rest. Take heed the hour is at hand, and the son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going, he is at hand that shall betray me.
While he yet spake, lo, Iudas one of the twelve came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, which were sent from the chief priests and seniors of the people. He that betrayed him, gave them a token, saying: whosoever I kiss, that same is he, lay hands on him. And forth with all he came to Iesus, and said: hail master. And kissed him. And Iesus said unto him: friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they and laid hands on Iesus and took him.
And behold, one of them which were with Iesus, stretched out his hand and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and smote off his ear. Then said Iesus unto him: put up thy sword into his sheath. For all they that lay hands on the sword, shall perish with the sword. Either thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father, and he shall give me more than xij. legions of angels? how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, for so must it be.
The same time said Iesus to the multitude: ye be come out as it were unto a thief, with swords and staves for to take me: daily I sat among you teaching in the temple, and ye took me not. All this was done that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him and fled. And they took Iesus and led him to Caiphas the high priest, where the scribes and the seniors were assembled. Peter followed him afar off, unto the high priest's place: and went in, and sat with the servants to see the end.
The chief priests, and the seniors, and all the council, sought false witness against Iesus, for to put him to death, and they found none: in so much that when many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said: This fellow said: I can destroy the temple of God, and build the same in iij days.
And the chief priest arose, and said to him: answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee? but Iesus held his peace. And the chief priest answered, and said to him: I charge thee in the name of the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the son of God. Iesus said to him: thou hast said. Nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and come in the clouds of the sky.
Then the high priest rent his clothes saying? He hath blasphemed: what need we of any more witnesses? Lo, now have ye heard his blasphemy: what think ye? They answered and said: he is worthy to die. Then spat they in his face, and beat him with their fists. And other smote him with the palm of their hands on the face, saying: areed to us Christ, who is he that smote thee?
Peter sat without in the palace, and a damsel came to him, saying: Thou also wast with Iesus of Galilee: he denied before them all saying: I wot not what thou sayest. When he was gone out into the porch, another wench saw him, and said unto them that were there: This fellow was also with Iesus of Nazareth: And again he denied with an oath, and said: I know not the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said unto Peter: surely thou art even one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the words of Iesu, which he said unto him: before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice: and went out at the doors and wept bitterly.
The .xxvij. Chapter.
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and seniors of the people held a counsel against Iesu, to put him to death, and brought him bound and delivered him unto Pontius Pilate the deputy.
Then when Iudas which betrayed him, saw that he was condemned, he repented himself, and brought again the xxx. plates of silver to the chief priests and seniors saying: I have sinned betraying the innocent blood. And they said: what is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the silver plates in the temple, and departed, and went and hung himself.
The chief priests took the silver plates and said: it is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought with them a potter's field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field is called, the field of blood, until this day. Then was fulfilled, that which was spoken by Ieremy the prophet, saying: and they took xxx. silver plates, the value of him that was priced, whom they bought of the children of Israhel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the lord appointed me.
Iesus stood before the deputy: and the deputy asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the jewes? Iesus said unto him: Thou sayest. When he was accused of the chief priests and seniors, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him: hearest thou not how many things they lay against thee? and he answered him to never a word: in so much that the deputy marvelled very sore.
At that feast, the deputy was wont to deliver unto the people a prisoner whom they would choose. He had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas. And when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them: whether will ye that I give loose unto you, Barabbas, or Iesus which is called Christ? For he knew well, that for envy they had delivered him.
When he was set down to give judgement, his wife sent to him, saying: have thou nothing to do with that just man, I have suffered many things this day in my sleep about him.
The chief priests and the seniors had persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and should destroy Iesus. The deputy answered and said unto them: whether of the twain will ye that I let loose unto you? And they said, Barabbas. Pilate said unto them: what shall I do then with Iesus, which is called Christ? They all said to him: let him be crucified. Then said the deputy: what evil hath he done? And they cried the more saying: let him be crucified.
When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that more business was made, he took water and washed his hands before the people saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just person, and that ye shall see. Then answered all the people, and said: his blood fall on us, and on our children. Then let he Barabbas loose unto them, and scourged Iesus, and delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the deputy took Iesus unto the common hall, and gathered unto him all the company. And they stripped him, and put on him a purple robe, and plaited a crown of thorns and put upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowed their knees before him, saying: hail king of the jewes, and spitted upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.
And when they had mocked him, they took the robe off him again, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyren, named Simon: him they compelled to bear his cross. And came unto the place, which is called Golgotha (that is to say a place of dead men's skulls) they gave him vinegar to drink mixt with gall. And when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
When they had crucified him, they parted his garments, and did cast lots. To fulfil that was spoken by the prophet: They divided my garments among them: and upon my vesture have cast lots. And they sat and watched him there. And they set up over his head the cause of his death written: This is Iesus the king of the jewes. And there were two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left hand.
They that passed by, reviled him wagging their heads and saying: Thou that destroyest the temple of God, and buildest it in three days save thyself. If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the prelates mocking him with the scribes and seniors said: He saved other, himself he cannot save. If he be the king of Israhell: let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God, let God deliver him now if he will have him, for he said, I am the son of God. That same also the thieves, which were crucified with him cast in his teeth.
From the sixth hour was there darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Iesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eli Eli lama sabathani. That is to say, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that said: This man calleth for Helias. And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. Other said let be, let us see whether Helias will come and deliver him. Iesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up the ghost.
And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones did rent, and graves did open, and the bodies of many saints which slept, arose: and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and came into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
When the petty captain, and they that were with him watching Iesus, saw the earthquake and those things which happened, they feared greatly saying, Of a surety this was the son of God.
And many women were there, beholding him afar off, which followed Iesus from Galile, ministering unto him: among the which was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Iames and the mother of Ioses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathia named Ioseph, which same also was Iesus' disciple. He went to Pilate and begged the body of Iesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And Ioseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and put it in his new tomb, which he had hewn out even in the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.
The next day that followeth good friday, the high priests and pharisees got themselves to Pilate, and said: Sir, we remember, that this deceiver said while he was yet alive. After three days I will arise again, command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest peradventure his disciples come, and steal him away, and say unto the people, he is risen from death: And then the last error shall be worse than the first was. Pilate said unto them: Take watchmen: Go and make it as sure as ye can. They went and made the sepulchre sure with watchmen, and sealed the stone.
The .xxviij. Chapter.
The saboth day at even which dawneth the morrow after the saboth, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the sepulchre.
And behold there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the lord descended from heaven: and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. For fear of him the keepers were astunned, and became as dead men.
The angel answered, and said to the women, Fear ye not. I know well ye seek Iesus which was crucified: he is not here: he is risen as he said. Come, and see the place where the lord was put. And go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from death. And behold, he will go before you into Galile, there ye shall see him. Lo I have told you.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great Ioy. And did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples: behold, Iesus met them saying: God speed you. They came and held him by the feet and worshipped him. Then said Iesus unto them: be not afraid. Go and tell my brethren, that they go into Galile, and there shall they see me. When they were gone: behold, some of the keepers came in to the city, and shewed unto the prelates, all the things which had happened. And they gathered them together with the seniors, and took counsel, and gave large money unto the soldiers, saying: Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while ye slept. And if this come to the ruler's ears, we will pease him, and make you safe. And they took the money and did as they were taught. And this saying is noised among the jews unto this day.
Then the xj. disciples went away into Galile, into a mountain where Iesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him. But some of them doubted. Iesus came and spake unto them, saying: All power is given unto me in heaven, and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, and the son, and the holy ghost: Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you. And lo, I am with you alway even until the end of the world.
Here endeth the Gospell of S. Mathew.