The first New Testament printed in English · Chapter 41The gospell of S. Marke (3)
This chapter is not translated yet. You are reading the original.
The .xij. Chapter.
And he began to speak unto them in similitudes. A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and ordained a winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to hire unto husbandmen, and went into a strange country. And when the time was come he sent to the tenants a servant that he might receive of the tenants of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him and beat him and sent him again empty. And moreover he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones and brake his head, and sent him again all too reviled. And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many other, beating some, and killing some.
Yet had he one son whom he loved tenderly, him also sent he at the last unto them, saying: they will fear my son. But the tenants said within themselves: This is the heir, come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall then the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to other. Have ye not read this scripture? the stone which the builders did refuse, is made the chief stone in the corner: This was done of the lord, and is marvellous in our eyes. And they went about to take him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spake that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.
And they sent unto him certain of the pharisees with Herode's servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come, they said unto him: master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: For thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or not? ought we to give, or ought we not to give? He knew their dissimulation, and said unto them: Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought him one. And he said unto them: Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar's. And Iesus answered, and said unto them: Then give to Cesar that which belongeth to Cesar: and give God that which pertaineth to God. And they marvelled at him.
And the Saduces came unto him, which say, there is no resurrection. And they asked him saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us, if any man's brother die, and leave his wife, behind him, and leave no children: that then his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren and the first took a wife, and when he died left no seed behind him. And the second took her, and died: neither left he any seed, and the third likewise. And seven had her, and left no seed behind them. Last of all the wife died also. In the resurrection then, when they shall rise again: whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife. Iesus answered, and said unto them: Are ye not therefore deceived because ye know not the scriptures? Neither the power of God? For when they shall rise again from death, they neither marry, nor are married: but are as the angels which are in heaven. As touching the dead, that they shall rise again: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, ye are therefore greatly deceived.
And there came one of the scribes, and when he had heard them disputing together, and perceived that he had answered them well, he asked him: Which is the first of all the commandments? Iesus answered him: the first of all the commandments is. Hear Israhel, our lord God, is one lord. And thou shalt love thy lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like unto this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor, as thy self. There is none other commandment greater than these.
And the scribe said unto him: well master, thou hast said the truth, that there is one God, and that there is none but he. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the mind, and with all the soul, and with all the strength. And to love a man's neighbor as himself, is a greater thing than all holocausts and sacrifices. And when Iesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him: Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
And Iesus answered, and said teaching in the temple: how say the scribes, that Christ is the son of David? for David himself inspired with the holy ghost said: The lord said to my lord, sit on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy foot stool. Then David himself calleth him lord, and by what means is he then his son? And much people heard him gladly.
And he said unto them in his doctrine: beware of the scribes which love to go in long, clothing: and love salutations in the market places, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and to sit in the uppermost rooms at feasts, and devour widows' houses, and under a colour pray long prayers. These shall have greater damnation.
And Iesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people put money into the treasury. And many that were rich, cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them: Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury. For they all put in of their superfluity: But she of her poverty, cast in all that she had, even all her living.
The .xiij. Chapter.
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said unto him: Master, see what stones, and what buildings are here. And Iesus answered, and said unto him: Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
And as he sat on mount Olivet over against the temple, Peter and Iames and Ihon and Andrew asked him secretly, tell us when these things shall be? And what is the sign, when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Iesus answered them, and began to say: take heed lest any man deceive you. For many shall come in my name saying: I am Christ, and shall deceive many.
When ye shall hear of war, and tidings of war, be ye not troubled. For such things must needs be. But the end is not yet. For there shall nation arise against nation, and realm against realm. And there shall be earthquakes, in all quarters, and famishment, and troubles. These are the beginning of sorrows.
But take ye heed to yourselves. For they shall bring you up to the councils and into the synagogues, and ye shall be beaten, and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings, for my sake, for a testimonial unto them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
But when they lead you and present you take no thought, aforehand what ye shall say, neither imagine: but whatsoever is given you at the same time, that speak. For it shall not be ye that shall speak, but the holy ghost. Yea and the brother shall deliver the brother to death. And the father the son, and the children shall rise against their fathers and mothers, and shall put them to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But whosoever shall endure unto the end shall be safe.
Moreover when ye see the abominable desolation, whereof is spoken by Daniel the prophet, stand where it ought not, let him that readeth understand it. Then let them that be in Iewry, flee to the mountains. And let him that is on the housetop, not descend down into the house, neither enter therein, to fetch anything out of his house. And let him that is in the field, not turn back again unto those things which he left behind him, for to take his clothes with him. But woe is then to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days. But pray, that your flight be not in the winter. For there shall be in those days such tribulation, as was not from the beginning of creatures, which God created, unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the lord had shortened those days, no man should be saved. But for the elects' sake, which he hath chosen, he hath shortened those days.
And then, if any man say to you: lo, here is Christ, lo, he is there, believe not. For false christs shall arise, and false prophets, And shall shew miracles and wonders, to deceive if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed, behold I have shewed you all things before.
Moreover in those days after that tribulation, the sun shall wax dark, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, And the powers which are in heaven, shall move. And then shall they see the son of man coming in the clouds, with great power and glory. And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, and from the one end of the world to the other.
Learn a similitude of the fig tree. When his branches are yet tender, and hath brought forth leaves, ye know, that summer is near. So in like manner when ye see these things come to pass, understand, that it is nigh even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass. But of the day and the hour, knoweth no man: no not the Angels which are in heaven: neither the son himself, save the father only.
Take heed, watch, and pray, for ye know not when the time is. As a man which is gone into a strange country and hath left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house will come, whether at even, or at midnight, whether at the cock crowing, or in the dawning: lest if he come suddenly, he should find you sleeping. And that I say unto you, I say unto all men, watch.
The .xiiij. Chapter.
After two days followed ester, and the days of sweet bread. And the high priests and the scribes sought means, how they might take him by craft and put him to death. But they said: not on the feast day, least any business arise among the people.
When he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, even as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment, called nard, that was pure and costly, and she brake the box and poured it on his head. And there were some that disdained in themselves, and said: what needed this waste of ointment? For it might have been sold for more than two hundred pence, and been given unto the poor. And they grudged against her.
And Iesus said: let her be in rest, why grieve ye her? She hath done a good work on me. Yea, and ye shall have poor with you all ways: and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye shall not have always. She hath done that she could: she came aforehand to anoint my body to his buryingward. Verily I say unto you: wheresoever this gospel shall be preached thorowout the whole world: this also that she hath done, shall be rehearsed in remembrance of her.
And Iudas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away unto the high priests, to betray him unto them. When they heard that, they were glad, and promised that they would give him money. And he sought, how he might conveniently betray him.
And the first day of sweet bread, when men offer the paschal lamb, his disciples said unto him: where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the ester lamb? And he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them: Go ye into the city, and there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water, follow him. And whithersoever he goeth in, say ye to the good man of the house: the master asketh where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the ester lamb with my disciples? And he will shew you a great parlour, paved, and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came in to the city, and found as he had said unto them, and made ready the ester lamb.
And at even, he came with the twelve. And as they sat at board and ate, Iesus said: Verily I say unto you: that one of you shall betray me, which eateth with me. And they began to mourn, and to say to him one by one: is it I? And another said: Is it I? he answered, and said unto them: It is one of the xij. and the same dippeth with me in the platter. The son of man goeth, as it is written of him: but woe be to that man, by whom the son of man is betrayed. Good were it for him, if that man had never been born.
And as they ate, Iesus took bread, gave thanks, brake it and gave it to them and said: Take, eat, This is my body. And he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they drank all of it. And he said unto them: This is my blood of the new Testament, which shall be shed for many. Verily I say unto you: I will drink no more of this fruit of the vine, until that day, that I shall drink it new in the kingdom of God. And when they had said grace, they went out into the mount olivet.
And Iesus said unto them: All ye shall hurt thorow me this night. For it is written: I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after that I am risen again I will go into Galile before you. Peter said unto him: And though all men should be hurt, yet would not I. And Iesus said unto him: Verily I say unto thee this day even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he spake bolder: no, if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee. Likewise also said they all.
And they came into a place named Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples: Sit ye here while I go apart and pray. And he took with him Peter, Iames, and Ihon, and he began to wax abashed and to be in an agony. And said unto them: My soul is very heavy even unto the death, tarry here and watch. And he went forth a little and fell down on the ground and prayed: That if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said: Abba father, all things are possible unto thee, take away this cup from me. Nevertheless not that I will, but that thou wilt be done.
And he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter: Simon sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch with me one hour? watch ye, and pray, least ye enter into temptation, the spirit is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went away and prayed, and spake the same words. And he returned and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy: neither could they tell what they might answer to him. And he came the third time, and said unto them: sleep hence forth and take your ease. It is enough. The hour is come, Behold the son of man shall be delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise up, let us go. Lo he that betrayeth me, is come nigh.
And immediately while he yet spake came Iudas, one of the twelve, and with him a great number of people with swords and staves from the high priests and scribes and seniors. He that betrayed him, gave them a general token, saying: whosoever I do kiss, he it is, take him, and lead him away warily. And as soon as he was come, he went straightway to him, and said unto him: master, master, and kissed him. And they laid their hands on him, and took him. And one of them that stood by drew out a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
And Iesus answered and said unto them: ye came out as unto a thief with swords and with staves for to take me, I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not, but that the scriptures should be fulfilled: And they all forsook him and ran away. And there was a certain young man that followed him clothed in linen upon the bare, and the young men caught him, and he left his linen and fled from them naked.
And they led Iesus away to the highest priest of all, and to him came all the high priests and the seniors, and the scribes. And Peter followed him a great way off even into the palace of the high priest, and he was there and sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
And the high priests and all the council sought for witness against Iesu, to put him to death, And they found none. Yet many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain and brought false witness against him, saying: We heard him say: I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another, made without hands. And their witness agreed not together.
And the highest priest stood up amongst them all, and asked Iesus saying: answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee? And he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the highest priest asked him, and said unto him: Art thou the Christ the son of the blessed? And Iesus said: I am. And ye shall see the son of man sit on the right hand of power, and come in the clouds of heaven. Then the highest priest rent his clothes and said: what need we any further witness? ye have heard the blasphemy, what think ye? And they all gave sentence that he was worthy of death. And some began to spit at him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with their fists, and to say unto him, aread unto us. And the servants buffeted him on the face.
And Peter was beneath in the palace, and there came one of the wenches of the highest priest, And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked on him, and said: was not thou also with Iesus of Nazareth? And he denied it saying: I know him not, neither wot I what thou sayest: And he went out into the porch, and the cock crew. And a damsel saw him, and again began to say to them that stood by, this is one of them. And he denied it again. And anon after, again they that stood by, said to Peter: surely thou art one of them, for thou art of Galile, and thy speech agreeth thereto. And he began to curse and to swear, saying: I know not this man of whom ye speak. And again the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word that Iesus said unto him: before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice, and began to weep.
The .xv. Chapter.
And anon in the dawning held the high priests a council with the seniors and the scribes, And also the whole congregation, and bound Iesus and led him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate asked him: art thou the king of the jewes? And he answered, and said unto him: thou sayest it. And the high priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, saying: Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they lay unto thy charge. Iesus yet answered never a word, so that Pilate marvelled.
At the feast Pilate was wont to deliver at their pleasure a prisoner: whomsoever they would desire. And there was one named Barabas, which lay bound with them, that caused insurrection, and in the insurrection committed murder. And the people called unto him, and began to desire of him, according as he had ever done unto them. Pilate answered them, and said: Will ye that I loose unto you the king of the jewes? For he knew that the high priests had delivered him of envy. But the high priests had moved the people that he should rather deliver Barabas unto them.
Pilate answered again, and said unto them: What will ye then that I do with him, whom ye call the king of the jewes? And they cried again: crucify him. Pilate said unto them: What evil hath he done? And they cried the more fervently: Crucify him. Pilate willing to content the people, lowsed them Barabas, And delivered Iesus scourged for to be crucified.
And the soldiers led him away into the common hall, and called together the whole multitude, and they clothed him with purple, and they plaited a crown of thorns and crowned him with all, And began to salute him: Hail king of the jewes. And they smote him on the head with a reed, and spat upon him, and kneeled down and worshipped him.
And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out, to crucify him. And they compelled one that passed by, called Simon of Cyrene (which came out of the field, and was father of Alexander and Rufus) to bear his cross. And they brought him to a place named Golgotha (which is by interpretation, the place of dead men's skulls) and they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh, but he received it not.
And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots for them, what every man should have. And it was about the third hour, and they crucified him. And the title of the cause of his death was written: The king of the jewes. And they crucified with him two thieves: the one on his right hand, and the other on his left hand. And the scripture was fulfilled, which sayeth: and he was counted among the wicked.
And they that went by, railed on him: wagging their heads, and saying: A wretch, that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days. Save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also mocked him the high priests among themselves with the scribes, and said: He saved other men, himself he cannot save. Let Christ the king of Israel now descend from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him, checked him also.
And when the sixth hour was come, darkness arose over all the earth, until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Iesus cried with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabaththani, which is if it be interpreted: my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by when they heard that said: behold he calleth for Helias. And one ran, and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave it him to drink, saying: let him alone, let us see whether Helias will come and take him down.
But Iesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple did rent in two parts, from the top to the bottom. And when the undercaptain which stood before him saw that he so cried and gave up the ghost, and he said: truly this man was the son of God. There were also women a good way off beholding him: among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Iames the little and of Ioses, and Mary Salome: which also when he was in Galile, followed him and ministered unto him, and many other women which came up with him to Hierusalem.
And now when night was come (because it was the even that goeth before the saboth) Ioseph of Arimathia a noble senator (which also looked for the kingdom of God) came And went in boldly unto Pilate, and begged the body of Iesu. Pilate marvelled that he was already dead, and called unto him the under captain, and asked of him, whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew the truth of the under captain, he gave the body to Ioseph. And he bought a linen cloth, and took him down and wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb, that was hewn out of the rock. And rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary Iose beheld where he was laid.
The .xvj. Chapter.
And when the saboth day was past, Mary Magdalen, and Mary Iacobi, and Salome, bought ointments, that they might come and anoint him. And early in the morning the next day after the saboth day, they came unto the sepulchre, when the sun was risen. And they said one to another: who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they beheld it, they saw how the stone was rolled away. For it was a very great one, and they went into the sepulchre, and saw a young man, sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were abashed.
He said unto them, be not afraid, ye seek Iesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen, he is not here. Behold the place, where they put him. But go your way, and tell his disciples, and namely Peter, that he is gone before you into Galile, there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly and fled from the sepulchre. For they trembled and were amazed. Neither said they anything to any man, for they were afraid.
When Iesus was risen the morrow after the saboth day, he appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he cast seven devils. And she went, and told them that were with him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard, that he was alive, and had appeared to her: they believed it not. After that, he appeared unto two of them in a strange figure, as he walked, and went into the country. And they went, and told it to the remnant. And they believed them neither.
After that he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat: and cast in their teeth their unbelief, and hardness of heart: because they believed not them which had seen him after his resurrection. And he said unto them: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to all creatures: Whosoever believeth, and is baptised, shall be safe: And whosoever that believeth not, shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils, and shall speak with new tongues, and shall kill serpents. And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then when the lord had spoken unto them, he was received into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere. And the lord wrought with them, And confirmed their preaching with miracles that followed.
The end of the gospell off S. Marke.