Joseph beggeth S. Matthew. and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now, when the centurion m 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. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.' 57 When the evenn was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and a fine strong hanging, or curtain, which separated between the holy & most boly apartments. The rending of this veil at the death of our Saviour shewed that the ceremonial law, which separated between Jews and Gentiles, was, from that time, to be abolished; and that the benefits of revelation, and of the Christian religion were in future to be equally enjoyed by all nations, m Centurion, a Roman officer commanding 100 men: n Even. Evening. the body of Jesus. begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61 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, o the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 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 the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. CHAP. XXVIII. Christ's resurrection; 9 he ap peareth to the women, 16 and • The day of preparation was our Friday. Christ appeareth to the Chap. xxviii. women and his disciples. to his disciples, 18 and send eth them to baptize. IN the end of the sabbath a as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, b came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre. 2 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. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered, and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where 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, I have told you. 8 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. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto a The Sabbath was our Saturday. b The first day, &c. Our Sunday. them, Be not afraid; go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me. 11 ¶ Now, when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His diseiples came by night and stole him away while we slept. c 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. d 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee e The chief priests and elders, the enemies of Jesus Christ, did not con sider, they were hiring the soldiers to declare what they could not pos-* sibly know; for if the soldiers were asleep, they could not know what took place, nor what became of Jesus; besides, they acknowledged themselves guilty of a capital crime, as it was death for a Roman soldier to be found sleeping on guard or watch. d Until this day. Until the time Matthew wrote his Gospel. e Galilee was a large and fertile territory including the northern parts of Canaan. It was on one of its mountains our Saviour was trans figured; and after his resurrection, he was here seen of five hundred of his followers. ST. MARK probably wrote his Gospel next in order of time to St. Matthew, and not many years after. He was not an Apostle of Jesus Christ, but was taught his religion by St. Peter, who made him an intimate companion, and affectionately called him his son. As St. Matthew wrote his Gospel in the common language of the Jews in that age, for the benefit and encouragement of Jewish Christians in a time of great persecution; so St. Mark wrote his in Greek, the general language of learned and polite nations, and published it at Rome, the metropolis and centre of the civilized world, for the use, confirmation, and comfort of the Christians there, and in that empire, who were suffering the same calamities, their brethren were in Judea. Nothing with eertainty is known of the death of St. Mark. Some say he travelled into Egypt, and while preaching, was seized in the pulpit, and bound, and dragged through the streets, till he died. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. CHAP. I. 1 John Baptist's office. 9 Jesus baptized; 12 he is tempted, 14 preacheth, 16 calleth Peter and others, 32 and cureth many. 2 As it is written in the prophets,b behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying THE beginning of the use other places, denotes the inspired his Son of God; a Gospel literally signifies good news.. But the word Gospel here, as in many tory of our Saviour's birth, life, death, resurrection and exaltation. b In the prophets. Malachi iii. I. Isaiah xl. 3, &c. John baptizes Jesus. Chap. i. Christ tempted of Satan. in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; c and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.d 14 Now after that John was put in prison, e Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, f 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, casting a net into the sea; (for they were fishers :) 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of Christ casteth out devils S. Mark. the sabbath-day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 ¶ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they ques-. tioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 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 the house of Simon & Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon h they tell him of her. Anon, immediately. and healeth the sick. 31 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, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. 38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also ;for therefore came I forth. 39 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, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. |