the Fourth Week of Advent
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Mace New Testament
Mark 15
1 Early in the morning the chief priests, the rulers, and Scribes, even the whole council, after having deliberated together, caus'd Jesus to be bound, then led him away and deliver'd him to Pilate. 2 Pilate therefore ask'd him, art thou the king of the Jews? and he made answer, yes. 3 the chief priests continuing to accuse him with much clamour, 4 Pilate spake to him again, and said, will you make no defence for your self? don't you hear what they urge against you? 5 but Jesus still made no answer; so that Pilate was much amaz'd. 6 Now during the feast, it was customary to release a prisoner, to be nominated by the people. 7 Barabbas lay then confin'd with other seditious, who had committed murder in an insurrection. 8 the populace therefore fell a roaring, and desired him to do as was always practis'd. 9 but Pilate answered them, saying, do you chuse to have Jesus releas'd, the king of the Jews? 10 for he perceived plainly, it was out of malice, that the chief priests had prosecuted him. 11 but the chief priests incited the people to demand, that he would rather release Barabbas. 12 Pilate still urg'd them again, and said, what then would you have me do with him, that you stile king of the Jews? 13 and they cried out again, crucify him. 14 Pilate replied, why, what harm has he done? but they cried out more furiously, crucify him.
15 Pilate therefore willing to humour the people, released to them Barabbas, and having caused Jesus to be scourg'd, he deliver'd him to be crucified. 16 Then the soldiers took Jesus away into the hall, call'd Pretorium; and summon'd their whole company together. 17 and they put on him a purple cloth, and set a wreath of thorns upon his head for a crown; 18 then they began to salute him, saying, "Hail king of the Jews!" 19 and they struck him on the head with a cane, spit upon him, and bowing their knees, made a show of reverence. 20 Their mockery ended, they stript him of his purple, and put his own cloaths on him; then led him away to be crucified. 21 one Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he pass'd by in his return out of the country, was compell'd to carry the cross.
22 so they brought him to a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of a skull. 23 there they offered him myrrhed wine to drink, but he did not take it. 24 after they had crucified him, they shared his garments, by casting lots for them: to determine what each of them should take. 25 now it was the third hour of the day, when they crucified him, 26 and the inscription of the charge against him was thus express'd, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27 at the same time they crucified two robbers, one on his right hand, the other on his left. 28 so that this passage of scripture was fulfill'd, "and he was numbred with the transgressors." 29 besides the people that pass'd by, shook their heads, and impiously said: ah, you that can destroy the temple, and rebuild it in three days, 30 save your self, and come down from the cross. 31 in like manner the chief priests and the Scribes in derision said to one another: he pretended to save others, himself he cannot save. 32 let the Messiah, the king of Israel, descend now from the cross: let us see that, and we will believe on him. and they that were crucified with him, threw their reproaches at him.
33 Now from the sixth hour the whole land was cover'd with darkness until the ninth hour. 34 and at the ninth hour Jesus cry'd out with a loud voice, saying, ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTANI, that is, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? 35 some there present upon hearing that, said: observe, he calls upon Elias. 36 then one of the soldiers ran and dipp'd a spunge in vinegar, which he fastned to a stick, and offered him to drink. now let us, said they, see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 then Jesus cry'd with a loud voice, and expired. 38 Immediately the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. 39 and the Centurion who stood over-against him, observing that he expired with so great a cry, said, certainly this man was the son of God. 40 there were likewise several women, who were spectators at a distance: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the minor, and of Joses and Salome: 41 who had attended Jesus, and supply'd him with necessaries when he was in Galilee: besides many other women, who came up with him to Jerusalem.
42 Now, as soon as the evening was come; because it was then the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 one Joseph of Arimathea, an honourable senator, who was himself in expectation of the kingdom of God, ventur'd to come and wait upon Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate surpriz'd that he should be dead so soon, sent for the Centurion, and ask'd him, if he had been dead any time. 45 and being satisfied of it, he granted the body to Joseph; 46 who taking down the body, wrapped it in a fine linnen cloth, which he had bought, and laid it in a sepulchre, which was hewn out of a rock, and roll'd a stone for a door to the sepulchre: and Mary Magdalene, 47 and Mary the mother of Joses, took notice where he was laid.