Study Desk

He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer.

Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders shouted, "If you release this man, you are no ‘friend of Caesar.' Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar."

"Away with him," they yelled. "Away with him! Crucify him!" "What? Crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the leading priests shouted back.

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn't break his legs.

They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in.

She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him.

"Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. "Peace be with you," he said.

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come, too," they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't see who he was.

"I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don't want to go."

So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that isn't what Jesus said at all. He only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"

John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!"

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, "They're just drunk, that's all!"