Read the Book: July - September

Poured Out: Songs of Prayer and Praise

The Gospel of Mark (Part Six)

The Gospel of Mark (Part Seven)

New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs in 6 Months - Thomas Road Baptist Church

The Other Five Prayer Journey

Fully Devoted

Embracing the Fear of the Lord

Advent Devotional: The Gospel of Luke

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1SA">
      <div class="chapter ch29" data-usfm="1SA.29">
         <div class="label">29</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1SA.29.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1SA.29.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.29.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The commanders of the Philistines asked, &#8220;What about these Hebrews?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.29.3"><span class="content">Achish replied, &#8220;Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.29.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.29.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, &#8220;Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master&#8217;s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.29.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Isn&#8217;t this the David they sang about in their dances:</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.29.5"><span class="content">&#8220;&#8198;&#8216;Saul has slain his thousands,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.29.5"><span class="content">and David his tens of thousands&#8217;?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.29.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.29.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">So Achish called David and said to him, &#8220;As surely as the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don&#8217;t approve of you. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.29.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.29.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.29.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">&#8220;But what have I done?&#8221; asked David. &#8220;What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can&#8217;t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.29.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1SA.29.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">Achish answered, &#8220;I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, &#8216;He must not go up with us into battle.&#8217; </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.29.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Now get up early, along with your master&#8217;s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.29.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1SA.29.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel.</span></span></div>
      </div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1SA">
      <div class="chapter ch30" data-usfm="1SA.30">
         <div class="label">30</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">David Destroys the Amalekites</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1SA.30.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1SA.30.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1SA.30.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.30.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.30.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.30.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">David&#8217;s two wives had been captured&#8212;Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.30.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> his God.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.30.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.30.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, &#8220;Bring me the ephod.&#8221; Abiathar brought it to him, </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.30.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">and David inquired of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">, &#8220;Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.30.8"><span class="content">&#8220;Pursue them,&#8221; he answered. &#8220;You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.30.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1SA.30.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.30.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.30.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1SA.30.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David. They gave him water to drink and food to eat&#8212; </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1SA.30.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">part of a cake of pressed figs and two cakes of raisins. He ate and was revived, for he had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1SA.30.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1SA.30.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">David asked him, &#8220;Who do you belong to? Where do you come from?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1SA.30.13"><span class="content">He said, &#8220;I am an Egyptian, the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me when I became ill three days ago. </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="1SA.30.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">We raided the Negev of the Kerethites, some territory belonging to Judah and the Negev of Caleb. And we burned Ziklag.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="1SA.30.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1SA.30.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">David asked him, &#8220;Can you lead me down to this raiding party?&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1SA.30.15"><span class="content">He answered, &#8220;Swear to me before God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="1SA.30.15"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="1SA.30.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">He led David down, and there they were, scattered over the countryside, eating, drinking and reveling because of the great amount of plunder they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from Judah. </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="1SA.30.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="1SA.30.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="1SA.30.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="1SA.30.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, &#8220;This is David&#8217;s plunder.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="1SA.30.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="1SA.30.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1SA.30.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">But all the evil men and troublemakers among David&#8217;s followers said, &#8220;Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="1SA.30.22"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="1SA.30.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">David replied, &#8220;No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content"> has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="1SA.30.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1SA.30.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="1SA.30.25"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1SA.30.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, &#8220;Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the </span><span class="nd"><span class="content">Lord</span></span><span class="content">&#8217;s enemies.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="1SA.30.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="1SA.30.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">David sent it to those who were in Bethel, Ramoth Negev and Jattir; </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="1SA.30.28"><span class="label">28</span><span class="content">to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="1SA.30.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">and Rakal; to those in the towns of the Jerahmeelites and the Kenites; </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="1SA.30.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">to those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athak </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="1SA.30.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">and Hebron; and to those in all the other places where he and his men had roamed.</span></span></div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bk1SA">
      <div class="chapter ch31" data-usfm="1SA.31">
         <div class="label">31</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Saul Takes His Life</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="1SA.31.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="1SA.31.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.31.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="1SA.31.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.31.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">Saul said to his armor-bearer, &#8220;Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="1SA.31.4"><span class="content">But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="1SA.31.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.31.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="1SA.31.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.31.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="1SA.31.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="1SA.31.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="1SA.31.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.31.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="1SA.31.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="1SA.31.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">When the people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="1SA.31.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="1SA.31.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.</span></span></div>
      </div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
    <div class="book bkPSA">
        <div class="chapter ch57" data-usfm="PSA.57">
            <div class="label">57</div><div class="cl"><span class="heading">Psalm 57</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft"><span class="heading">In Hebrew texts 57:1-11 is numbered 57:2-12.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="d"><span class="content">For the director of music. To the tune of &#8220;Do Not Destroy.&#8221; Of David. A </span><span class="tl"><span class="content">miktam.</span></span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="ft">Title: Probably a literary or musical term</span></span></span><span class="content"> When he had fled from Saul into the cave.</span></div><div class="q1"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.57.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.57.1"><span class="content">for in you I take refuge.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.57.1"><span class="content">I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.57.1"><span class="content">until the disaster has passed.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="PSA.57.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PSA.57.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">I cry out to God Most High,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PSA.57.2"><span class="content">to God, who vindicates me.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="PSA.57.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.57.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">He sends from heaven and saves me,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.57.3"><span class="content">rebuking those who hotly pursue me&#8212;</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">57:3 </span><span class="ft">The Hebrew has </span><span class="fqa">Selah </span><span class="ft">(a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 6.</span></span></span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.57.3"><span class="content">God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="PSA.57.3"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.57.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">I am in the midst of lions;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.57.4"><span class="content">I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.57.4"><span class="content">men whose teeth are spears and arrows,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.57.4"><span class="content">whose tongues are sharp swords.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="PSA.57.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.57.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.57.5"><span class="content">let your glory be over all the earth.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="PSA.57.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PSA.57.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">They spread a net for my feet&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PSA.57.6"><span class="content">I was bowed down in distress.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PSA.57.6"><span class="content">They dug a pit in my path&#8212;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PSA.57.6"><span class="content">but they have fallen into it themselves.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="PSA.57.6"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PSA.57.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">My heart, O God, is steadfast,</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PSA.57.7"><span class="content">my heart is steadfast;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PSA.57.7"><span class="content">I will sing and make music.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="PSA.57.7"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PSA.57.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">Awake, my soul!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PSA.57.8"><span class="content">Awake, harp and lyre!</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PSA.57.8"><span class="content">I will awaken the dawn.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="PSA.57.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PSA.57.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PSA.57.9"><span class="content">I will sing of you among the peoples.</span></span></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="PSA.57.9"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PSA.57.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PSA.57.10"><span class="content">your faithfulness reaches to the skies.</span></span></div><div class="b"></div><div class="q1"><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="PSA.57.10"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PSA.57.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;</span></span></div><div class="q2"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="PSA.57.11"><span class="content">let your glory be over all the earth.</span></span></div>
        </div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
   <div class="book bkMRK">
      <div class="chapter ch15" data-usfm="MRK.15">
         <div class="label">15</div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">Jesus Before Pilate</span></div><div class="p"><span class="content">  </span><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="MRK.15.1"><span class="label">1</span><span class="content">Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v1" data-usfm="MRK.15.1"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="MRK.15.2"><span class="label">2</span><span class="content">&#8220;Are you the king of the Jews?&#8221; asked Pilate.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="MRK.15.2"><span class="content">  </span><span class="wj"><span class="content">&#8220;You have said so,&#8221;</span></span><span class="content"> Jesus replied.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v2" data-usfm="MRK.15.2"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v3" data-usfm="MRK.15.3"><span class="label">3</span><span class="content">The chief priests accused him of many things. </span></span><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="MRK.15.4"><span class="label">4</span><span class="content">So again Pilate asked him, &#8220;Aren&#8217;t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v4" data-usfm="MRK.15.4"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="MRK.15.5"><span class="label">5</span><span class="content">But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v5" data-usfm="MRK.15.5"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v6" data-usfm="MRK.15.6"><span class="label">6</span><span class="content">Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. </span></span><span class="verse v7" data-usfm="MRK.15.7"><span class="label">7</span><span class="content">A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. </span></span><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="MRK.15.8"><span class="label">8</span><span class="content">The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v8" data-usfm="MRK.15.8"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v9" data-usfm="MRK.15.9"><span class="label">9</span><span class="content">&#8220;Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?&#8221; asked Pilate, </span></span><span class="verse v10" data-usfm="MRK.15.10"><span class="label">10</span><span class="content">knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. </span></span><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="MRK.15.11"><span class="label">11</span><span class="content">But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v11" data-usfm="MRK.15.11"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="MRK.15.12"><span class="label">12</span><span class="content">&#8220;What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?&#8221; Pilate asked them.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v12" data-usfm="MRK.15.12"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="MRK.15.13"><span class="label">13</span><span class="content">&#8220;Crucify him!&#8221; they shouted.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v13" data-usfm="MRK.15.13"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="MRK.15.14"><span class="label">14</span><span class="content">&#8220;Why? What crime has he committed?&#8221; asked Pilate.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="MRK.15.14"><span class="content">But they shouted all the louder, &#8220;Crucify him!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v14" data-usfm="MRK.15.14"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="MRK.15.15"><span class="label">15</span><span class="content">Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">The Soldiers Mock Jesus</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v15" data-usfm="MRK.15.15"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v16" data-usfm="MRK.15.16"><span class="label">16</span><span class="content">The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. </span></span><span class="verse v17" data-usfm="MRK.15.17"><span class="label">17</span><span class="content">They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. </span></span><span class="verse v18" data-usfm="MRK.15.18"><span class="label">18</span><span class="content">And they began to call out to him, &#8220;Hail, king of the Jews!&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v19" data-usfm="MRK.15.19"><span class="label">19</span><span class="content">Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. </span></span><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="MRK.15.20"><span class="label">20</span><span class="content">And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">The Crucifixion of Jesus</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v20" data-usfm="MRK.15.20"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v21" data-usfm="MRK.15.21"><span class="label">21</span><span class="content">A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. </span></span><span class="verse v22" data-usfm="MRK.15.22"><span class="label">22</span><span class="content">They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means &#8220;the place of the skull&#8221;). </span></span><span class="verse v23" data-usfm="MRK.15.23"><span class="label">23</span><span class="content">Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. </span></span><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="MRK.15.24"><span class="label">24</span><span class="content">And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v24" data-usfm="MRK.15.24"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v25" data-usfm="MRK.15.25"><span class="label">25</span><span class="content">It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. </span></span><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="MRK.15.26"><span class="label">26</span><span class="content">The written notice of the charge against him read: </span><span class="sc"><span class="content">the king of the jews</span></span><span class="content">.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v26" data-usfm="MRK.15.26"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v27" data-usfm="MRK.15.27"><span class="label">27</span><span class="content">They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. </span></span><span class="verse v28" data-usfm="MRK.15.28"><span class="label">[28]</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">15:28 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts include here words similar to Luke 22:37.</span></span></span><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v29" data-usfm="MRK.15.29"><span class="label">29</span><span class="content">Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, &#8220;So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, </span></span><span class="verse v30" data-usfm="MRK.15.30"><span class="label">30</span><span class="content">come down from the cross and save yourself!&#8221; </span></span><span class="verse v31" data-usfm="MRK.15.31"><span class="label">31</span><span class="content">In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. &#8220;He saved others,&#8221; they said, &#8220;but he can&#8217;t save himself! </span></span><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="MRK.15.32"><span class="label">32</span><span class="content">Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.&#8221; Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">The Death of Jesus</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v32" data-usfm="MRK.15.32"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v33" data-usfm="MRK.15.33"><span class="label">33</span><span class="content">At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. </span></span><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="MRK.15.34"><span class="label">34</span><span class="content">And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, </span><span class="tl"><span class="wj"><span class="content">&#8220;Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?&#8221;</span></span></span><span class="content"> (which means </span><span class="wj"><span class="content">&#8220;My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?&#8221;</span></span><span class="content">).</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">15:34 </span><span class="ft">Psalm 22:1</span></span></span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v34" data-usfm="MRK.15.34"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="MRK.15.35"><span class="label">35</span><span class="content">When some of those standing near heard this, they said, &#8220;Listen, he&#8217;s calling Elijah.&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v35" data-usfm="MRK.15.35"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="MRK.15.36"><span class="label">36</span><span class="content">Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. &#8220;Now leave him alone. Let&#8217;s see if Elijah comes to take him down,&#8221; he said.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v36" data-usfm="MRK.15.36"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="MRK.15.37"><span class="label">37</span><span class="content">With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v37" data-usfm="MRK.15.37"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v38" data-usfm="MRK.15.38"><span class="label">38</span><span class="content">The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. </span></span><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="MRK.15.39"><span class="label">39</span><span class="content">And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">15:39 </span><span class="ft">Some manuscripts </span><span class="fqa">saw that he died with such a cry</span></span></span><span class="content"> he said, &#8220;Surely this man was the Son of God!&#8221;</span></span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v39" data-usfm="MRK.15.39"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v40" data-usfm="MRK.15.40"><span class="label">40</span><span class="content">Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph,</span><span class="note f"><span class="label">#</span><span class=" body"><span class="fr">15:40 </span><span class="ft">Greek </span><span class="fqa">Joses, </span><span class="ft">a variant of </span><span class="fq">Joseph</span><span class="fqa">; </span><span class="ft">also in verse 47</span></span></span><span class="content"> and Salome. </span></span><span class="verse v41" data-usfm="MRK.15.41"><span class="label">41</span><span class="content">In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.</span></span></div><div class="s1"><span class="heading">The Burial of Jesus</span></div><div class="p"><span class="verse v41" data-usfm="MRK.15.41"><span class="content">  </span></span><span class="verse v42" data-usfm="MRK.15.42"><span class="label">42</span><span class="content">It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, </span></span><span class="verse v43" data-usfm="MRK.15.43"><span class="label">43</span><span class="content">Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus&#8217; body. </span></span><span class="verse v44" data-usfm="MRK.15.44"><span class="label">44</span><span class="content">Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. </span></span><span class="verse v45" data-usfm="MRK.15.45"><span class="label">45</span><span class="content">When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. </span></span><span class="verse v46" data-usfm="MRK.15.46"><span class="label">46</span><span class="content">So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. </span></span><span class="verse v47" data-usfm="MRK.15.47"><span class="label">47</span><span class="content">Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.</span></span></div>
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