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days, and have nothing to eat; and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

33. But his disciples said to him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness as to satisfy so great a multitude? 34. Then Jesus saith to them, How many loaves have ye? They replied, Seven, and a few small fishes.

35. Then he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37. And they all ate and were filled. And they took up of the fragments left, seven baskets full, (much more than at first.) 38. And they that ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

39. Then he sent away the multitude, and went into a ship, and came into the borders of Magdala.

CHAP. XVI.

THE PHARISEES REQUIRE A SIGN.

THE Pharisees, with the Sadducees also, came, and tempting him, desired him to shew them a sign in the sky.

2. He replied to them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red; 3. And in the morning, It will be foul weather, to-day, for the sky is red and lowering. O hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but cannot ye discern the signs of the times (of your destruction)? 4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it, but that of the prophet Jonas. Then he left them, and departed.

5. Now his disciples being come to the other side, had forgotten to take bread.

6. Then Jesus said to them, Take care to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7. Now they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8. Which Jesus perceiving, he said to them, Ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have got no bread.

9. Do ye not consider nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10. Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11. How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12. Then they understood that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13. When Jesus came into the borders of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? Heb. ii. 16. 14. Then they said, Some say thou art John the Baptist; some Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15. He saith to them, But whom say ye that I am?

16. Then Simon Peter replied, Thou art the Christ, the Son (the Mediator) of the living God. 17. Then Jesus said to him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18. And I also tell thee, thou art Peter; and upon this rock (myself, whom thou hast confessed to be Christ) I will build my church, and the power and policy of hell shall not prevail against it. 19. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven (the power of admitting and excommunicating), and whatever thou shalt bind (justly) on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever thou shalt (rightly) loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20. Then he charged his disciples to tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ (till he had finished his work.)

21. From thenceforth Jesus began to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders, and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day.

22. Then Peter began to rebuke him, saying, Far be it from thee, Lord: this shall not befal thee. 23. But he turned, and said to Peter, G. behind me, thou adversary, thou art an offence to me. for thou savourest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men. 24. Then Jesus said to his disciples, if any will come after me, let him deny himself (the ease, pleasures, riches and honours of this world) and take up his cross (willingly suffer all evils), and follow me. 25. For whoever would save his life shall lose (the enjoyment of) it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find (true happiness). 26. For what is one profited, tho' he gain the whole world, if he forfeit his own life? or what would a man give in exchange for his life?

27. For the Son of man shall come in his Father's glory, with his angels, to judgment; and then he will render to every man according to his works.

28. Verily, I tell you, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death till they have seen the Son of man coming to establish his kingdom, (by abolishing the Jewish state, John xxi. 22).

CHAP. XVII.

CHRIST'S TRANSFIGURATION.

Now after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, up an high mountain apart, 2. And was transfigured before them; then his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became white as the light.

3. Now behold, Moses and Elias appeared to them, talking with him.

4.7 Then Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here; if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and lo, a voice out of the cloud, said, This is my beloved Son (the Mediator) in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.

6. Then the disciples hearing it, fell on their faces, being much afraid. 7. Then Jesus came and touched them, saying, Arise, be not afraid. 8. And looking up, they saw no man, but Jesus only.

9. And coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man, Heb. ii. 16. be risen from the dead.

10. Now his disciples asked him, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11. But Jesus answered them, Elias truly must first come, to fulfil all things. 12. But I tell you, That Elias is already come, and they knew him not, but did to him whatever they would. Likewise shall the Son of man also suffer of them.

13. Then the disciples understood that he spake to them of John the Baptist.

14. Now being come to the multitude, a certain man came to him, and kneeled, saying, 15. Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and grievously afflicted, for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16. And I brought him to thy disciples, but they could not cure him.

17. Then Jesus said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

18. Then Jesus rebuked the devil; and he left him. So the child was cured from that very hour.

19. Then the disciples came to Jesus apart, saying, Why could not we cast him out? 20. He replied to them, Because of your unbelief; for verily

I tell you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, be removed hence to yonder place, (or difficulties seemingly as great), and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21. Howbeit, prayer with fasting is necessary for your casting out this kind.

22. Now whilst they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23. And they shall kill him, but the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

24. Now being come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, saying, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25. He saith, Yes. And being in the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26. Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus replied to him, Then are the children free.

27. But lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast in a hook, and take up the fish that cometh first; and opening its mouth, thou shalt find a shekel; that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

CHAP. XVIII.

CHRIST TEACHES HUMILITY.

AT that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2. Then Jesus (meaning the lowliest) called a little child, and set it in the midst of them, 3. Saying, Verily I tell you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5. And whoever receives such a little

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