Study Desk

Now at the Passover Feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested.

And the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to do as he had been accustomed to do for them.

Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.

Intent on satisfying the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them to decide what each man would take.

And when some of the bystanders heard Him, they began saying, "Look! He is calling for Elijah!"

Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?"

And looking up, they noticed that the stone had been rolled away; for it was extremely large.

But he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; see, here is the place where they laid Him.

And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Later He appeared to the eleven disciples themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen from the dead.

it seemed fitting to me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in an orderly sequence, most excellent Theophilus;

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother's womb.

"And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF FATHERS BACK TO THEIR CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Zechariah said to the angel, "How will I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her years."

And meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.