The New Testament: A Translation

by David Bentley Hart

16And I have other sheep, which are not from this fold; it is necessary for me to lead those also, and they will hearken to my voice, and there will come to be one flock, one shepherd.

33The Judaeans answered him, “We stone you not on account of a good work, but rather on account of blasphemy, and because you who are a man make yourself out to be a god.” 34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law ‘I said, “You are gods”’? 35If he called gods those to whom God’s Logosy came, and the scripture cannot be dissolved, 36how is it that, because I have said I am the Son of God, you say, ‘You blaspheme’ to one whom the Father sanctified and sent out into the cosmos? 37If I do not do the works of my Father, do not have faith in me; 38but if I do, even if you do not have faith in me, have faith in the works, so that you may know and continue to knowz that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39So they again sought to seize him; and he slipped out of their hands.

“Father, I give you thanks that you have heard me; 42and I knew that you always hear me; but I have spoken on account of the crowd standing all around, so that they might have faith that you have sent me.”

37But, though he performed so many signs before them, they did not have faith in him, 38So that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has trusted our report, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39For this reason they could not have faith, because again Isaiah said, 40“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that with their eyes they might not see and with the heart they might not understand and turn, and I will heal them.”

42But, nevertheless, even many of the rulers had faith, but because of the Pharisees did not confess it for fear they should be expelled from the synagogue; 43for they loved the glory of men better than the glory of God. 44But Jesus spoke aloud and said, “Whoever has faith in me has faith not in me but in him who has sent me, 45and whoever sees me sees him who has sent me. 46I have come as a light into the cosmos, so that everyone who has faith in me might not remain in darkness. 47And if anyone hears my words and does not keep them I do not judge him; for I came not that I might judge the cosmos, but that I might save the cosmos. 48Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has one who judges him: the word that I uttered—that will judge him on the last day. 49For I did not speak from myself, but rather the Father who has sent me, he has commanded what I should say and what I should speak. 50And I know that his command is life in the Age. Thus, whatever things I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak.”

“Amen, amen, I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, confused as to whom he means. 23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table close beside Jesus. 24So Simon Peter nods his head at this one and says to him, “Ask who it is that he is talking about.” 25So that one, leaning back on Jesus’s chest, says to him, “Lord, who is it?”

34A new commandment I give you: that you love one another. As I have loved you, so too must you love one another. 35By this all will know you are disciples to me, if you have love for one another.”

12This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this: that he should lay down his soul for his friends.

26When the advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of the truth who comes forth from the Father, he will testify concerning me; 27and you too must testify, for you are with me from the beginning.

For if I do not go away the advocate surely is not coming to you; but if I go I shall send him to you.

31Jesus answered them, “Now you have faith? 32See: An hour is coming—has indeed come—when you are scattered, each one to his own home, and you leave me alone; and I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in me. In the cosmos you have suffering; but take heart—I have conquered the cosmos.”

24Father, I wish that they too, those you have given to me, might be with me where I am, that they might see my glory, which you have given me, because you loved me before the foundation of the cosmos.

4And the two of them were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead more quickly than Peter and came to the tomb first, 5and bending down he sees the winding sheets lying there, but he did not enter.

14Saying these things, she turned back around and sees Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus says to her, “Madam, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” She, thinking that he is the gardener, says to him, “My lord, if you have carried him off, tell me where you put him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus says to her, “Mary.” Turning, she says to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni” (which means “Teacher”).

“Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22And, saying this, he breathed upon them and says to them, “Receive a Holy Spirit. 23For those whose sins you let go, they are let go; those you hold fast, they have been held fast.”

The doors being sealed, Jesus comes and stood in their midst and said, “Peace to you.” 27Then he says to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and look at my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and cease to be faithless, but be faithful instead.” 28Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God.”

29Jesus says to him, “You have faith because you have seen me? How blissful those who do not see and who have faith.”

30Of course, Jesus performed many other signs as well before the disciples, which have not been recorded in this book; 31but these ones have been recorded so that you might have faith that Jesus is the Anointed, the Son of Go...

14This was now the third time that Jesus was manifested to his disciples as having been raised from the dead.

25And there are many other things that Jesus also did, which, were they written down one by one, I think the cosmos itself would not contain the books that would be written. [Amen.]

21So it is necessary that, out of those men who accompanied us during the whole time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—22beginning with John’s baptizing until the day he was taken up from among us—one of these should become a witness to his resurrection.”

“You, Lord, knowing the hearts of all, show us which one of these two you have chosen 25to take a place in this ministry and apostolate, which Judas deserted for a place of his own.” 26And they cast lots over them, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was reckoned together with the eleven apostles.

1And, when the day arrived that completed the fifty after Passover, they were all gathered together in one place; 2and suddenly there came a noise like a turbulent wind borne out of the sky, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, 3and there appeared before them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest, one each upon each one of them, 4and they were all filled with a Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them to utter.

“What may we do, men, brothers?” 38And Peter said to them, “Change your hearts, and let each of you be baptized upon the name of Jesus the Anointed, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and to your children and to those far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

41So those who accepted his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added, 42and they devoted themselves steadfastly to the apostles’ teachings and communal life, in the breaking of bread and in prayers. 43And reverence came to every soul; and through the apostles came many wonders and signs.

44And all those who had faith were at the same place and owned all things communally, 45and they sold their properties and possessions, and distributed to everyone, according as anyone had need. 46And from day to day they steadfastly remained in the Temple in concord of spirit and, breaking bread in one house after another, they shared their food in gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And day by day the Lord added those who were being saved to their company.

14but you disowned the holy and upright one, and asked for a man who was a murderer to be released to you, 15and you killed the leader on the Way of Life,a whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

“Judge for yourselves whether it is upright before God to listen to you rather than to God; 20for we are unable not to speak of the things we have seen and heard.”

32And both the heart and the soul of the multitude of those who had come to have faith were one, and no one said that any of the possessions belonging to him was his own, but everything was owned among them communally.

34For neither was anyone among them in need; for as many as were proprietors of lands or households were selling them and bringing the profits of the things sold, 35and laying them at the feet of the apostles, and there was a redistribution, to each according as anyone had need.

1But a certain man by the name of Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and he kept some of the proceeds for himself (his wife also being aware of this), and brought along a certain portion of it and placed it at the feet of the apostles.

“Ananias, why did the Accuser so fill your heart that you lie to the Spirit, the Holy One, and keep some of the proceeds from the land for yourself? 4So long as it remained unsold, did it not belong to you? And once sold was it not in your power? Why was such a deed put into your heart? You did not lie to men, but to God.” 5And, on hearing these words, Ananias fell down and yielded up his soul; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6And the young men rose and shrouded him and, carrying him out, buried him.

“Why was it agreed between you to try the Spirit of the Lord? Look: at the door, the feet of those who have buried your husband; they will carry you out also.” 10And at once she fell down at his feet and yielded up her soul; and, coming in, the young men found her dead and, carrying her out, buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the entire assembly and over everyone hearing of these things.

30The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him upon a tree; 31God exalted this man to his right side as a prince and a savior, that he might give Israel a change of heart and forgiveness of sins.

“Men, Israelites, consider among yourselves what you intend to do to these men. 36For before, in days past, Theudas arose claiming to be someone, to whom about four hundred men became attached—who was killed, and all of those who obeyed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After that, in the days of the census, Judas the Galilaean arose and drew people along behind him; and that man perished, and all who obeyed him were scattered. 38And now I say to you, stand back from these men and leave them; for if this movement or this work is from men it will be destroyed; 39but if it is from God you will not be able to destroy them;d you might even turn out to be men who are battling against God.”

7And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem was enormously multiplied, and a large group from among the priests submitted to the faith. 8And Stephen, full of gracef and power, performed great marvels and signs among the people.

52Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who made proclamations in advance regarding the righteous one, of whom you now have become betrayers and murderers: 53you, who received the Law through ordinances of angels,g and did not keep it.”

60And going down on his knees he cried with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And saying this he fell asleep.

14And the apostles in Jerusalem, hearing that Samaria welcomed the word of God, sent Peter and John to them, 15who went down and prayed over them, so that they might receive a Holy Spirit; 16for as yet it had not descended upon any of them, and they had been baptized only in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received a Holy Spirit.

36And, as they were traveling along the road, they came upon some water, and the eunuch says, “Look, water. What prevents me being baptized?” [37And Philip said, “It is possible, if you have faith with all your heart.” And in reply he said, “I have faith that Jesus the Anointed is God’s Son.”] 38And he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39And when they came up out of the water a Spirit of the Lord seized Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, for he went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself in Azotus and, passing through it, he proclaimed the good tidings to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

“In truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons; 35rather, in every people, whoever reveres him and performs works of righteousness is accepted by him; 36the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good tidings of peace through Jesus the Anointed—this one is Lord of everyone . . .

40This one God raised up on the third day, and granted that he become manifest, 41not to all the people, but to us, witnesses previously appointed by God, who ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead; 42and he commanded us to proclaim to the people and solemnly to testify that this is the one marked out by God as judge of the living and the dead.

43To this one all the prophets bear witness: everyone having faith in him is to receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

17So, if God gave them a gift equal to the one he also gave us when we had faith in the Lord Jesus the Anointed, who was I that I might hinder God?” 18And, hearing these things, they quieted down and gave glory to God, saying, “Then God has also given the gentiles a turning of the heart toward life.”

25And he went out to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and on finding him brought him to Antioch. And it happened that they too gathered together with the assembly and gave instruction to a considerable throng of people, and that in Antioch the disciples assumed the title “Christians” for the first time.l

21And on an appointed day Herod, clad in royal raiment and seated on the tribunal, delivered a public address to them; 22and the local inhabitants cried out, “A god’s voice, and not a man’s!” 23And at once, since he had not given God the glory, an angel of the Lord struck him a blow; and, being devoured by worms, he expired.

This man, summoning bar-Nabas and Saul, wished to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the sorcerer (for such is his name when translated)q opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul (who was also “Paul”),r filled with a Holy Spirit, gazed at him and said, 10“O you, full of all deceit and all villainy, son of the Slanderer, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease twisting the Lord’s straight paths crooked? 11And now see the Lord’s hand upon you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.” And at once a mist and a darkness descended on him, and he went about seeking for those who would lead him by the hand.

23From this man’s seed God, according to his promise, brought to Israel a savior, Jesus, 24when John, going before his face, in advance of his advent, had preached a baptism of the heart’s transformation to all the people of Israel.

38Therefore let it be known to you, men, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39and by this man everyone who has faith is vindicated, in everything regarding which you could not be vindicated by the Law of Moses.

28For it was resolved by the Holy Spirit and by us to impose upon you no greater burden than these necessities: 29to abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from whoring, by keeping yourselves from which you will be doing well. Farewell.”