The Resurrection

281 Now after the Sabbath , as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week , Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave . 2 And behold , a severe earthquake had occurred , for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning , and his clothing as white as snow . 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men . 5 The angel said to the women , " Do not be afraid ; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified . 6 "He is not here , for He has risen , just as He said . Come , see the place where He was lying . 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead ; and behold , He is going ahead of you into Galilee , there you will see Him; behold , I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples . 9 And behold , Jesus met them and greeted e them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, " Do not be afraid ; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee , and there they will see Me."

The Report of the Guard

11 Now while they were on their way , some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened . 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted e together , they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers , 13 and said , "You are to say , 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep .' 14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears , we will win him over and keep you out of trouble ." 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed ; and this story was widely spread among the Jews , and is to this day .

Jesus Commissions the Eleven

16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee , to the mountain which Jesus had designated . 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful . 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying , " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth . 19 " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations , baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit , 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo , I am with you always e , even to the end of the age ."

The Preaching of John the Baptist

31 Now in those days John the Baptist came , preaching in the wilderness of Judea , saying , 2 " Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is at hand ." 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said , " THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS , ' MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE Lord , MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT !' " 4 Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist ; and his food was locusts and wild honey . 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan ; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River , as they confessed their sins .

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism , he said to them, "You brood of vipers , who warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? 8 " Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance ; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves , ' We have Abraham for our father '; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham . 10 "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees ; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire . 11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance , but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals ; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire . 12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand , and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor ; and He will gather His wheat into the barn , but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire ."

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John , to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying , "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" 15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time ; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness ." Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized , Jesus came up immediately from the water ; and behold , the heavens were opened , and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold , a voice out of the heavens said , " This is My beloved Son , in whom I am well-pleased ."