The first New Testament printed in English

by Unknown

And when they came nigh to Hierusalem, unto Bethphage, and Bethani, besides mount Olivete, he sent forth ij. of his disciples, and said unto them: Go your ways into the town that is over against you. And as soon as ye be entered into it ye shall find a colt bound, whereon never man sat: loose him and bring him hither. And if any man say unto you: why do ye so? say that the lord hath need of him: and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found a colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met, and they loosed him. And divers of them that stood there, said unto them: what do ye loosing the colt? And they said unto them even as Iesus had commanded them. And they let them go. And they brought the colt to Iesus, and cast their garments on him, and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way. Other cut down branches of the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before and they that followed, cried, saying: Hosianna: blessed be he that cometh in the name of the lord. Blessed be the kingdom that cometh in the name of him that is lord of our father David. Hosianna in the highest.

And the lord entered into Hierusalem, and into the temple. And when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered, and he spied a fig tree afar off, having leaves, and went to see whether he might find anything thereon: but when he came thereto, he found nothing but leaves. For the time of figs was not yet. And Iesus answered and said to it: never man eat fruit of thee hereafter while the world standeth. And his disciples heard it.

And they came to Hierusalem, and Iesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them which sold and bought in the temple. And overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the stools of them that sold doves: and would not suffer that any man carried a vessel thorow the temple. And he taught saying unto them, is it not written, how that mine house shall be called the house of prayer unto all nations? But ye have made it a den of thieves.

And the scribes and high priests heard it and sought how to destroy him. For they feared him because all the people marvelled at his doctrine. And when even was come, he went out of the city. And in the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up by the roots. And Peter remembered, and said unto him: master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst, is withered away. And Iesus answered, and said unto them: Have confidence in God. Verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain: take away thyself, and cast thyself into the sea, and shall not waver in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he sayeth shall come to pass, whatsoever he sayeth shall be done to him. Therefore I say unto you, whatsoever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye shall have it and it shall be done unto you. And when ye stand and pray, forgive if ye have anything against any man: that your father also which is in heaven, may forgive you your trespasses. And they came again to Hierusalem, and as he walked in the temple, there came to him the high priests, and the scribes, and the seniors, and said unto him: by what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority, to do these things? Iesus answered, and said unto them: I will also ask of you a certain thing, and answer ye me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Whether was the baptism of Ihon from heaven, or of men? Answer me. And they thought in themselves, saying: if we shall say, from heaven, he will say: why then did ye not believe him? but if we shall say, of men, then fear we the people. For all men counted Ihon, that he was a very prophet. And they answered, and said unto Iesu: we cannot tell. And Iesus answered, and said unto them: neither will I tell you, by what authority I do these things.

The .xij. Chapter.

And he began to speak unto them in similitudes. A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and ordained a winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to hire unto husbandmen, and went into a strange country. And when the time was come he sent to the tenants a servant that he might receive of the tenants of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him and beat him and sent him again empty. And moreover he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones and brake his head, and sent him again all too reviled. And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many other, beating some, and killing some.

Yet had he one son whom he loved tenderly, him also sent he at the last unto them, saying: they will fear my son. But the tenants said within themselves: This is the heir, come let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall then the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to other. Have ye not read this scripture? the stone which the builders did refuse, is made the chief stone in the corner: This was done of the lord, and is marvellous in our eyes. And they went about to take him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spake that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.

And they sent unto him certain of the pharisees with Herode's servants, to take him in his words. And as soon as they were come, they said unto him: master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: For thou considerest not the degree of men, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or not? ought we to give, or ought we not to give? He knew their dissimulation, and said unto them: Why tempt ye me? Bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought him one. And he said unto them: Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar's. And Iesus answered, and said unto them: Then give to Cesar that which belongeth to Cesar: and give God that which pertaineth to God. And they marvelled at him.

And the Saduces came unto him, which say, there is no resurrection. And they asked him saying: Master, Moses wrote unto us, if any man's brother die, and leave his wife, behind him, and leave no children: that then his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren and the first took a wife, and when he died left no seed behind him. And the second took her, and died: neither left he any seed, and the third likewise. And seven had her, and left no seed behind them. Last of all the wife died also. In the resurrection then, when they shall rise again: whose wife shall she be of them? For seven had her to wife. Iesus answered, and said unto them: Are ye not therefore deceived because ye know not the scriptures? Neither the power of God? For when they shall rise again from death, they neither marry, nor are married: but are as the angels which are in heaven. As touching the dead, that they shall rise again: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Iacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living, ye are therefore greatly deceived.

And there came one of the scribes, and when he had heard them disputing together, and perceived that he had answered them well, he asked him: Which is the first of all the commandments? Iesus answered him: the first of all the commandments is. Hear Israhel, our lord God, is one lord. And thou shalt love thy lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. This is the first commandment. And the second is like unto this. Thou shalt love thy neighbor, as thy self. There is none other commandment greater than these.