Peter

2Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. He led them up a high mountain, away from everyone. There his whole look changed in front of them.

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

NotePeter, James, and John were three of Jesus' closest friends. He often took just these three with him.

3His clothes turned bright and shining white, whiter than snow. No one on earth could wash clothes that white.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

NoteThe old King James words say "no fuller on earth" could make them so white. A fuller was a worker whose job was washing and whitening cloth.

4Then Elijah and Moses appeared to them. The two men were talking with Jesus.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

NoteMoses and Elijah lived hundreds of years before Jesus. Moses led God's people out of Egypt and gave them God's rules. Elijah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

5Peter said to Jesus, "Teacher, it is good for us to be here. Let us build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

Note"Master" in the old King James English means teacher, not a boss. The shelters Peter wanted were little huts made of branches.

6Peter did not know what to say. All of them were very afraid.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

7Then a cloud came and covered them. A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to him."

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

NoteIn the old stories, a thick cloud was a sign that God was very close. People could not see through it.

8They looked all around them. Suddenly they saw no one else. Only Jesus was there with them.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

28Then Peter said to him, "Look, we left everything behind to follow you."

Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

NoteThe King James starts with "Lo." That old word simply means look, or listen.

29Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth. Some people leave a home, or brothers, or sisters, or a mother, or a father, or children, or fields for me and for the good news.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. The "gospel" means the good news about Jesus.

30Every one of them will get back a hundred times as much right now. They will have homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. Along with all of it, people will be cruel to them. And in the world to come, they will have life forever.

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Note"A hundredfold" means a hundred times as much. "Persecutions" means people being cruel to you because you follow Jesus. "The world to come" means the new world God will make later.

31But many who are first now will be last. And many who are last now will be first."

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

NotePeople thought the most important person should always come first. Jesus said God turns that around.

20In the morning they walked past the fig tree. They saw that it had dried up, all the way down to its roots.

And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

21Peter remembered and said, "Teacher, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up."

And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

NoteCursed here means Jesus said the tree would never grow fruit again. It does not mean he said a rude word.

22Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God."

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23"I tell you the truth. Someone might say to this mountain, 'Lift up and throw yourself into the sea.' If he does not doubt inside, but believes it will happen, then it will happen for him."

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

NoteMoving a mountain was a way of talking back then. It meant doing something that seemed impossible.

24"So I tell you this. When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have it. Then it will be yours."

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25"When you stand and pray, forgive anyone you are holding something against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive the wrong things you have done."

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

27Jesus said to them, "Tonight you will all run away from me. The holy writings say, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.'

And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

NoteThese words come from Zechariah, a prophet. A prophet was someone who told people what God said. In the King James, "offended" means to give up and run away.

28But after I rise from death, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

29Peter said to him, "Even if everyone else runs away, I never will."

But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

30Jesus said to him, "I tell you the truth. Tonight, before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me."

And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

NoteRoosters crow early in the morning, before the sun comes up. People used that sound to know how late the night was.

31But Peter kept saying it louder. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say that." And all the others said the same thing.

But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

32They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to his followers, "Sit here while I pray."

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

NoteGethsemane was a quiet garden of olive trees just outside the city.

33He took Peter, James, and John with him. He began to feel deeply troubled and full of sorrow.

And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

NotePeter, James, and John were three of his twelve close followers.

34He said to them, "My heart is so sad I feel like I could die. Stay here and keep watch."

And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

35He walked ahead a little way and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it could be, this hard time would pass by him.

And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.

36He said, "Abba, Father, you can do anything. Take this cup away from me. But do what you want, not what I want."

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

NoteAbba was the word children used for their father, a lot like "Daddy." A "cup" here means the hard, sad thing that was coming.

37He came back and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not stay awake for one hour?

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

38Stay awake and pray, so you are not pulled into doing wrong. Your spirit wants to do right, but your body is weak."

Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

39He went away again and prayed. He said the same words as before.

And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

40He came back and found them sleeping again. Their eyes were very heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

41He came back a third time. He said, "Are you still sleeping and resting? That is enough. The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being handed over to sinful men.

And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42Get up. Let's go. Look, the man who is handing me over is here."

Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.

66Peter was down in the courtyard. A servant girl who worked for the high priest came by.

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

67She saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazareth too."

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

68But he said no. "I don't know what you are talking about," he said. He went out to the gateway. Then a rooster crowed.

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

69The servant girl saw him again. She said to the people standing there, "This man is one of them."

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.

70He said no again. A little later, the people standing there said to Peter, "You really are one of them. You are from Galilee."

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

NotePeople from Galilee talked with a different accent. Others could hear that he came from far away.

71Then Peter began to call down curses on himself and swear. He said, "I don't know this man you are talking about!"

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

72Right then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you do not know me." Peter broke down and cried.

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

1The day of rest was over. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought sweet spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

NoteThe day of rest was Saturday. Jewish people did no work on that day, so the women waited. Sweet spices were things that smelled good, like perfume. People put them on a dead body to show love and care. Mary Magdalene was a woman Jesus had helped, and she followed him.

2Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun came up, they went to the tomb.

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

NoteFor these people the week started on Sunday, so Sunday was the first day. A tomb was a small room cut into rock. A dead body was laid inside it.

3They said to each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the door of the tomb?"

And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

NoteA big flat stone was rolled across the door of a tomb to close it. It was so heavy that one person could not move it.

4Then they looked up. The stone was already rolled away. And it was a very big stone.

And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5They went inside the tomb. A young man in a long white robe was sitting on the right side. The women were frightened.

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

NoteThe King James Bible says the women were "affrighted." That is an old word. It simply means they were frightened.

6He said to them, "Do not be frightened. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was killed on a cross. He is alive again. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. A cross was two wooden beams. Soldiers nailed a person to it to kill him.

7Now go and tell his followers, and tell Peter. Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."

But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

NoteHis followers were the friends who traveled with him and learned from him. Galilee was the part of the country where Jesus grew up and taught. Peter was one of his closest friends.

8The women hurried out and ran from the tomb. They were shaking, and they were amazed. They were so afraid that they told no one anything.

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

1One day Jesus stood by a lake called Gennesaret. A crowd pushed close to hear God's message.

And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

NoteThis lake is also called the Sea of Galilee. It is big, and many families caught fish there for a living.

2He saw two boats resting at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had gotten out and were washing their nets.

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3Jesus got into Simon's boat. He asked Simon to push out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

NoteSimon is the same man who is later called Peter. He was a fisherman with his own boat.

4When Jesus finished talking, he said to Simon, "Go out where the water is deep. Let your nets down to catch fish."

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5Simon said, "Teacher, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because You say so, I will let the nets down."

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

NoteFishermen there worked at night, when fish came near the top. Catching nothing all night meant no food and no money.

6They did it, and they caught so many fish that their nets started to rip.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7They waved to their friends in the other boat to come help. The friends came, and both boats got so full they began to sink.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw this, he knelt down in front of Jesus. He said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a man who does wrong."

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

NoteSimon calls himself sinful. Sin means doing wrong things that hurt God and other people.

9He was amazed at how many fish they caught. So were all the men with him.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10James and John, the sons of Zebedee, worked with Simon, and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will gather people instead of fish."

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

NoteJesus meant Simon would help bring people to God. He used to gather fish; now he would gather people.

11They brought their boats to shore. Then they left everything behind and went with Jesus.

And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

NoteLeaving everything meant leaving their boats, their nets, and their job. That was how they fed their families.