CHAPTER 17
The Transfiguration of Christ: He cures the lunatic child: foretells his passion; and pays the didrachma.
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ND after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:
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And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.
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And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him.
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And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
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And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him.
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And the disciples hearing fell upon their face, and were very much afraid.
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And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them: Arise, and fear not.
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And they lifting up their eyes, saw no one, but only Jesus.
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And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.
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And his disciples asked him, saying: Why then do the scribes say that Elias must come first?
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But he answering, said to them: Elias indeed shall come, and restore all things.
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But I say to you, that Elias is already come, and they knew him not, But have done unto him whatsoever they had a mind. So also the Son of man shall suffer from them.
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Then the disciples understood, that he had spoken to them of John the Baptist.
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And when he was come to the multitude, there came to him a man falling down on his knees before him saying: Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water.
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And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
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Then Jesus answered and said: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me.
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And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour.
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Then came the disciples to Jesus secretly, and said: Why could not we cast him out?
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Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain: Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible to you.
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But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.
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And when they abode together in Galilee, Jesus said to them: The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
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And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall rise again. And they were troubled exceedingly.
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And when they were come to Capharnaum, they that received the didrachmas, came to Peter, and said to him: Doth not your master pay the didrachma?
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He said: Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying: What is thy opinion, Simon? The kings of the earth, of whom do they receive tribute or custom, of their own children, or of strangers?
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And he said: Of strangers. Jesus said to him: Then the children are free.
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But that we may not scandalize them, go to the sea, and cast in a hook: and that fish which shall first come up, take: and when thou hast opened it's mouth, thou shalt find a stater: take that, and give it to them for me and thee.