His parentssaidthisbecausethey were afraidof the Jews;for the Jewshad alreadyagreedthat ifanyoneconfessedHim to be Christ,he was to be put out of the synagogue.
The fearof manbringsa snare,But he who trustsin the LORDwill be exalted.
"I, even I, am He who comfortsyou. Whoare you that you are afraidof manwho diesAnd of the sonof manwho is madelike grass,
"Listento Me, you who knowrighteousness,A peoplein whose heartis My law;Do not fearthe reproachof man,Norbe dismayedat their revilings.
"Of whomwere you worriedand fearfulWhenyou lied,and did not rememberMe Norgive[Me] a thought?Was I not silenteven for a longtimeSo you do not fearMe?
"Blessedare you whenmenhateyou, and ostracizeyou, and insultyou, and scornyour nameas evil,for the sakeof the Sonof Man.
Thisis the testimonyof John,whenthe Jewssentto him priestsand Levitesfrom Jerusalemto askhim, "Whoare you?"
"They will makeyou outcasts from the synagogue,but an houris comingfor everyonewho killsyou to thinkthat he is offeringserviceto God.
Afterthese thingsJosephof Arimathea,beinga discipleof Jesus,but a secret[one] for fearof the Jews,askedPilatethat he might takeawaythe bodyof Jesus;and Pilategranted permission.Sohe cameand took awayHis body.
Sowhen it was eveningon that day,the first[day] of the week,and when the doorswere shutwherethe discipleswere, for fearof the Jews,Jesuscameand stoodin their midstand saidto them, "Peace[be] with you."
Yetno onewas speakingopenlyof Him for fearof the Jews.
The Jewsthendid not believe[it] of him, that he had beenblindand had receivedsight,untilthey calledthe parentsof the veryonewho had received his sight,
but howhe nowsees,we do not know;orwhoopenedhis eyes,we do not know.Askhim; he is of age,he will speakfor himself."
They answeredhim, "You were bornentirelyin sins,and are you teachingus?" Sothey puthim out.
Jesusheardthat they had puthim out, and findinghim, He said,"Do you believein the Sonof Man?"
And when they had summonedthem, they commandedthem not to speakorteachat allin the nameof Jesus.
But noneof the restdaredto associatewith them; however,the peopleheld them in high esteem.
They took his advice;and after callingthe apostlesin, they floggedthem and orderedthem not to speakin the nameof Jesus,and [then] releasedthem.
"But for the cowardlyand unbelievingand abominableand murderersand immoral personsand sorcerersand idolatersand allliars,their part[will be] in the lakethat burnswith fireand brimstone,whichis the seconddeath."
