₂₈After Jesus said this, he went on ahead of them to Jerusalem. ₂₉As he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead ₃₀with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ₃₁If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it.”

₃₂They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. ₃₃As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?”

₃₄“The Master needs it,” they answered, ₃₅and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. ₃₆As he rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road.

₃₇When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen: ₃₈“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!”

₃₉Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!”

₄₀Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”