The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the Sea, for they were fishermen.

They left their nets at once, and followed him.

Jesus at once called them, and they left their father Zebediah in the boat with the crew, and went after him.

And they walked into Capernaum. On the next Sabbath Jesus went into the Synagogue and began to teach.

And they were all so amazed that they kept asking: "What is this? Strange teaching indeed! He gives his commands with authority even to the foul spirits, and they obey him!"

As soon as they had come out from the Synagogue, they went, with James and John, into the house of Simon and Andrew.

Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her.

Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.

and, when they found him, they exclaimed: "Every one is looking for you!"

Being, however, unable to get him near to Jesus, owing to the crowd, they removed the roofing below which Jesus was; and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.

Jesus, at once intuitively aware that they wee debating with themselves in this way, said to them: "Why are you debating in your minds about this?

The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said: "We have never seen anything like this!"

When the Teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples: "He is eating in the company of tax- gatherers and outcasts!"

Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

But the days will come, when the bridegroom will be parted from them, and they will fast then--when that day comes.

One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along.

"Look!" the Pharisees said to him, "why are they doing what is not allowed on the Sabbath?"

On another occasion Jesus went in to a Synagogue, where they was a man whose hand was withered.

And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him.

As they remained silent, Jesus looked round at them in anger, grieving at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man: "Stretch out your hand." The man stretched it out; and his hand had become sound.

The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out: "You are the Son of God"!

And Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him.

And he appointed twelve--whom he also named 'Apostles'--that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his Messengers, to preach,

Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food.

When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

I tell you that men will be forgiven everything--their sins, and all the slanders that they utter;

'Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; And though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; Lest some day they should turn and be forgiven.'

The People meant by the seed that falls along the path are these--where the Message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the Message that has been sown in them.

So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully;

But, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, they fall away at once.

Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the Message,

For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

With many such parables Jesus used to speak to the people of his Message, as far as they were able to receive it;

So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.

But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another: "Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

And they came to the other side of the Sea--the country of the Gerasenes;

Jesus gave them leave. They came out, and entered into the pigs; and the drove--about two thousand in number--rushed down the steep slope into the Sea and were drowned in the Sea.

When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind--the very man who had had the 'Legion' in him--and they were awe-struck.

Upon which they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood.

But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the President of the Synagogue: "Do not be afraid; only have faith."

Presently they reached the President's house, where Jesus saw a scene of confusion--people weeping and wailing incessantly.

They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the child's father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying.

The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement;

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the Synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this?" they said, "and what is this wisdom that has been given him? and these miracles which he is doing?

But they were to wear sandals, and not to put on a second coat.

So they set out, and proclaimed the need of repentance.

They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were infirm, and cured them.

When John's disciples heard of it, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb.

When the Apostles came back to Jesus, they told him all that they had done and all that they had taught.

"Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot," he said, "and rest for a while"--for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat.

So they set off privately in their boat for a lonely spot.

And many people saw them going, and recognized them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were 'like sheep without a shepherd'; and he began to teach them many things.

Send the people away, so that they may go to the farms and villages around and buy themselves something to eat."

But Jesus answered: "It is for you to give them something to eat." "Are we to go and buy twenty pounds' worth of bread," they asked, "to give them to eat?"

"How many loaves have you?" he asked; "Go, and see." When they had found out, they told him: "Five, and two fishes."

And they sat down in groups--in hundreds, and in fifties.

And they picked up enough broken pieces to fill twelve baskets, as well as some of the fish.

But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;

For they had not understood about the loaves, their minds being slow to learn.

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret, and moored the boat.

But they had no sooner left her than the people, recognizing Jesus,

Hurried over the whole country-side, and began to carry about upon mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was.

So wherever he went--to villages, or towns, or farms--they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well.

They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands 'defiled,' by which they meant unwashed.

When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).

But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'

Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

Jesus insisted upon their not telling any one; but the more he insisted, the more perseveringly they made it known,

And a profound impression was made upon the people. "He has done everything well!" they exclaimed. "He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!"

"My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat;

And if I send them away to their homes hungry, they will break down on the way; and some of them have come a long distance."

"How many loaves have you?" he asked. "Seven," they answered.

Jesus told the crowd to sit down upon the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, and, after saying the thanksgiving, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to serve out; and they served them out to the crowd.

They had also a few small fish; and, after he had said the blessing, he told the disciples to serve out these as well.

The people had sufficient to eat, and they picked up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take any bread with them, one loaf being all that they had in the boat.

They began talking to one another about their being short of bread.

When I broke up the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets of broken pieces you picked up?" "Twelve," they said.

And when the seven for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces did you pick up?" "Seven," they said.

They came to Bethsaida. There some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and begged him to touch him.

The man looked up, and said: "I see the people, for, as they walk about, they look to me like trees."

"John the Baptist," they answered, "but others say Elijah, while others say one of the Prophets."

"I tell you," he added, "that some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come in power."

And Elijah appeared to them, in company with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.

For he did not know what to say, because they were much afraid.

And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone.

As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to any one, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.

They seized upon these words and discussed with one another what this 'rising from the dead' meant.

"How is it," they asked Jesus, "that our Teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?"

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as Scripture says of him."

When they came to the other disciples, they saw a great crowd round them, and some Teachers of the Law arguing with them.

But, as soon as they saw Jesus, all the people, in great astonishment, ran up and greeted him.

And, wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth, and he is pining away. I asked your disciples to drive the spirit out, but they failed."

They brought him to Jesus; but no sooner did the boy see him than the spirit threw him into convulsions; and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them-- "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days."

They came to Capernaum. When Jesus had gone into the house, he asked them: "What were you discussing on the way?"

But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest.

"Moses," they said, "permitted a man to 'draw up in writing a notice of separation and divorce his wife.'"