The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the prisoners, And recovery of sight to the blind; To set at liberty those that are bruised,

"Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and made merry every day in splendor.

so that you may know the certainty of the story which you have been taught by the word of mouth.

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee, called Nazareth,

Then a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him. "Master," he said "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

"The Holy Spirit shall come upon you," said the angel, "and the power of the most High shall overshadow you, and therefore the holy offspring which is born, shall be called the son of God.

In those days Augustus Caesar issued an edict for a census of the whole inhabited world.

And he said: "There was a man who had two sons.

And he said to all. "If any man wills to follow me, Let him renounce self and take up his cross daily and follow me.

It happened on the Sabbath Day when he went into the house of a certain ruler among Pharisees to take a meal, that they were watching him.

Then he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. and, as was his custom, he entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read.

And every one went to be registered, each to the town to which he belonged.

It happened as they went on their way that he entered into a certain village were a woman named Martha received him into her house.

It happened he was praying in a certain place, and when he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, "Master, teach us how to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

He also taught them by a parable how they ought always to pray and never to lose heart.

Great crowds were along with him, and he turned to them and said:

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, came back from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, all the time tempted by the devil.

One of the Pharisees kept urging him to dine, so he entered the house and reclined at table.

Seeing that many have taken it in hand to draw up an account of those matters which have been fully established among us,

After this the appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two before his face, into every city and place into which he himself intended to go.

Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years.

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save the lost."

Jesus kept saying, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided his garments among them, casting lots for them,

On the Sabbath Day they rested in obedience to the commandment, but in the deep dawn of the first day of the week they took the spices which they had prepared, and came to the tomb.

"But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

"Pardon, and you shall be pardoned; Give, and gifts shall be given to you; Full measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they shall pour into your bosom. For with what measure you measure, they will measure back to you."

And the whole multitude of the people were without, praying at the hour of incense.

"Man," said he, "who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

Now while Zachariah was acting as priest before God in the due course of his class, it fell to his lot, according to the custom of priesthood,

And he took a loaf, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying. "This is my body, which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.'

Moreover he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, and looked down upon the rest.

On one occasion when he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, the crowd pressed upon him to listen to the word of God.

"I tell you no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

And as he saw him Zachariah was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

"If any one comes to me and does not hate father and his mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, and his own very life also, he cannot be a disciple of mine.

Now the Scribes and Pharisees kept watching to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to bring on accusations to him.

Once he was teaching in one of the synagogues, on the Sabbath,

Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, how all things must be fulfilled which are written in the Law of Moses, and the prophets, and the Psalms concerning me."

On that same day two of his disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village about seven miles from Jerusalem.

"In solemn truth I tell you," said Jesus, "that this day you shall be with me in Paradise."

to enter into the sanctuary of the Lord and to burn incense.

Then one of the crowd said to him, "Master, tell my brother to give me my share of our inheritance."

"Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Now all the tax-gatherers and sinners continued to draw near him, and to listen to him.

"Or if he asks for an egg, will offer him a scorpion?

"'The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.'

So he entered Jericho and was passing through the town.

And Jesus himself when he began to teach was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,

"You must love the Lord your God," he answered, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

And Mary said: "My soul doth magnify the Lord,

"And I will send forth the promise of my Father upon you. But tarry in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."

Now there were some present at that very season who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

"And he shall be to you a joy and an exultation, and many shall rejoice over his birth.

"and that repentance unto remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip, tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias, tetrarch of Abilene;

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Then raising his eyes upon his disciples he began to say to them. "Blessed are you poor, For the kingdom of God is yours.

"I came to build a fire upon the earth; what is my desire?

In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest, named Zachariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife named Elizabeth,

"And why are you calling me Lord, Lord, and not doing what I tell you?

And Jesus was ever advancing in wisdom and in status and in favor with God and man.

"And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roar of the sea and the billows;

Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout all the surrounding country,

"Look at my hands and my feet. It is I! Feel me and see; for a ghost has not flesh and blood as I have."

"Simon, Simon," said the Lord, "behold, Satan has asked to have you all that he might sift you like wheat.

"For I tell you that it will be mare tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that town.

And they began to question among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do such a thing.

Now after all the people had been baptized, and Jesus himself had been baptized and was praying,

And to the people he said, "Take heed and guard yourselves from all covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses."

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High. "And the Lord God will give him the throne of his forefather David,

When now when the time drew near for him to be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

About eight days after this it happened that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up on the mountain to pray.

To his disciples he said: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and this steward was accused to him of wasting his property.

The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God was coming. He answered. "The kingdom of God does not come so that you can catch sight of it,

And beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he interpreted all the passages concerning himself.

And as you would like men to do to you, So do you also to them.

Then his disciples began to interrupt him, saying, "What does this parable mean?"

Now his parents were accustomed to go up to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

"If you give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father who is in heaven give the Holy spirit to those that ask him!"

Now it happened that as he went his way to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee.

Then he called the Twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to heal;

"For no word of God shall be void of power."

While they were yet speaking he stood among them and said, "Peace be to you!"

"So I say to you. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.

Then with a loud cry, Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And after uttering these words, he yielded up his spirit.

"Father, if thou art willing, take away this cup from me; but thy will, not mine, be done!"

Every ravine shall be filled up, Every hill and mountain shall be laid low, The crooked shall be made straight, And the rough roads smooth;

"For unto you born this day in there is born in David's town a Saviour, who is the Anointed Lord.

"And the next came to him and said, 'Here master is your pound which I was keeping safe in a napkin.

But when the crowd learned this they followed him. He received them kindly and spoke to them concerning the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed restored to good health.

It happened shortly afterwards that he began to go from town to town and village to village, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God.

But the ruler of the synagogue was indignant at Jesus for healing her on the Sabbath, and said to the crowd. "There are six days of the week on which men ought to work. Therefore come during those, and get cured, but not on the Sabbath Day."

and he said: "Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead, the third day;

A ruler put this question to him. "Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Behold, I give you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and to trample on all the power of the enemy. In no case shall anything do you harm.

"Do not judge, and you shall not be judged; Do not condemn, and you shall not be condemned;

Soon afterward he went to a city called Nain, accompanied by his disciples, and a great crowd of people.

It happened about that time that he went out into the mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God.

And when they had done this they enclosed a great multitude of fish; and their nets began to break.

He was all along aware of their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise, and stand there in the midst."

"How shall I be sure of this?" said Zachariah to the Angel. "For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."

"A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell among bandits who both stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead.

"Have no fear, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be for all the people.

"And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you shall call his name Jesus.

Soon after this Mary set out and hastened unto the hill-country to a town in Judah;

"They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive among the Gentiles, and Jerusalem shall be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the appointed times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

When he had so spoken he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.

So he said to them. "When you pray, say, "Father, hallowed be thy name; May thy kingdom come,

"And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words??ords which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form like a dove, descended upon him. and a voice came out of heaven, saying. "Thou art my Son, dearly beloved; in thee is my delight."

"but he who did not know, but did things worthy of a beating, will receive few lashes. To whom much has been given, from him much will be required, and to whom much is entrusted, of him they will ask the more.

"For I also am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me. And I say to one 'come,' and he comes, and to my slave 'do this or that,' and he does it."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, For he has visited and redeemed his people,

"However, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.

"Glory to God in the highest, And in earth peace among men who please him"

"And shall win many of the sons of Israel to the Lord, their God.

"And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

"Every man who divorces his wife and marries some one else, commits adultery; and he who marries one who is put away by her husband commits adultery.

And he said to them. "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash.

And when the days for purification according to the law of Moses had passed, they took him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord,

whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire.

"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God be merciful to me, the sinner!'

He gave them a cup in like manner, after supper saying. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, poured out for your sake.

Then they put in at the country of Gadarenes, which is across from Galilee.

"But when you see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.

With these he came down till he reached a level place, where there was a great crowd of his disciples and a great many people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. These came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.

"nor will they say, 'Look here it is!' or 'See there!'??or the kingdom of God is now in your midst."

The angel went in and said to her. "Joy to you, highly favored one! "The Lord is with you."

And when the hour was come he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him,

"And this was in the time of Noah, so will it be in the time of the Son of man.

As they were listening to his words he added this parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.

"O foolish men," said Jesus, "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

"Are there none found to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?"

And when he came into view of the city, as he approached it he broke into loud weeping,

"If then you will worship me, it shall all be yours."

when the angel said to her. "Fear not Mary, for you have found grace with God.

Then the Seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name."

"But in the course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom.

When eight days had passed, and the time had come to circumcise him, he was called Jesus, the name given him by the angel before his conception in the womb.

"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be surcharged with self-indulgence and drunkenness and worldly cares, and that day catches you suddenly like a trap.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Then he said to them. "But now let him who has a purse take it, and he who has a wallet, let him the do the same. And he who has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.

"But you must love even your enemies and be kind to them, And lend, despairing of no man. Then your reward will be great, And you will be the sons of the Most High; For he is kind even to the ungrateful and to the evil.

"Be on you guard! "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him.

Then he spoke to them in a parable. "The ground of a certain rich man bore heavy crops.

After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he went to Capernaum.

Now there was in Jerusalem a man whose name was Simeon. He was righteous and devout, and was waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.

just as they reported them to us, who were from beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word,

"The man who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in a very little, is unjust also as much.

"Let your loins be girded about and your lamps burning;

And Mary said to the angel. "How can this be? For I have no husband?"

Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

"Things that are impossible with men," he answered them, "are possible with God."

Now it happened that while he was praying by himself, the disciples were with him, and he asked them a question. "Who do the crowd think I am?"

"So be on your guard at all times, praying that you may be worthy to escape these things that shall come to pass, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of man."

In the same hour he thrilled with joy in the Holy Ghost. "I praise thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth," he said "for hiding these things from the wise and prudent, and for revealing them to babes. Yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in thy sight!

"No one can be a household servants to two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot be the slave of God and of Mammon."

Then he said to his disciples. "For this is the reason I say to you. Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat; nor yet your body what shall you wear.

"The Law and the Prophet lasted until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and any one presses in.

And the child grew and became strong, becoming full of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

After this he went forth and noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting at the tax-office, and said to him, "Follow me."

Jesus said to his disciples. "It is not possible but that occasions of stumbling should occur, but woe to him through whom they come!

"I say to you that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons who need no repentance.

And he said unto him, "Rise and go, your faith has healed you."

And there arose also a dispute among them as to which of them could be considered the greatest,

And he thus addressed them. "The harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are few. do you therefore pray the lord of the harvest to send forth harvesters into his harvest.

So he rose and stood. Then Jesus said to them. "I ask you whether it is lawful on the Sabbath Day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to destroy it?"

"You know the commandments. "Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."

Now it happened that one of these days he got into a boat, And him his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake."

"The rich man also died, and was buried. And as he was tormented in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom.

And when they led him away they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenean, who was coming in from the country, and laid the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus.

When they came to the place called "The Skull," there they crucified him and the criminals also, one upon his right hand, and one upon his left.

"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, "He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the hour of his birth,

Others, tempting him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.

"He shall go before Him in the wisdom and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

"I tell you that he will quickly see justice done to his elect! Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith upon the earth?"

And one of the criminals who had been hung there kept reviling him, saying. "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."

And they kept bringing their babies for him to touch them; but when his disciples saw it they began to rebuke them.

"He who listens to you listens to me. and he who rejects you, rejects me; he who rejects me, rejects him who sent me."

One day he was teaching, and near to him were seated Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that not by bread alone shall man live."

One of his fellow guest who was listening to him, said to him, "Blessed are those who eat bread in the kingdom of God."

"The slave who knew his Lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, will be beaten with many lashes,

There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in age, having lived with her husband seven years, after her girlhood,

And he looked up and saw people casting their offerings into the treasury, and they were rich.

"Were not our hearts burning within us," they said to each other, "while we were talking with him on the way, and he was opening to us the scriptures?"

"But I say to you who are my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.

Then he went out, and began to go to the Mount of Olives, as was his wont; and his disciples followed him.

Meanwhile when myriads of the multitudes were thronging around him so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy.

"The good man out of the good treasure-house of his heart brings forth good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure-house of his heart brings forth evil; for the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart.

"Which of you who is desirous of building a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, to see if he has the means to complete it?

"But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, lift your heads! for your redemption is drawing near."

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall never pass away.

It happened that on a Sabbath he was going through the wheat-fields. His disciples were picking the ears and eating the wheat, rubbing it out with their hands.

He also said to them. "Suppose you have a friend and you go to him, 'My friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

"Just so any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

But when Jesus heard this he was astonished and he turned and said to the crowd that was following him, "I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that."

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven."

And when he came out he could not speak to them, and then they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained dumb.

But the Lord answered him. "Hypocrites!" he said, "does not each one of you loose his ox or his ass from the stall on the Sabbath Day, and lead it to water,

He went to be registered along with Mary, who was espoused to him, and was pregnant.

And he led them out until they were over against Bethany; and he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

"So he debated with himself saying, 'What shall I do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'

As they were going on their way, a man came to him and said, "I will follow wherever you go."

"'For I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not sow.'

Then Mary said: "Behold I am Lord's slave. Let it be to me as you have said." Then the angel departed from her.

But Jesus answered him, "No man who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

As soon as his term of priestly service was ended he went home;

It was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

But Jesus called for the babies. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "do not hinder them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

But he said to them. "I must preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the other towns also; for that is what I was sent to do."

And the devil led him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time, and the devil said to him.

Then he added, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom."

So John used to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

"This has the Lord done for me. He has now deigned to take the away my reproach among men."

"But woe unto you Pharisee! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and disregard justice and the love of God; but these you ought to have done, and not leave the other undone.

But he, determined to justify himself, said to Jesus, "But who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered.

And when Elizabeth heard her salutation, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,

"'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"

And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John,

"Woe to women with child and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For sore anguish will come upon the land, and wrath upon all his people.

"And you Capernaum, shall you be exalted to heaven? No! you shall be brought down to Hades!

(And being in agony he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as if it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.)

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the paschal lamb must be sacrificed.

And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

"Yet it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away then for one title of the law to fail.

Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was drawing near.

Then he brought him to Jerusalem, and caused him to stand upon the Temple roof, and said to him. "If you really are the Son of God throw yourself down here;

So he went on his way through cities and villages,

On their return the apostles told him what they had done. and he took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida.

"It were well for him if a millstone were tied about his neck, and he were hurled into the sea, rather than he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

"And I tell you that whoever confesses me before men, the Son of man will confess him before the angels of God;

"Even so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels for God over one sinner who repents."

"Sell what you have and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses which do not grow old, a treasure inexhaustible in the heavens, where no thief draws near, nor does moth destroy.

Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people wondered.

The twelve were with him, and certain women whom he had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases. Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons have been driven,

So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!

Another time when he was in one of their cities, there was a man there full of leprosy. And he, upon seeing Jesus, fell on his face and implored him. "Lord," he said, "if only you choose you can make me clean."

He answered, "Why is it that you have been looking for me, did you not realize that I had to be in my Father's house?"

But now the day began to decline, and the twelve came to him and said: "Send away the crowd so that they may go into the villages and surrounding the country to lodge and buy provisions; for here we are on a solitary place."

and after those days Elizabeth, his wife, Conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying.

"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my teachings, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his own and in his Father's glory, and in that of the holy angels.

That very day there came some Pharisees to him, saying, "Get out of here and go away, for Herod wishes to kill you."

"But I made supplication for you that your own faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned again, must strengthen your brothers."

So they put a question to him saying. "Rabbi, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not regard any man's person, but teach the way of God honestly.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city if Nazareth, into Judea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David.

Then he took the twelve aside and told them. "See, we are on our way to Jerusalem, and all prophets regarding the son of Man will be fulfilled.

And to some who were about the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones votive offerings, he said,

Then he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and continued to teach the people on the Sabbath Days.

He said to them. "You are those that justify themselves in the eyes of men; but God knows you hearts; for that which is lofty in the eyes of men is abomination in the eyes of God.

"Do you therefore be merciful, As your Father is merciful.

The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him, and he began to say to them, "Today is this scripture fulfilled in your hearing."

"Do you think that I am come to make peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather dissension.

"Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges.

"Which one of you men, if he has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?

Next came some of the Sadducees who deny that there is resurrection, and they asked him.

When the crowd were beginning to throng about him he proceeded to say. "This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it except the sign of Jonah;

"Do you yourselves give them food," he answered. "We have nothing," they replied "Except five loaves, and a couple fish, unless you mean for us to go and buy provisions for all the crowd."

Now when the time of Elizabeth's delivery was come, she gave birth to a son;

"Struggle to enter in by the narrow door," he answered, "for I tell you that many will try to enter and not be able,

"Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give. for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house.

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me, cannot be a disciple of mine.

"Or, again, suppose a woman has ten coins. If she loses one, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house, and search anxiously until she finds it?

"This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God.

He did so; and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury, and they began to talk over together what they could do to Jesus.

Then he looked round about on them in anger, and said to him, "Stretch out your hand!"

"'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,' said Father Abraham, 'neither will they be persuaded if one should rise from the dead.'"

"I will warn you whom you ought to fear. Fear him who, after he was after he has killed, has power to throw you into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

As a great crowd was gathering, and men of town after town kept restoring to him, he spoke a parable to them.

"Said the master to his slave. 'Go out into the roads and the hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled.

Then the whole company rose up and brought him to Pilate,

Also to his host who had invited him, he continued, saying. "When you are making a dinner-party or a supper, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest it chance that they invite you in return, and a recompense be made by you.

(And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.)

"Even so, you also, after you have done all the things that are commanded you, should say, 'We are but slaves, we have only done what it was our duty to do.'"

And those who had been sent, on returning to the house, found the slave well.

But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons."

for it is written, "He shall give his angels charge of thee, to guard thee safely;

He released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, the man whom they asked for; but Jesus he handed over to their will.

"All of these," he replied, "I have kept from my youth up."

"And he said to himself. 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns and build larger ones in which I will store all my wheat and my goods.

He knew their intentions and said to them. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and house falls upon house.

When they drew near to the village to which they are were going, he appeared to be going farther.

(For there were about five thousand men.) "Make them sit down in table-companies, of about fifty each," he said to his disciples.

And now truly the axe is already laid at the root of the trees. So every tree which is not bearing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

"At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.'

Philip and Bartholomew; Mathew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot;

As he said this, all adversaries were put to shame; and all the crowd rejoiced for the glorious things that he continually did.

Now when he drew near the gate of the city, behold, they were there carrying out one who was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

Mary was greatly agitated at his word, and was revolving in her mind what this salutation could mean.

"But you shall not be so. But he who is greater among you let him become like the younger; and he who is leader like him who serves.

But when he heard these words he became deeply grieved, for he was exceedingly rich.

"He was full of sores, and longingly desired to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. Yes! even the dogs came and licked his sores.

"So is he that lays up treasures for himself and is not rich toward God."

"He said to him, "'By your own words I will Judge you, you wicked slave. You knew, did you, that I was a hard man taking up what I did not lay down, reaping what I did not sow.

Why, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up in heaven, he blessed them, broke them in pieces, and began to giving to his disciples to apportion among the crowd.

A great crowd accompanied her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

"And they all, without exception, proceeded to excuse themselves. The first told him. 'I have bought a field, and must needs go and see it. Pray have me excused.'

"And a certain beggar named Lazarus was thrown at his door.

"'Then why did you not put my money into the bank, so that at my coming I might I might have gotten it back with interest?'

"But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected buy his generation.

"They will bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy food against a stone."

This they did, and made them all sit down.

"And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?

"Untie it and bring it here. And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' Simply say, 'The Master needs it.'"

(For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the haul of fish which they had made;

"But seek his kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.

And the crowd began to ask him questions. "What shall we do then?" they asked. In reply he said to them.

"Consider the ravens; they neither sow nor reap; they have no storehouse nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds?

So they ate and were filled, all of them. And there was picked up that which remained over to them, of broken pieces, twelve basketfuls.

"It is like leaven which a took and hid in three measures of flour until the whole was leavened."

But they urged him to stay with them, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."

"Is it lawful for us to pay tribute to Caesar or not?"

They were Simon, whom he had also called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John;

So, after exhausting on him every kind of temptation, the devil left him for a time.

There came to him publicans also to be baptized, and they said to him, "Master, what must we do?"

"Now if God so clothe the grass in the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

"Now a certain priest chanced to be going down that way, but on seeing him he passed on the other side.

So when they had brought their boats to land they left everything and followed him.

And he came near and touched the bier; the bearer stopped and he said, "Young man, I bid you to rise."

Jude the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who was the traitor.

"If then you cannot do even that which is least, why are you anxious concerning the rest?

"Then to those who stood by, he said, 'Take the pounds from him and give it to him who has ten pounds.'

And turning to his disciples he said privately. "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!

"So the slave came and presented all these answers to his master. Then the master of the house was indignant, and said to his slave. 'Go out, quickly, into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame.'

And he stretched out his hand and touching him, said: "I do choose; be made clean."

The whole crowd were trying to touch him, because power emanated from him and cured them all.

"For I tell you that many prophets and kings have longed to see what you see, and have seen it; and to hear what you hear, and have heard it not.'

"The men of the Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with his generation and shall condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and lo! one greater than Jonah is here!

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no more worthy to be called your son.'

"You, however, are those who have stood by me in my trials.

"And which of you by taking anxious thought can add a cubit to his height?

"Consider the lilies how they grow! They toil not, neither do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

And again he said: "To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?

"'This fellow began to build and could not finish.'

"'For I tell you that not one of those invited guests shall taste my supper.'"

And he who was dead sat up and began to speak; and he gave him to his mother.

so they made haste, and came and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.

So they could not lay hold of his sayings before the people; and marveling at his answer, they held their peace.

that the Son of man had to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and to rise on the third day?"

"John the Baptist," they answered, "But others say Elijah, and others that one of the ancient prophets is risen again."

"But whatever town you enter, and they do not receive you, Go out into the streets and cry,

"His mercy is unto generations and generations on those who reverence him.

their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.

and he began to teach in their synagogues, and was glorified by all.

Jesus looked at him and said: "How hard it is for those who have money to enter into the kingdom of God!

"It has been said," replied Jesus, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God."

Then he said turning to his disciples. "The days will come when you shall long to see one of the days of the Son of man, you shall not see it.

And awe took hold on them all, and they began to glorify God saying. "A great prophet has risen among us;" and, "God has visited his people."

"but when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away from the strong armor in which he was trusting and divides up the spoil.

At that moment Jesus was healing many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many that were blind he was freely giving their sight.

Then he strictly forbade them to tell this to any one;

"So whenever you see all these things comings to pass, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

"'"I am no more worthy to be called your son; only make me like one of your hired men."'

"'Bring that fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry,

"For is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed; there is nothing secret which shall not be made known and come to the light.

Those who were tormented by unclean spirits were healed also.

But all the more the report about him continued to spread; and great crowds began to come together to hear him, and to be healed of their infirmities.

"Then it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first."

"For as the lightning when it lightens out of the one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so shall the Son of man be in his day.

"Blessed are you who are hungry now, For you shall be filled. "Blessed are you who are wailing now, For you shall laugh.

And he said to them, "In Solemn truth I tell you that there is no one who, for the sake of the kingdom of God, has left houses, or wife, or brother, or parents, or children,

"For which is greater, he who sits at table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at table? But I am in your midst as one who serves.

But Jesus turned and said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;

"For all these things the nations of the world are seeking; but your Father knows that you have need of these things.

"For I say to you that this word of Scripture must find it's fulfilment in me. "And he was numbered among the transgressors, For that which concerns me has its accomplishment."

"Lord," Simon said to him, "I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death."

as it is written in the law of Moses, Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord.

And instantly the leprosy left him. Jesus ordered him to tell no one, "But be off," he said, "show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

But he perceived their knavery and answered.

"for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you ought to say."

"when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut the door. You will begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, crying, "'Lord, open to us.' "'I do not know were you came from,' he will reply.

but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,

"He has showed strength with his arm. "He has scattered proud in the imagination of their hearts;

Now it has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And instantly he arose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and went away to his house, glorifying God.

And he said to him. "What is written in the Law? What do you read there?"

But some one told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you."

And all who heard it were astonished at the things which were told to them by the shepherds.

"he has put down princes from their thrones, and has exalted those of low degree.

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he and his followers were hungry?

"But he was angry and would not go in; so his father came out, and attempted to plead with him; but he said to his father.

"'I have taken a wife,' said the another, 'and for that reason I am unable to come.'

And he said to them, "Exact no more than the sum allowed you."

With many other exhortations then John declared the gospel to the people;

"For the life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

"But why is this honor done me, that the mother of my Lord should come me?

When they had seen, they made known about the words which had been spoken to them concerning the child.

"Rejoice in that day and exult, For your reward is great in heaven; For even so did their fathers to the prophets.

When John's messengers were gone he began to speak to the crowds about John, saying, "What went out you out to the desert to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?

"'I tell you that to every one who has it shall be given; and from him who has not shall be taken away even what he has.

And they also offered a sacrifice as commanded in the Law of the Lord A pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.

"Show me a shilling. Whose image and superscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they replied.

"He will be betrayed to the Gentiles, and be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon;

"But some fell on good soil, and grew up, and brought forth fruit, a hundredfold." When he said this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear with, let him listen."

"How he entered into God's house and took and ate the Presented Loaves, and gave some to his followers, loaves which none must eat but the priests?

So the men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to ask you if you are the coming one, or if we are to expect another."

"And the slave said, 'My master, your orders have been carried out, but yet there is room.'

"So that what you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light; and what you have whispered in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed from the housetops.

"Woe unto you who are full now! For you shall suffer hunger. "Woe to you who are laughing now! For you shall wail and weep.

And the report of what Jesus had done went forth throughout Judea and the surrounding regions.

"THE SON OF MAN," he told them, "IS LORD EVEN OVER THE SABBATH."

And the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil. "Who is this?" they asked, "speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

"Men were eating and drinking; they were marrying and being married, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying God and praising him for all those things that they had seen and heard, even as it was told to them.

"It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and cast into his own garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches."

and there she came into the house of Zachariah, and greeted Elizabeth.

"Go your way; behold, I am sending you forth like lambs among wolves.

added yet this above them all that he shut up John in prison.

"For he who is mighty has done great things for me; And holy is his name.

"So do not be asking what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, and be not of doubtful mind.

"Look at the fig tree and all the trees! When they put out their leaves you can see for yourselves that summer is coming.

"Remember Lot's wife!

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God tell this stone to become bread."

Then rolling up the papyrus, he gave it back to the attendant and sat down.

"I tell you, Peter," he answered. "the cock will not crow this day until you will three times deny that you know me."

"The second said: 'I have bought five yolk of oxen and am on my way to try them. I pray that you will have me excused.'

"'Nay, Father Abraham,' he said 'but if some one went to them from the dead they would repent.'

And he said to them. "Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money, and do not have two tunics.

Then Peter said, "Look! we have left our homes and followed you."

"For it will come upon all the dwellers on the face of the earth.

"'Fetch the best robe, quick,' said the father to his slaves, 'and put it on him, and give him a ring on his finger, and shoes on his feet.

And some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?"

and sent them out to preach the kingdom of God, and heal the sick.

"You have answered right," said Jesus "do that and you shall live."

"Lest it happen that after he has laid the foundations and is unable to complete it, all who see it shall begin to jeer at him saying,

and, calling a certain two disciples to him, he sent them to Jesus, to say, "Are you 'the coming one,' or if we are to expect another?"

"and he summoned one of the slaves, and began to inquire of him what all this meant.

Here the slave of a certain Roman captain, a man dear to his master, was ill, and at the point of death.

And he came into the Temple, led by the Spirit. and when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,

"Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and do not salute any one on your journey.

When he landed here he was met by a certain townsman who was possessed by demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes and nor lived in any house, but in tombs.

So they seized him and led him away, and took him to the house of the high priest; while Peter was following him a long way off.

"Who then can be saved?" exclaimed his hearers.

When he saw Jesus he cried out, and fell down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed. "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God Most High? I implore you to torment me not!"

They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

"but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they shall say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have never bore children, and the breasts that never suckled.'

"but on the day that Lot left Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

And behold there came men carrying a paralytic on a bed; and they tried to bring him and lay him before Jesus, but they could not because of the crowd.

On hearing this all the people and the tax-gatherers acknowledged the justice of God by being baptized with the baptism of John;

"On that day, if a man is on the housetop and his goods inside, let him not go down to take them away; nor should a man in the field turn back.

"But he will answer. "'I tell you I do not know were you came from;

"But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not! You are of more value than many sparrow!