"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed,

"There was once a rich man who habitually arrayed himself in purple and fine linen, and enjoyed a splendid banquet every day,

that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

Then an expounder of the Law stood up to test Him with a question. "Rabbi," he asked, "what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for this reason your holy offspring will be called 'the Son of God.'

Just at this time an edict was issued by Caesar Augustus for the registration of the whole Empire.

He went on to say, "There was a man who had two sons.

And He said to all, "If any one is desirous of following me, let him ignore self and take up his cross day by day, and so be my follower.

One day--it was a Sabbath--He was taking a meal at the house of one of the Rulers of the Pharisee party, while they were closely watching Him.

He came to Nazareth also, where He had been brought up; and, as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

and all went to be registered--every one to the town to which he belonged.

As they pursued their journey He came to a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed Him to her house.

At one place where He was praying, when He rose from His knees one of His disciples said to Him, "Master, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

He also taught them by a parable that they must always pray and never lose heart.

On His journey vast crowds attended Him, towards whom He turned and said,

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led about by the Spirit in the Desert for forty days,

Now one of the Pharisees repeatedly invited Him to a meal at his house; so He entered the house and reclined at the table.

Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us

After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them before Him, by twos, to go to every town or place which He Himself intended to visit.

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren; and both of them were far advanced in life.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing." And they divided His garments among them, drawing lots for them;

And, on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.

"But to you who are listening to me I say, Love your enemies; seek the welfare of those who hate you;

give, and gifts shall be bestowed on you. Full measure, pressed, shaken down, and running over, shall they pour into your laps; for with the same measure that you use they shall measure to you in return."

and the whole multitude of the people were outside praying, at the hour of incense.

"Man," He replied, "who has constituted me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

Now while he was doing priestly duty before God in the prescribed course of his class,

Then, taking a Passover biscuit, He gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is being given on your behalf: this do in remembrance of me."

And to some who relied on themselves as being righteous men, and looked down upon all others, He addressed this parable.

On one occasion the crowd was pressing on Him and listening to God's Message, while He was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.

I tell you, certainly not. On the contrary, if you are not penitent you will all perish as they did.

and Zechariah on seeing him was agitated and terrified.

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

The Scribes and the Pharisees were on the watch to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath that they might be able to bring an accusation against Him.

Once He was teaching on the Sabbath in one of the synagogues

And He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you--that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me."

On that same day two of the disciples were walking to Emmaus, a village seven or eight miles from Jerusalem,

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

it fell to his lot--according to the custom of the priesthood--to go into the Sanctuary of the Lord and burn the incense;

Just then a man in the crowd appealed to Him. "Rabbi," he said, "tell my brother to give me a share of the inheritance."

"Dismiss your fears, little flock: your Father finds a pleasure in giving you the Kingdom.

Now the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close to Him to listen to Him;

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

"'The very dust of your town that hangs about us we wipe off as a protest. Only be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.'

So He entered Jericho and was passing through the town.

And He--Jesus--when He began His ministry, was about thirty years old. He was the son (it was supposed)

"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,'" he replied, "'with thy whole heart, thy whole soul, thy whole strength, and thy whole mind; and thy fellow man as much as thyself.'"

Then Mary said: "My soul extols the Lord,

And remember that I am about to send out my Father's promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Just at that time people came to tell Him about the Galilaeans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Gladness and exultant joy shall be yours, and many will rejoice over his birth.

and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being Governor of Judaea, Herod Tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip Tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene,

Now there were shepherds in the same part of the country, keeping watch over their sheep by night in the open fields,

Then fixing His eyes upon His disciples, Jesus said to them, "Blessed are you poor, because the Kingdom of God is yours.

"I came to throw fire upon the earth, and what is my desire? Oh that it were even now kindled!

There was in the time of Herod, the king of Judaea, a priest of the name of Zechariah, belonging to the class of Abijah. He had a wife who was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

"And why do you all call me 'Master, Master' and yet not do what I tell you?

And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

"There will be signs in sun, moon, and stars; and on earth anguish among the nations in their bewilderment at the roaring of the sea and its billows;

Then Jesus returned in the Spirit's power to Galilee; and His fame spread through all the adjacent districts.

See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have."

"Simon, Simon, I tell you that Satan has obtained permission to have all of you to sift as wheat is sifted.

"I tell you that it will be more endurable for Sodom on the great day than for that town.

Thereupon they began to discuss with one another which of them it could possibly be who was about to do this.

Now when all the people had been baptized, and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the sky opened,

And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."

He will be great and He will be called 'Son of the Most High.' And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David;

Now when the time drew near for Him to be received up again into Heaven, He proceeded with fixed purpose towards Jerusalem, and sent messengers before Him.

It was about eight days after this that Jesus, taking with Him Peter, John, and James, went up the mountain to pray.

He said also to His disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward, about whom a report was brought to him, that he was wasting his property.

Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was coming, He answered, "The Kingdom of God does not so come that you can stealthily watch for it.

And, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the passages in Scripture which refer to Himself.

And behave to your fellow men just as you would have them behave to you.

The disciples proceeded to ask Him what this parable meant.

Now His parents used to go up year by year to Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover.

If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

As they pursued their journey to Jerusalem, He passed through Samaria and Galilee.

Then calling the Twelve together He conferred on them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases;

For no promise from God will be impossible of fulfilment."

While they were thus talking, He Himself stood in their midst and said, "Peace be to you!"

"So I say to you, 'Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.'

and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, and said, "Father, to Thy hands I entrust my spirit." And after uttering these words He yielded up His spirit.

"Father, if it be Thy will, take this cup away from me; yet not my will but Thine be done!"

Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill levelled down, the crooked places shall be turned into straight roads, and the rugged ways into smooth;

For a Saviour who is the Anointed Lord is born to you to-day, in the town of David.

"The next came. "'Sir,' he said, 'here is your pound, which I have kept wrapt up in a cloth.

But the immense crowd, aware of this, followed Him; and receiving them kindly He proceeded to speak to them of the Kingdom of God, and those who needed to be restored to health, He cured.

Shortly after this He visited town after town, and village after village, proclaiming His Message and telling the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,

Then the Warden of the Synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured her on a Sabbath, said to the crowd, "There are six days in the week on which people ought to work. On those days therefore come and get yourselves cured, and not on the Sabbath day."

and He said, "Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead;

The question was put to Him by a Ruler: "Good Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit the Life of the Ages?"

"I have given you power to tread serpents and scorpions underfoot, and to trample on all the power of the Enemy; and in no case shall anything do you harm.

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged; condemn not, and you shall not be condemned; pardon, and you shall be pardoned;

Shortly afterwards He went to a town called Nain, attended by His disciples and a great crowd of people.

About that time He went out on one occasion into the hill country to pray; and He remained all night in prayer to God.

This they did, and enclosed a vast number of fish; and their nets began to break.

He knew their thoughts, and said to the man with the withered arm, "Rise, and stand there in the middle." And he rose and stood there.

"By what proof," asked Zechariah, "shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is far advanced in years."

Jesus replied, "A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell among robbers, who after both stripping and beating him went away, leaving him half dead.

But the angel said to them, "Put away all fear; for I am bringing you good news of great joy--joy for all the People.

You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.

Not long after this, Mary rose up and went in haste into the hill country to a town in Judah.

They will fall by the sword, or be carried off into slavery among all the Gentiles. And Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles, till the appointed times of the Gentiles have expired.

After thus speaking, He journeyed onward, proceeding up to Jerusalem.

So He said to them, "When you pray, say, 'Father may Thy name be kept holy; let Thy Kingdom come;

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

and the Holy Spirit came down in bodily shape, like a dove, upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, "Thou art My Son, dearly loved: in Thee is My delight."

But he who had not been told it and yet did what deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.

For I too am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this or that,' and he does it."

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,

However, for Tyre and Sidon it will be more endurable at the Judgement than for you.

"Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!"

Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God;

and he longed to make a hearty meal of the pods the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

Every man who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and he who marries her when so divorced from her husband commits adultery.

"I saw Satan fall like a lightning-flash out of Heaven," He replied.

And when the days for their purification appointed by the Law of Moses had passed, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord--

he answered the question by saying to them all, "As for me, I am baptizing you with water, but One mightier than I is coming, whose very sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten: He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.

"But the tax-gatherer, standing far back, would not so much as lift his eyes to Heaven, but kept beating his breast and saying, "'O God, be reconciled to me, sinner that I am.'

He gave them the cup in like manner, when the meal was over. "This cup," He said, "is the new Covenant ratified by my blood which is to be poured out on your behalf.

Then they put in to shore in the country of the Gerasenes, which lies opposite to Galilee.

"But when you see Jerusalem with armies encamping round her on every side, then be certain that her overthrow is close at hand.

With these He came down till He reached a level place, where there was a great crowd of His disciples, and a multitude of people from every part of Judaea, from Jerusalem, and from the sea-side district of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;

Nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' --for the Kingdom of God is within you."

So Gabriel went into the house and said to her, "Joy be to you, favoured one! the Lord is with you."

When the time was come, and He had taken His place at table, and the Apostles with Him,

"And as it was in the time of Noah, so will it also be in the time of the Son of Man.

As they were listening to His words, He went on to teach them by a parable, because He was near to Jerusalem and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

"O dull-witted men," He replied, "with minds so slow to believe all that the Prophets have spoken!

Have none been found to come back and give glory to God except this foreigner?"

When He came into full view of the city, He wept aloud over it, and exclaimed,

If therefore you do homage to me, it shall all be yours.'

But the angel said, "Do not be frightened, Mary, for you have found favour with God.

When the Seventy returned, they exclaimed joyfully, "Master, even the demons submit to us when we utter your name."

"But in course of time the beggar died; and he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died, and had a funeral.

When eight days had passed and the time for circumcising Him had come, He was called JESUS, the name given Him by the angel before His conception in the womb.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your souls be weighed down with self-indulgence and drunkenness or the anxieties of this life, and that day come upon you, suddenly, like a falling trap;

and she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped Him round, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

"But now," said He, "let the one who has a purse take it, and he who has a bag must do the same. And let him who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one.

Nevertheless love your enemies, be beneficent; and lend without hoping for any repayment. Then your recompense shall be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Be on your guard. "If your brother acts wrongly, reprove him; and if he is sorry, forgive him;

And He spoke a parable to them. "A certain rich man's lands," He said, "yielded abundant crops,

After He had finished teaching all these things in the hearing of the people, He went into Capernaum.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem of the name of Symeon, an upright and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

on the authority of those who were from the beginning eye-witnesses and were devoted to the service of the divine Message,

The man who is honest in a very small matter is honest in a great one also; and he who is dishonest in a very small matter is dishonest in a great one also.

"Have your girdles on, and let your lamps be alight;

"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

"Things impossible with man," He replied, "are possible with God."

One day when He was praying by Himself the disciples were present; and He asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?"

But beware of slumbering; and every moment pray that you may be fully strengthened to escape from all these coming evils, and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man."

On that same occasion Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with rapturous joy. "I give Thee fervent thanks," He exclaimed, "O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of understanding, and hast revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

"No servant can be in bondage to two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will cling fast to one and scorn the other. You cannot be bondservants both of God and of gold."

Then turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, 'Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'

The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.

And the child grew and became strong and full of wisdom, and the favour of God rested upon Him.

After this He went out and noticed a tax-gatherer, Levi by name, sitting at the Toll office; and He said to him, "Follow me."

Jesus said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that causes of stumbling should come; but alas for him through whom they come!

I tell you that in the same way there will be rejoicing in Heaven over one repentant sinner--more rejoicing than over ninety-nine blameless persons who have no need of repentance.

And He said to him, "Rise and go: your faith has cured you."

There arose also a dispute among them which of them should be regarded as greatest.

And He addressed them thus: "The harvest is abundant, but the reapers are few: therefore entreat the Owner of the harvest to send out more reapers into His fields. And now go.

Then Jesus said to them, "I put it to you all whether we are allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil; to save a life, or to destroy it."

You know the Commandments: 'Do not commit adultery;' 'Do not murder;' 'Do not steal;' 'Do not lie in giving evidence;' 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"

One day He went on board a boat--both He and his disciples; and He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the Lake." So they set sail.

And in Hades, being in torment, he looked and saw Abraham in the far distance, and Lazarus resting in his arms.

As soon as they led Him away, they laid hold on one Simon, a Cyrenaean, who was coming in from the country, and on his shoulders they put the cross, for him to carry it behind Jesus.

When they reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they nailed Him to the cross, and the criminals also, one at His right hand and one at His left.

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth.

Others, to put Him to the test, asked Him for a sign in the sky.

and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."

Yes, He will soon avenge their wrongs. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"

Now one of the criminals who had been crucified insulted Him, saying, "Are not you the Christ? Save yourself and us."

On one occasion people also brought with them their infants, for Him to touch them; but the disciples, noticing this, proceeded to find fault with them.

"He who listens to you listens to me; and he who disregards you disregards me, and he who disregards me disregards Him who sent me."

One day He was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village in Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present for Him to cure people.

"It is written," replied Jesus, "'It is not on bread alone that a man shall live.'"

After listening to this teaching, one of His fellow guests said to Him, "Blessed is he who shall feast in God's Kingdom."

And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.

There was also Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, belonging to the tribe of Asher. She was of a very great age, having had after her maidenhood seven years of married life,

Looking up He saw the people throwing their gifts into the Treasury--the rich people.

"Were not our hearts," they said to one another, "burning within us while He talked to us on the way and explained the Scriptures to us?"

"But to you who are my friends I say, "'Be not afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do nothing further.

On going out, He proceeded as usual to the Mount of Olives, and His disciples followed Him.

Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.

A good man from the good stored up in his heart brings out what is good; and an evil man from the evil stored up brings out what is evil; for from the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

"Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not sit down first and calculate the cost, asking if he has the means to finish it? --

But when all this is beginning to take place, grieve no longer. Lift up your heads, because your deliverance is drawing near."

Earth and sky will pass away, but it is certain that my words will not pass away.

Now on the second-first Sabbath while He was passing through the wheatfields, His disciples were plucking the ears and rubbing them with their hands to eat the grain.

And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say, "'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;

And the Apostles said to the Lord, "Give us faith."

Just as no one of you who does not detach himself from all that belongs to him can be a disciple of mine.

Jesus listened to the Captain's message and was astonished at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that."

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

When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.

But the Lord's reply to him was, "Hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his bullock or his ass from the stall and lead him to water?

to have himself registered together with Mary, who was betrothed to him and was with child.

And He brought them out to within view of Bethany, and then lifted up His hands and blessed them.

and he debated within himself, saying, "'What am I to do? for I have no place in which to store my crops.'

And, as they proceeded on their way, a man came to Him and said, "I will follow you wherever you go."

For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.'

"I am the Lord's maidservant," Mary replied; "may it be with me in accordance with your words!" And then the angel left her.

Jesus answered him, "No one who has put his hand to the plough, and then looks behind him, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

When his days of service were at an end, he went to his home;

It was now about noon, and a darkness came over the whole country till three o'clock in the afternoon.

son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

Jesus however called the infants to Him. "Let the little children come to me," He said; "do not hinder them; for it is to those who are childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.

But He said to them, "I have to tell the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because for this purpose I was sent."

The Devil next led Him up and caused Him to see at a glance all the kingdoms of the world.

And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come in your Kingdom."

Accordingly John used to say to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."

"But alas for you Pharisees! for you pay tithes on your mint and rue and every kind of garden vegetable, and are indifferent to justice and the love of God. These are the things you ought to have attended to, while not neglecting the others.

But he, desiring to justify himself, said, "But what is meant by my 'fellow man'?"

and as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the babe leapt within her. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,

But as for those enemies of mine who were unwilling that I should become their king, bring them here, and cut them to pieces in my presence.'"

And while the people were in suspense and all were debating in their minds whether John might possibly be the Anointed One,

"Alas for the women who at that time are with child or who have infants; for there will be great distress in the land, and anger towards this People.

And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be lifted high as Heaven? Thou shalt be driven down as low as Hades.

while He--an agony of distress having come upon Him--prayed all the more with intense earnestness, and His sweat became like clots of blood dropping on the ground.

When the day of the Unleavened Bread came--the day for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed--

and then shall all mankind see God's salvation.'"

But it is easier for earth and sky to pass away than for one smallest detail of the Law to fall to the ground.

Meanwhile the Festival of the Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem and caused Him to stand on the roof of the Temple, and said to Him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here; for it is written,

He was passing through town after town and village after village, steadily proceeding towards Jerusalem,

The Apostles, on their return, related to Jesus all they had done. Then He took them and withdrew to a quiet retreat, to a town called Bethsaida.

It would be well for him if, with a millstone round his neck, he were lying at the bottom of the sea, rather than that he should cause even one of these little ones to fall.

"And I tell you that every man who shall have acknowledged me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.

"I tell you that in the same way there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one repentant sinner."

Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves with purses that will never wear out, a treasure inexhaustible in Heaven, where no thief can come nor moth consume.

On once occasion He was expelling a dumb demon; and when the demon was gone out the dumb man could speak, and the people were astonished.

and certain women whom He had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases--Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons had come,

So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came, and they filled both the boats so that they almost sank.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou who murderest the Prophets and stonest those who have been sent to thee, how often have I desired to gather thy children just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come!

On another occasion, when He was in one of the towns, there was a man there covered with leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, threw himself at His feet and implored Him, saying, "Sir, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."

"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"

Now when the day began to decline, the Twelve came to Him and said, "Send the people away, that they may go to the villages and farms round about and find lodging and a supply of food; because here we are in an uninhabited district."

and in course of time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and kept herself secluded five months.

For whoever shall have been ashamed of me and my teachings, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own and the Father's glory and in that of the holy angels.

Just at that time there came some Pharisees who warned Him, saying, "Leave this place and continue your journey; Herod means to kill you."

But *I* have prayed for *you* that your faith may not fail, and you, when at last you have come back to your true self, must strengthen your brethren."

So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.

So Joseph went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judaea, to David's town of Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Then He drew the Twelve to Him and said, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written in the Prophets which refers to the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

When some were remarking about the Temple, how it was embellished with beautiful stones and dedicated gifts, He said,

So He came down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, where He frequently taught the people on the Sabbath days.

"You are they," He said to them, "who boast of their own goodness before men, but God sees your hearts; for that which holds a proud position among men is detestable in God's sight.

Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

Then He proceeded to say to them, "To-day is this Scripture fulfilled in your hearing."

Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? No, I tell you that I came to bring dissension.

And if it is by the power of Baal-zebul that I expel the demons, by whom do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.

"Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?

Next some of the Sadducees came forward (who deny that there is a Resurrection)

Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, "The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah.

"You yourselves," He said, "must give them food." "We have nothing," they replied, "but five loaves and a couple of fish, unless indeed we were to go and buy provisions for all this host of people."

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

"Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow gate," He answered; "for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour to find a way in and will not succeed.

And in that same house stay, eating and drinking at their table; for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not move from one house to another.

No one who does not carry his own cross and come after me can be a disciple of mine.

"Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?

The meaning of the parable is as follows. The seed is God's Message.

But they were filled with madness, and began to discuss with one another what they should do to Jesus.

And looking round upon them all He said to the man, "Stretch out your arm." He did so, and the arm was restored.

"'If they are deaf to Moses and the Prophets,' replied Abraham, 'they would not be led to believe even if some one should rise from the dead.'"

I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him.

And when a great crowd was assembling, and was receiving additions from one town after another, He spoke a parable to them.

"'Go out,' replied the master, 'to the high roads and hedge-rows, and compel the people to come in, so that my house may be filled.

Then the whole assembly rose and brought Him to Pilate, and began to accuse Him.

Also to His host, who had invited Him, He said, "When you give a breakfast or a dinner, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbours, lest perhaps they should invite you in return and a requital be made you.

And there appeared to Him an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him;

So you also, when you have obeyed all the orders given you, must say, "'There is no merit in our service: what we have done is only what we were in duty bound to do.'"

And the friends who had been sent, on returning to the house, found the servant in perfect health.

But some among them said, "It is by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of the demons, that he expels the demons."

He will give orders to His angels concerning thee, to guard thee safely;'

The man who was lying in prison charged with riot and murder and for whom they clamoured he set free, but Jesus he gave up to be dealt with as they desired.

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

"And he said to himself, "'This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and in them I will store up all my harvest and my wealth;

And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.

When they had come near the village to which they were going, He appeared to be going further.

But He said to His disciples, "Make them sit down in parties of about fifty each."

And even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which fails to yield good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire."

At dinner-time he sent his servant to announce to those who had been invited, "'Come, for things are now ready.'

Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;

When He had said this, all His opponents were ashamed, while the whole multitude was delighted at the many glorious things continually done by Him.

And just as He reached the gate of the town, they happened to be bringing out for burial a dead man who was his mother's only son; and she was a widow; and a great number of the townspeople were with her.

She was greatly agitated at his words, and wondered what such a greeting meant.

With you it is not so; but let the greatest among you be as the younger, and the leader be like him who serves.

But on hearing these words he was deeply sorrowful, for he was exceedingly rich.

covered with sores and longing to make a full meal off the scraps flung on the floor from the rich man's table. Nay, the dogs, too, used to come and lick his sores.

"So is it with him who amasses treasure for himself, but has no riches in God."

"'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow:

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

Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to Heaven He blessed them and broke them into portions which He gave to the disciples to distribute to the people.

The Lord saw her, was moved with pity for her, and said to her, "Do not weep."

"But they all without exception began to excuse themselves. The first told him, "'I have purchased a piece of land, and must of necessity go and look at it. Pray hold me excused.'

while at his outer door there lay a beggar, Lazarus by name,

why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest?

But first He must endure much suffering, and be rejected by the present generation.

and 'On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"

They did so, making them all, without exception, sit down.

And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.

And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' simply say, 'The Master needs it.'"

(For he was astonished and terrified--he and all his companions--at the haul of fish which they had taken;

But make His Kingdom the object of your pursuit, and these things shall be given you in addition.

The crowds repeatedly asked him, "What then are we to do?"

Observe the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, and have neither store-chamber nor barn. And yet God feeds them. How far more precious are you than the birds!

So they ate and were fully satisfied, all of them; and what they had remaining over was gathered up, twelve baskets of fragments.

It is like yeast which a woman takes and buries in a bushel of flour, to work there till the whole is leavened."

But they pressed Him to remain with them. "Because," said they, "it is getting towards evening, and the day is nearly over." So He went in to stay with them.

Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?"

These were Simon, to whom also He had given the name of Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew;

So the Devil, having fully tried every kind of temptation on Him, left Him for a time.

There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"

But if God so clothes the vegetation in the fields, that blooms to-day and to-morrow will be thrown into the oven, how much more certainly will He clothe you, you men of feeble faith!

Now a priest happened to be going down that way, and on seeing him passed by on the other side.

Then, after bringing their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Then He went close and touched the bier, and the bearers halted. "Young man," He said, "I command you, wake!"

James's relative Judas, and Judas Iscariot who proved to be a traitor.

If then you are unable to do even a very little thing, why be over-anxious about other matters?

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

And He turned towards His disciples and said to them apart, "Blessed are the eyes which see what you see!

"So the servant came and brought these answers to his master, and they stirred his anger. "'Go out quickly,' he said, 'into the streets of the city--the wide ones and the narrow. You will see poor men, and crippled, blind, lame: fetch them all in here.'

Reaching out His hand and touching him, Jesus said, "I am willing; be cleansed!" And instantly the leprosy left him.

The whole crowd were eager to touch Him, because power went forth from him and cured every one.

For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and mark! One greater than Jonah is here.

"'Father,' cried the son, 'I have sinned against Heaven and before you: no longer do I deserve to be called a son of yours.'

You however have remained with me amid my trials;

And which of you is able by anxious thought to add a moment to his life?

Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was as beautifully dressed as one of these.

And again He said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

saying, 'This man began to build, but could not finish.'

For I tell you that not one of those who were invited shall taste my dinner.'"

The dead man sat up and began to speak; and He restored him to his mother.

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

There was nothing here that they could lay hold of before the people, and marvelling at His answer they said no more.

when He told you that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

"John the Baptist," they replied; "but others say Elijah; and others that some one of the ancient Prophets has come back to life."

"But whatever town you come to and they will not receive you, go out into the broader streets and say,

And His compassion is, generation after generation, Upon those who fear Him.

their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. But He vanished from them.

And He proceeded to teach in their synagogues, winning praise from all.

Jesus saw his sorrow, and said, "With how hard a struggle do the possessors of riches ever enter the Kingdom of God!

The reply of Jesus was, "It is said, 'Thou shalt not put the Lord they God to the proof.'"

Then, turning to His disciples, He said, "There will come a time when you will wish you could see a single one of the days of the Son of Man, but will not see one.

All were awe-struck, and they gave glory to God--some saying, "A Prophet, a great Prophet, has risen up among us." Others said, "God has not forgotten His People."

but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

He immediately cured many of diseases, severe pain, and evil spirits, and to many who were blind He gave the gift of sight.

And Jesus strictly forbad them to tell this to any one;

So also, when you see these things happening, you may be sure that the Kingdom of God is near.

I no longer deserve to be called a son of yours: treat me as one of your hired men.'

Fetch the fat calf and kill it, and let us feast and enjoy ourselves;

There is nothing hidden, which shall not be openly seen; nor anything secret, which shall not be known and come into the light of day.

and those who were tormented by foul spirits were cured.

But all the more the report about Him spread abroad, and great multitudes crowded to hear Him and to be cured of their diseases;

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more malignant than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first.

For just as the lightning, when it flashes, shines from one part of the horizon to the opposite part, so will the Son of Man be on His day.

"Blessed are you who hunger now, because your hunger shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who now weep aloud, because you shall laugh.

"I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,

For which is the greater--he who sits at table, or he who waits on him? Is it not he who sits at table? But my position among you is that of one who waits on others.

But Jesus turned towards them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

For though the nations of the world pursue these things, as for you, your Father knows that you need them.

For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfilment in me: 'And He was reckoned among the lawless'; for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment."

"Master," replied Peter, "with you I am ready to go both to prison and to death."

as it is written in the Law of the Lord: "Every first-born male shall be called holy to the Lord."

He ordered him to tell no one. "But go," He said, "show yourself to the Priest, and make the offering for your purification which Moses appointed, as evidence for them."

to proclaim the year of acceptance with the Lord."

But He saw through their knavery and replied,

for the Holy Spirit shall teach you at that very moment what you must say."

As soon as the Master of the house shall have risen and shut the door, and you have begun to stand outside and knock at the door and say, "'Sir, open the door for us' --"'I do not know you,' He answers; 'you are no friends of mine.'

But Herod the Tetrarch, being repeatedly rebuked by him about Herodias his brother's wife, and about all the wicked deeds that he had done,

He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.

To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One.

Instantly he stood up in their presence, took up the mattress on which he had been lying, and went away to his home, giving glory to God.

"Go to the Law," said Jesus; "what is written there? how does it read?"

But He was told, "Your mother and brothers are standing on the edge of the crowd, and want to see you."

and all who listened were astonished at what the shepherds told them.

He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.

"Have you never read so much as this," answered Jesus--"what David did when he and his followers were hungry;

"Then he was angry and would not go in. But his father came out and entreated him.

"Another said, "'I am just married. It is impossible for me to come.'

"Do not exact more than the legal amount," he replied.

With many exhortations besides these he declared the Good News to the people.

For life is a greater gift than food, and the body is a greater gift than clothing.

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

And when they saw the child, they told what had been said to them about Him;

"Be glad at such a time, and dance for joy; for your reward is great in Heaven; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the Prophets!

When John's messengers were gone, He proceeded to say to the multitude concerning John, "What did you go out into the Desert to gaze at? A reed waving in the wind?

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

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 likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said.

For He will be given up to the Gentiles, and be mocked, outraged and spit upon.

But some of the seed falls into good ground, and grows up and yields a return of a hundred for one." While thus speaking, He cried aloud and said, "Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"

how he entered the house of God and took and ate the Presented Loaves and gave some to his followers--loaves which none but the Priests are allowed to eat?"

The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the Coming One, or is there another that we are to expect?'"

"Soon the servant reported the result, saying, "'Sir, what you ordered is done, and there is room still.'

Whatever therefore you have said in the dark, will be heard in the light; and what you have whispered within closed doors will be proclaimed from the house-tops.

"Alas for you who now have plenty to eat, because you will be hungry! "Alas for you who laugh now, because you will mourn and weep aloud!

And the report of what Jesus had done spread through the whole of Judaea and in all the surrounding districts.

"The Son of Man," He added, "is Lord of the Sabbath also."

Then the Scribes and Pharisees began to cavil, asking, "Who is this, uttering blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

Men were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving wives, up to the very day on which Noah entered the Ark, and the Deluge came and destroyed them all.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them.

It is like a mustard seed which a man drops into the soil in his garden, and it grows and becomes a tree in whose branches the birds roost."

Here she came to the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth;

Remember that I am sending you out as lambs into the midst of wolves.

now added this to crown all the rest, that he threw John into prison.

Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--

"Therefore, do not be asking what you are to eat nor what you are to drink; and do not waver between hope and fear.

As soon as they have shot out their leaves, you know at a glance that summer is now near.

Remember Lot's wife.

Then the Devil said to Him, "If you are God's Son, tell this stone to become bread."

And rolling up the book, He returned it to the attendant, and sat down--to speak. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

"I tell you, Peter," said Jesus, "that the cock will not crow to-day till you have three times denied that you know me."

"A second pleaded, "'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and am on my way to try them. Pray hold me excused.'

"'No, father Abraham,' he pleaded; 'but if some one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

And He commanded them, "Take nothing for your journey; neither stick nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have an extra under garment.

Then Peter said, "See, we have given up our homes and have followed you."

for it will come on all dwellers on the face of the whole earth.

"But the father said to his servants, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.

And some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what the Law forbids on the Sabbath?"

and sent them out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to cure the sick.

"A right answer," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

lest perhaps, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to finish, all who see it shall begin to jeer at him,

so John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord. "Are you the Coming One?" he asked, "or is there another that we are to expect?"

Then he called one of the lads to him and asked what all this meant.

Here the servant of a certain Captain, a man dear to his master, was ill and at the point of death;

Led by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do with regard to Him according to the custom of the Law,

Carry no purse, bag, nor change of shoes; and salute no one on your way."

Here, on landing, He was met by one of the townsmen who was possessed by demons--for a long time he had not put on any garment, nor did he live in a house, but in the tombs.

And they arrested Him and led Him away, and brought Him to the High Priest's house, while Peter followed a good way behind.

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

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? Do not torture me, I beseech you."

Startled, and in the utmost alarm, they thought they were looking at a spirit;

For a time is coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the women who never bore children, and the breasts which have never given nourishment.'

but on the day that Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from the sky and destroyed them all.

And a party of men came carrying a palsied man on a bed, and they endeavoured to bring him in and lay him before Jesus.

And all the people, including the tax-gatherers, when they listened to him upheld the righteousness of God, by being baptized with John's baptism.

"On that day, if a man is on the roof and his property indoors, let him not go down to fetch it; and, in the same way, he who is in the field, let him not turn back.

"But He will reply, "'I tell you that you are no friends of mine. Begone from me, all of you, wrongdoers that you are.'

But the very hairs on your heads are all counted. Away with fear: you are more precious than a multitude of sparrows.'