After the birth of Jesus, which took place at Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod, lo! certain Magi arrived in Jerusalem, saying.

Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might ensnare him during conversation.

Now it was the Governor's custom, during the Passover, to release to the people any one prisoner whom they selected.

but said they, "Not during the feast, for fear of causing a riot among the people."

"And if any man say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in that which is to come.

"And the seed sown among thorns is he who hears the word, but the anxieties of the age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

"The enemy who sows the weeds is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age. The reapers are the angels.

"Just as the weeds are collected together and burnt with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.

"So will it be at the end of the age. The angels will go forth and separate the wicked from the righteous, and fling them into the furnace of fire.

When he had seated himself on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?"