The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. After his mother, Mary, had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

"Rejoice and exult in it, because your reward was great in the heavens; for so did they persecute the prophets before you.

"So let your light shine before men that they may see good you do, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

"leave there your gift before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother, first of all; then come and offer your gift.

"And whatever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets, in order that men may praise them. In solemn truth I tell you they already have their reward in full.

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Give us today our bread for the day before us;

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine; lest in turn they trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you.

And behold! a leper came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord if you choose, you can make me clean."

"You Son of God," they shouted, "what have you to do with us? Are you come to torment us before the time?"

As he was saying these words to them, a ruler came up and knelt before him, saying. "My daughter has just died; but come, put your hand upon her, and she will live."

"And you will be taken before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

"But when they persecute you in one city, flee to the next. In solemn truth I tell you that you shall not have completed the cities of Israel, before the Son of man comes.

"Every one, then, who will confess me before men, I also will confess before my Father who is in heaven.

"But whoever disowns me before men, I also will disown before my Father who is in heaven.

"for this is he of whom it is written. "Behold, I send my messenger before my face, And he will prepare thy road for thee.

But when Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company,

and the men in the boat fell upon their knees before him, saying, "You are, indeed, the Son of God."

"Why do your disciples keep transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating?"

Here he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

As they reached the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, and fell on his knees before him, saying.

"But when he began to settle, one of them was brought before him who owed him fifteen million dollars.

"Thereupon his slave threw himself on his knees before him, crying, "'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!'

"Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!

For just as in the days before the deluge they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day when Noah entered the ark,

But after I am raised up I will go before you into Galilee."

Jesus said to him, "In solemn truth I tell you that on this very night, before cockcrow, you will deny me three times!"

So he left them and went away again, and prayed the third time in the same words as before.

But he denied it before them all; "I do not know what you mean," he said.

Then Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken, "Before the cock crow, you shall three times deny me"??nd he went out and broke out into bitter weeping.

Now Jesus stood before the Governor, and the Governor questioned him. "Are you the King of the Jews?" he asked.

He knew well that it was because of enmity that they had brought Jesus before him.

And they twisted a thorny crown for him, and put it on his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt before him, in mockery, crying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

And go quickly and tell his disciples. 'He is risen from the dead; he goes before you into Galilee; you will see him there.' Remember, I have told you."