The circumstances of the birth of Jesus Christ were these. After his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they were united in marriage, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

But while he was contemplating this step, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to bring home your wife Mary, for she is with child through the Holy Spirit.

I indeed am baptizing you in water on a profession of repentance; but He who is coming after me is mightier than I: His sandals I am not worthy to carry for a moment; He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire.

and Jesus was baptized, and immediately went up from the water. At that moment the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him,

At that time Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the Desert in order to be tempted by the Devil.

Thus His fame spread through all Syria; and they brought all the sick to Him, the people who were suffering from various diseases and pains--demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He cured them.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for to them belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens.

And the report of this spread throughout all that district.

for it is not you who will speak: it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

"This is My servant whom I have chosen, My dearly loved One in whom My soul takes pleasure. I will put My spirit upon Him, and He will announce justice to the nations.

But if it is by the power of the Spirit of God that I expel the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

This is why I tell you that men may find forgiveness for every other sin and impious word, but that for impious speaking against the Holy Spirit they shall find no forgiveness.

And whoever shall speak against the Son of Man may obtain forgiveness; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, neither in this nor in the coming age shall he obtain forgiveness."

"No sooner however has the foul spirit gone out of the man, then he roams about in places where there is no water, seeking rest but finding none.

When the disciples saw Him walking on the waves, they were greatly alarmed. "It is a spirit," they exclaimed, and they cried out with terror.

He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them; and a voice was heard from within the cloud, which said, "This is My Son dearly beloved, in whom is My delight. Listen to Him."

But an evil spirit of this kind is only driven out by prayer and fasting."

and hand Him over to the Gentiles to be made sport of and scourged and crucified; and on the third day He will be raised to life."

"How then," He asked, "does David, taught by the Spirit, call Him Lord, when he says,

Keep awake, and pray that you may not enter into temptation: the spirit is right willing, but the body is frail."

Then the Governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and called together the whole battalion to make sport of Him.

At last, having finished their sport, they took off the cloak, clothed Him again in His own garments, and led Him away for crucifixion.

But Jesus uttered another loud cry and then yielded up His spirit.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;