THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].

Now it was in those days that Jesus arrived from Nazaret in Galilee and got baptized in the Jordan by John.

After John had been arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the gospel of God;

so Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me and I will make you fish for men."

"Jesus of Nazaret, what business have you with us? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are, you are God's holy One."

But Jesus checked it; "Be quiet," he said, "come out of him."

But he went off and proceeded to proclaim it aloud and spread news of the affair both far and wide. The result was that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; he stayed outside in lonely places, and people came to him from every quarter.

and as they could not get near Jesus on account of the crowd they tore up the roof under which he stood and through the opening they lowered the pallet on which the paralytic lay.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven."

Conscious at once that they were arguing to themselves in this way, Jesus asked them, "Why do you argue thus in your hearts?

Now Levi was at table in his own house, and he had many taxgatherers and sinners as guests along with Jesus and his disciples ??for there were many of them among his followers.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "Those who are strong have no need of a doctor, but those who are ill: I have not come to call just men but sinners."

Jesus said to them, "Can friends at a wedding fast while the bridegroom is beside them? As long as they have the bridegroom beside them they cannot fast.

Jesus retired with his disciples to the sea, and a large number of people from Galilee followed him; also a large number came to him from Judaea,

On catching sight of Jesus from afar he ran and knelt before him,

shrieking aloud, "Jesus, son of God most High, what business have you with me? By God, I adjure you, do not torture me."

Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he said, "there is a host of us."

And Jesus gave them leave. Then out came the unclean spirits and entered the swine, and the drove rushed down the steep slope into the sea (there were about two thousand of them) and in the sea they were drowned.

and when they reached Jesus they saw the lunatic sitting down, clothed and in his sober senses ??the man who had been possessed by 'Legion.' That frightened them.

Then they began begging Jesus to leave their district.

So he went off and began to proclaim throughout Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; it made everyone astonished.

Now when Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side again, a large crowd gathered round him; so he remained beside the sea.

So Jesus went away with him. Now a large crowd followed him; they pressed round him.

She heard about Jesus, got behind him in the crowd, and touched his robe;

Jesus was at once conscious that some healing virtue had passed from him, so he turned round in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Instantly Jesus ignored the remark and told the president, "Have no fear, only believe."

Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet never goes without honour except in his native place and among his kinsfolk and in his home."

Now this came to the hearing of king Herod, for the name of Jesus had become well known; people said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, that is why miraculous powers are working through him;"

Now the apostles gathered to meet Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

So when Jesus disembarked he saw a large crowd, and out of pity for them, as they were like sheep without a shepherd, he proceeded to teach them at length.

And when they had disembarked, the people at once recognized Jesus;

Jesus forbade them to tell anyone about it, but the more he forbade them the more eagerly they made it public;

And Jesus sent him home, saying, "Do not go even into the village."

Then Jesus and his disciples set off for the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road he inquired of his disciples, "Who do people say I am?"

Six days afterwards Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up a high hill by themselves alone; in their presence he was transfigured,

And Elijah along with Moses appeared to them, and conversed with Jesus.

So Peter addressed Jesus, saying, "Rabbi, it is a good thing we are here; let us put up three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"

And suddenly looking round they saw no one there except Jesus all alone beside them.

Jesus asked them, "What are you discussing with them?"

So they brought the boy to him, and when the spirit saw Jesus it at once convulsed the boy; he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Jesus asked his father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he said;

Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! Anything can be done for one who believes."

Now as Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, he checked the unclean spirit. "Deaf and dumb spirit," he said, "leave him, I command you, and never enter him again."

but, taking his hand, Jesus raised him and he got up.

Jesus said, "Do not stop him; no one who performs any miracle in my name will be ready to speak evil of me.

Jesus said to them, "He wrote you that command on account of the hardness of your hearts.

but Jesus was angry when he saw this, and he said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not stop them: the Realm of God belongs to such as these.

Jesus said to him, "Why call me 'good'? No one is good, no one but God.

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "There is one thing you want," he said; "go and sell all you have; give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have money to get into the Realm of God!"

Jesus looked at them and said, "For men it is impossible, but not for God: anything is possible for God."

Jesus said, "I tell you truly, no one has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel,

They were on the way up to Jerusalem, Jesus walking in front of them: the disciples were in dismay and the company who followed were afraid. So once again he took the twelve aside and proceeded to tell them what was going to happen to himself.

Jesus said, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I have to drink, or undergo the baptism I have to undergo?"

They said to him, "We can." Jesus said, "You shall drink the cup I have to drink and undergo the baptism I have to undergo;

so Jesus called them and said, "You know the so-called rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men overbear them:

heard it was Jesus of Nazaret. So he started to shout, "Son of David! Jesus! have pity on me."

Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." Then they called the blind man and told him, "Courage! Get up, he is calling you."

Throwing off his cloak he jumped up and went to Jesus.

Jesus spoke to him and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight."

Then Jesus said, "Go, your faith has made you well;" and he regained his sight at once and followed Jesus along the road.

So they answered as Jesus had told them, and the men allowed them to go.

Then they brought the colt to Jesus, and when they had put their clothes on it Jesus seated himself.

Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God!

Jesus said to them, "I am going to ask you a question. Answer this, and I will tell you what authority I have for acting as I do.

So they replied to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said to them, "No more will I tell you what authority I have for acting as I do."

Jesus said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God." He astonished them.

Jesus said to them, "Is this not where you go wrong? ??you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God.

Then a scribe came up, who had listened to the discussion. Knowing Jesus had given them an apt answer, he put this question to him, "What is the chief of all the commands?"

Jesus replied, "The chief one is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord,

Jesus noted his intelligent answer and said to him, "You are not far off the Realm of God." After that no one ventured to put any more questions to him.

And as Jesus taught in the temple he asked, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is David's son?

Jesus said to him, "You see these great buildings? Not a stone shall be left on another, without being torn down."

So Jesus began: "Take care that no one misleads you: ??6 many will come in my name saying, 'I am he,' and mislead many.

But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why are you annoying her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

As they were at table eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me."

Jesus said to them, "You will all be disconcerted, for it is written: I will strike at the shepherd, and, the sheep will be scattered.

Jesus said to him, "I tell you truly, to-day you will disown me three times, this very night, before the cock crows twice."

Jesus turned on them, saying, "Have you sallied out to arrest me like a robber, with swords and cudgels?

They took Jesus away to the high priest, and all the high priests and scribes and elders met there with him.

Now the high priests and the whole of the Sanhedrin tried to secure evidence against Jesus, in order to have him put to death; but they could find none,

So the high priest rose in their midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no reply to make? What about this evidence against you?"

Jesus said, "I am. And, what is more, you will all see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven."

and when she noticed Peter warming himself she looked at him and said, "You were with Jesus of Nazaret too."

At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered how Jesus had told him, "Before the cock crows twice you will disown me thrice;" and he burst into tears.

Immediately morning came, the high priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and all the Sanhedrin, and after binding Jesus they led him off and handed him over to Pilate.

But, to the astonishment of Pilate, Jesus answered no more.

So, as Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, he released Bar-Abbas for them; Jesus he handed over to be crucified, after he had scourged him.

and at three o'clock Jesus gave a loud cry, "El?i, El?i, lema sabachthanei" (which means, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)

But Jesus gave a loud cry and expired.

Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of good position who himself was on the outlook for the Reign of God, ventured to go to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus.

but he said to them, "Do not be bewildered. You are looking for Jesus of Nazaret, who was crucified? He has risen, he is not here. That is the place where he was laid.

Then after speaking to them the Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God,

while they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the miracles that endorsed it. (b) But they gave Peter and his companions a brief account of all these injunctions. And, after that, Jesus himself sent out by means of them from east to west the sacred and imperishable message of eternal salvation.