Now about that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

"The time has come, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the Good News."

Now there was in their Synagogue at the time a man under the power of a foul spirit, who called out:

How he went into the House of God, in the time of Abiathar the High Priest, and ate 'the consecrated bread,' which only the priests are allowed to eat, and gave some to his comrades as well?"

But, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, they fall away at once.

By the time Jesus had re-crossed in the boat to the opposite shore, a great number of people had gathered to meet him, and were standing by the Sea.

"Come by yourselves privately to some lonely spot," he said, "and rest for a while"--for there were so many people coming and going that they had not time even to eat.

Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and almost dumb, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.

And a profound impression was made upon the people. "He has done everything well!" they exclaimed. "He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak!"

About that time, when there was again a great crowd of people who had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him, and said:

"Teacher," answered a man in the crowd, "I brought my son to see you, as he has a dumb spirit in him;

But, when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly collecting, he rebuked the foul spirit: "Deaf and dumb spirit, it is I who command you. Come out from him and never enter him again."

At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive from them a share of the produce of the vintage;

A second time the owner sent a servant to them; this man, too, the tenants struck on the head, and insulted.

For those days will be a time of distress, the like of which has not occurred from the beginning of God's creation until now-- and never will again.

And at that time if any one should say to you 'Look, here is the Christ!' 'Look, there he is!', do not believe it;

In those days, after that time of distress, 'the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light,

See that you are on the watch; for you do not know when the time will be.

A third time he came, and said to them: "Sleep on now, and rest yourselves. Enough! My time has come. Hark! the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of wicked men.

But Jesus remained silent, and made no answer. A second time the High Priest questioned him. "Are you," he asked, "the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

At that moment, for the second time, a cock crowed; and Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him-- 'Before a cock has crowed twice, you will disown me three times'; and, as he thought of it, he began to weep.