His announcement was, "There is One coming after me mightier than I--One whose sandal-strap I am unworthy to stoop down and unfasten.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan;

The people listened with amazement to His teaching--for there was authority about it: it was very different from that of the Scribes--

And His fame spread at once everywhere in all that part of Galilee.

"Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns," He replied, "that I may proclaim my Message there also; because for that purpose I came from God."

and saying, "Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself to the Priest, and for your purification present the offerings that Moses appointed as evidence for them."

But the man, when he went out, began to tell every one and to publish the matter abroad, so that it was no longer possible for Jesus to go openly into any town; but He had to remain outside in unfrequented places, where people came to Him from all parts.

After some days He entered Capernaum again, and it soon became known that He was at home;

and such numbers of people came together that there was no longer room for them even round the door. He was speaking His Message to them,

"Why does this man use such words?" they said; "he is blaspheming. Who can pardon sins but One--that is, God?"

At once perceiving by His spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, Jesus asked them, "Why do you thus argue in your minds?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins" --He turned to the paralytic, and said,

The man rose, and immediately under the eyes of all took up his mat and went out, so that they were all filled with astonishment, gave the glory to God, and said, "We never saw anything like this."

so that the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

But no sooner had the Pharisees left the synagogue than they held a consultation with the Herodians against Jesus, to devise some means of destroying Him.

and from Judaea and Jerusalem and Idumaea and from beyond the Jordan and from the district of Tyre and Sidon there came to Him a vast crowd, hearing of all that He was doing.

For He had cured many of the people, so that all who had any ailments pressed upon Him, to touch Him.

He appointed twelve of them, that they might be with Him, and that He might also send them to proclaim His Message,

James the son of Zabdi and John the brother of James (these two He surnamed Boanerges, that is 'Sons of Thunder')

And He went into a house. But again the crowd assembled, so that there was no opportunity for them even to snatch a meal.

The Scribes, too, who had come down from Jerusalem said, "He has Baal-zebul in him; and it is by the power of the Prince of the demons that he expels the demons."

For if civil war breaks out in a kingdom, nothing can make that kingdom last;

and if a family splits into parties, that family cannot continue.

In solemn truth I tell you that all their sins may be pardoned to the sons of men, and all their blasphemies, however they may have blasphemed;

Some, again, falls among the thorns; and the thorns spring up and stifle it, so that it yields no crop.

that "'They may look and look but not see, and listen and listen but not understand, lest perchance they should return and be pardoned.'"

He went on to say, "Is the lamp brought in in order to be put under the bushel or under the bed? Is it not rather in order that it may be placed on the lampstand?

Why, there is nothing hidden except with a view to its being ultimately disclosed, nor has anything been made a secret but that it may at last come to light.

He also said to them, "Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.

But no sooner is the crop ripe, than he sends the reapers, because the time of harvest has come."

yet when sown it springs up and becomes larger than all the herbs, and throws out great branches, so that the birds build under its shadow."

But a heavy squall came on, and the waves were now dashing into the boat, so that it was fast filling.

But He Himself was in the stern asleep, with His head on the cushion: so they woke Him. "Rabbi," they cried, "is it nothing to you that we are drowning?"

So they besought Jesus. "Send us to the swine," they said, "so that we may enter into them."

The swineherds fled, and spread the news in town and country. So the people came to see what it was that had happened;

But He would not allow it. "Go home to your family," He said, "and report to them all that the Lord has done for you, and the mercy He has shown you."

So the man departed, and related publicly everywhere in the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and all were astonished.

and besought Him with many entreaties. "My little daughter," he said, "is at the point of death: I pray you come and lay your hands upon her, that she may recover and live."

In a moment the flow of her blood ceased, and she felt in herself that her complaint was cured.

Immediately Jesus, well knowing that healing power had gone from within Him, turned round in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Then, taking her by the hand, He says to her, "Talitha, koum;" that is to say, "Little girl, I command you to wake!"

but He gave strict injunctions that the matter should not be made known, and directed them to give her something to eat.

Leaving that place He came into His own country, accompanied by His disciples.

On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. "Where did he acquire all this?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?

And He could not do any miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few who were out of health and cured them; and

Wherever you enter a house, make it your home till you leave that place.

So they set out, and preached in order that men might repent.

Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets."

at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, "Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you."

The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist."

Then He said to them, "Come away, all of you, to a quiet place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, so that they had no time even for meals.

send them away that they may go to the farms and villages near here and buy themselves something to eat."

They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out;

But no sooner had they gone ashore than the people immediately recognized Him.

They had noticed that some of His disciples were eating their food with 'unclean' (that is to say, unwashed)

But *you* say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, It is a Korban (that is, a thing devoted to God)

thus nullifying God's precept by your tradition which you have handed down. And many things of that kind you do."

There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make him unclean; but it is the things which come out of a man that make him unclean."

"Have *you* also so little understanding?" He replied; "do you not understand that anything whatever that enters a man from outside cannot make him unclean,

"What comes out of a man," He added, "that it is which makes him unclean.

Then He rose and left that place and went into the neighbourhood of Tyre and Sidon. Here He entered a house and wished no one to know it, but He could not escape observation.

Here they brought to Him a deaf man that stammered, on whom they begged Him to lay His hands.

and looking up to Heaven He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Open!")

About that time there was again an immense crowd, and they found themselves with nothing to eat. So He called His disciples to Him.

Heaving a deep and troubled sigh, He said, "Why do the men of to-day ask for a sign? In solemn truth I tell you that no sign will be given to the men of to-day."

Now they had forgotten to take bread, nor had they more than a single loaf with them in the boat;

From that place Jesus and His disciples went to the villages belonging to Caesarea Philippi. On the way He began to ask His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," they replied, "but others say Elijah, and others, that it is one of the Prophets."

Then He asked them pointedly, "But you yourselves, who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ," answered Peter.

He went on to say, "In solemn truth I tell you that some of those who are standing here will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God already come in power."

when Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

They also asked Him, "How is it that the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?"

"Elijah," He replied, "does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt?

Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him."

So they brought him to Jesus. And the spirit, when he saw Jesus, immediately threw the youth into convulsions, so that he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.

Then Jesus, seeing that an increasing crowd was running towards Him, rebuked the foul spirit, and said to it, "Dumb and deaf spirit, *I* command you, come out of him and never enter into him again."

So with a loud cry he threw the boy into fit after fit, and came out. The boy looked as if he were dead, so that most of them said he was dead;

After the return of Jesus to the house His disciples asked Him privately, "How is it that we could not expel the spirit?"

Departing thence they passed through Galilee, and He was unwilling that any one should know it;

"Rabbi," said John to Him, "we saw a man making use of your name to expel demons, and we tried to hinder him, on the ground that he did not follow us."

and whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, I solemnly tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.

If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life maimed, than remain in possession of both your hands and go away into Gehenna, into the fire which cannot be put out.

Or if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off: it would be better for you to enter into Life crippled, than remain in possession of both your feet and be thrown into Gehenna.

Or if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God half-blind than remain in possession of two eyes and be thrown into Gehenna,

"It was in consideration of your stubborn hearts," said Jesus, "that Moses enacted this law for you;

and the two shall be one'; so that they are two no longer, but 'one.'

In solemn truth I tell you that no one who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will by any possibility enter it."

"Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply; "there is no one truly good except One--that is, God.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."

"Remember," said Peter to Him, "that we forsook everything and have become your followers."

"In solemn truth I tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has forsaken house or brothers or sisters, or mother or father, or children or lands, for my sake and for the sake of the Good News,

but as to sitting at my right hand or at my left, that is not mine to give: it will be for those for whom it is reserved."

They came to Jericho; and as He was leaving that town--Himself and His disciples and a great crowd--Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus)

Hearing that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me."

And if any one asks you, 'Why are you doing that?' say, 'The Master needs it, and will send it back here without delay.'"

But on their giving the answer that Jesus had bidden them give, they let them take it.

In solemn truth I tell you that if any one shall say to this mountain, 'Remove, and hurl thyself into the sea,' and has no doubt about it in his heart, but stedfastly believes that what he says will happen, it shall be granted him.

That is why I tell you, as to whatever you pray and make request for, if you believe that you have received it it shall be yours.

But whenever you stand praying, if you have a grievance against any one, forgive it, so that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your offences."

And they kept looking out for an opportunity to seize Him, but were afraid of the people; for they saw that in this parable He had referred to *them*. So they left Him and went away.