even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face to prepare your way.

and all the land of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and he had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts, and "honey of the wood."

It was at that time that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan;

Then the Spirit drove him at once into the desert,

At once they left their nets and followed him.

They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the Scribes.

And at that very moment, there in their synagogue, a man in the grip of an unclean spirit shrieked out.

"What business have you with us, you Jesus of Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, the Holy One of God."

But Jesus rebuked him, saying. "Be quit! Come out of him."

So the unclean spirit, after tearing him, came out of him with a loud cry;

and every one was amazed so that they began questioning among themselves. "What does this mean? A new teaching with authority? He lays commands even upon unclean spirits and they obey him."

And at once his fame spread everywhere through that part of Galilee.

On leaving the synagogue they went at once with James and John to the house of Simon and Andrew.

So he came and took her hand and raised her up. The fever left her at once, and she began to wait upon them.

At evening when the sun had set, people came and brought to him all the sick and demon-possessed,

and the whole town was gathered at the door.

He cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning he rose a great while before day and went out to a desert place, and there prayed.

So he went throughout Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus, moved with compassion, put out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose, be clean!"

The leprosy at once left him, and he was made clean.

"See you say nothing to any one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your purification what Moses commanded for a testimony to them."

But he went out and began to tell every one and to publish it broadcast, so that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; but he had to remain outside in lonely places, and people kept coming to him from every quarter.

and at once such a crowd gathered that there was no longer room for them, even around the door.

Jesus clearly perceived at once be the Spirit that they were thus reasoning in their hearts and said to them.

The man rose, at once took up his cot, and went out before them all; at which they were all astounded, and gave God glory, saying, "We never saw anything like this."

Later on Levi was sitting at table in his house, and together with Jesus and his disciples a number of tax-gatherers and sinners were guests, for there were many of them who used to follow him.

On hearing this Jesus said to them. "It is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Now the disciples of John and the Pharisees were keeping a fast, and people came to ask him, "How is it that the disciples of John and the Pharisees are fasting, but your disciples are not?"

No one ever sews a piece of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment, otherwise the patch tears away from it??he new from the old??nd a worse tear is made.

One Sabbath he was walking along through the wheat-fields, and his disciples, as they began to make their way across, were pulling the heads of wheat.

"Look," said the Pharisees to him, "Why are they doing on the Sabbath Day what is against the law?"

He answered them. "Have you never read what David did when he was needy and hungry, he and his men?

How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which none but priests may eat, and gave some to his men?

Then he asked them. "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?"

They were silent. Then looking around upon them with anger, and deeply grieved by the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand!" He stretched it out, and the hand was at once completely restored.

As soon as they came out, the Pharisees plotted against him with the Herodians, in order to destroy him.

From Judea, too, and Jerusalem, and Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and from the district of Tyre and Sidon, they came to him a vast multitude, because they heard what he was doing.

And whenever the unclean spirits beheld him, they threw themselves down at his feet, screaming out, "You are the Son of God."

Twelve of them whom he also called "Apostles," he appointed to be with him, and also that he might send them out to preach,

and to have authority to cast out demons.

When his relatives heard of it, they came to take possession of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

The Scribes also who had come down from Jerusalem, said, "He is Beelzebub," and, "He casts out demons by the power of the Prince of the demons."

So when he had called them to him he spoke to them in parables. "How," said he, "can Satan cast out Satan?

Then, with a glance at those who were in the circle sitting around him, he added.

Afterwards Jesus began to teach by the seaside, and a vast multitude of people gathered about him, so that he went on board a boat on the sea, and sat there, while all the people stayed on shore, at the water's edge.

"Listen! the Sower once went out to sow,

and as he sowed, it happened that some seed fell on the road, and birds came and picked it up;

some other seed fell on stony soil, where it had not much earth; and it sprang up quickly because it had no depth of soil,

but when the sun rose it was scorched and withered away because it had no root.

Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked it, so that it yielded no crop.

"What the Sower sows is the Word. There are those 'on the wayside' where the Word is sown.

As soon as they hear it, Satan immediately comes and snatches away the Word which has been sown in them.

And like the sowing upon 'stony ground' are those who, whenever they hear the Word, at once receive it with joy,

but because they have no root in themselves they last for a time; but when suffering or persecution ensues because of the Word, they at once fall away.

When they have heard the Word, the anxieties of life and the snares of wealth, and all sorts of other ambitions, come in to choke the Word, so that it proves unfruitful.

But those, on the other hand, who were sown on that good soil, are those who listen to the Word, and welcome it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold."

He went on to say. "Is the lamp brought in to be put under the bushel or the bed? Is it not rather to be put on the lamp-stand?

There is nothing hidden except what is to be disclosed, and nothing concealed except what is to be revealed.

And he said to them. "Take heed what you hear. With what measure you measure it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you.

For he who holds, to him will more be given, and he who holds not, from him will be taken even what he holds."

"It is with the kingdom of God," he continued, "as if a man should have sown seed in the earth;

Then as soon as the crop is ready the man has the sickle put in at once, because harvest-time is come.

"To what shall we compare the kingdom of God?" he said again. "in what parable shall we set it forth?

It is like a mustard-seed, which, when sown in the soil, is the smallest seed in the world;

yet when sown shoots up and becomes larger than any plant, sending out such branches that the wild birds build their nests under its shadow."

With many such illustrations Jesus used to tell his message to people as far as they were able to receive it;

and to them it was his practice never to speak except in parables. But he used to explain everything in private to his disciples.

But a great gale of wind came up, and the waves were dashing into the boat so that it began to fill.

and he had no sooner stepped out of the boat, than a man out of the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean spirit,

and with a shriek he cried out in a loud voice. "Jesus, son of God most high, what business have you with me? I adjure you by God, torment me not!"

For Jesus was saying, "Foul spirit, come out of the man."

He continued asking him, "What is your mane?" "Legion is my name, for we are many."

Over and over he continued to beg Jesus not to send them away out of the country.

And he gave them leave. And out came the foul spirits and entered the swine; and the drove rushed down from the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand, and were choked in the sea.

On this the swineherds ran away and spread the news in town and country. So the people went to see what had happened.

And those who had been eye-witnesses told them what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine.

"Go home to your own people, and tell them what great things God has done for you, and has had mercy upon you."

Then one of the wardens of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up, and as soon as he saw Jesus, fell at his feet, with many entreaties,

At once the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was cured of her complaint.

"You see the crowd thronging about you," said his disciples, "and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'"

But he kept looking about to see who had done it,

and the woman knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And instantly the little girl stood up, and began to walk, for she was twelve years old, They were at once beside themselves with utter amazement.

He, however, repeatedly cautioned them not to let any one know about it, and directed them to give her something to eat.

When it came Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; many, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get all this?" they asked; "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, and miracles such as these that happen at his hands?

And he wondered at their lack of faith. So he went among the neighboring villages, teaching.

Then summoning the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

and if any place does not receive you, or listen to you, as you go out of it shake off the dust under your feet, as a warning to them."

They cast out many demons, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.

King Herod heard it, for the name of Jesus had become well known, People were saying, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and on that account these powers are working in him."

For John had often told Herod, "It is not right for you to live with your brother's wife."

but she could not, for Herod was afraid of John because he knew that he was a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened to John he was much exercised, yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

at which the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced. She charmed Herod and his guests. "Ask me whatever you want," said the king to the young girl, "and I will give it to you."

He even swore to her that whatever she asked, he would give it to her, up to half his kingdom.

So she came out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she replied.

So she at once hurried in to the king and made her request, "I want you," she said, "to give me, without delay, the head of John the Baptist on a charger."

Then the king was exceedingly sorry; yet on account of his oaths and his guests he was unwilling to disappoint her.

So he sent at once a soldier of the guard with orders to bring his head.