Going on a little further, he saw James, Zebediah's son, and his brother John, who also were in their boat mending the nets.

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them like one who had authority, and not like the Teachers of the Law.

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

"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

In the evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were ill or possessed by demons;

Jesus cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons, and would not permit them to speak, because they knew him to be the Christ.

And some people came bringing to him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four bearers.

But some of the Teachers of the Law who were sitting there were debating in their minds:

"Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God?"

Hearing this, Jesus said: "It is not those who are in health that need a doctor, but those who are ill. I did not come to call the religious, but the outcast."

For he had cured many of them, and so people kept crowding upon him, that all who were afflicted might touch him.

And Jesus made his way up the hill, and called those whom he wished; and they went to him.

And he appointed twelve--whom he also named 'Apostles'--that they might be with him, and that he might send them out as his Messengers, to preach,

James, the son of Zebediah, and his brother John (to whom he gave the name of Boanerges, which means the Thunderers),

And the Teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Baal-zebub, their chief."

No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house.

"Who is my mother? and my brothers?" was his reply.

And Jesus said: "Let any one who has ears to hear with hear."

And he said: "To you the hidden truth of the Kingdom of God has been imparted; but to those who are outside it all teaching takes the form of parables, that--

So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully;

Those meant by the seed sown among the brambles are different; they are the people who hear the Message,

But the people meant by the seed sown on the good ground are those who hear the Message, and welcome it, and yield a return, thirty, sixty, and even a hundred fold."

Let all who have ears to hear with hear.

For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

Jesus also said: "This is what the Kingdom of God is like-- like a man who has scattered seed on the ground,

But they were struck with great awe, and said to one another: "Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

And, as soon as Jesus had got out of the boat, he met a man coming out of the tombs, who was under the power of a foul spirit,

And who made his home in the tombs. No one had ever been able to secure him, even with a chain;

On this the men who tended them ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round; and the people went to see what had happened.

When they came to Jesus, they found the possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind--the very man who had had the 'Legion' in him--and they were awe-struck.

Then those who had seen it related to them all that had happened to the possessed man, as well as about the pigs;

Meanwhile a woman who for twelve years had suffered from hemorrhage,

Jesus at once became aware of the power that had gone out from him, and, turning round in the crowd, he said: "Who touched my clothes?"

"You see the people pressing round you," exclaimed his disciples, "and yet you say 'Who touched me?'"

But Jesus looked about to see who had done it.

They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were infirm, and cured them.

But when Herod heard of him, he said--"The man whom I beheaded--John--he must be risen!"

And when his daughter--that is, the daughter of Herodias--came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. 'Ask me for whatever you like,' the King said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you';

The men who ate the bread were five thousand in number.

Hurried over the whole country-side, and began to carry about upon mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was.

So wherever he went--to villages, or towns, or farms--they would lay their sick in the market-places, begging him to let them touch only the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made well.

One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus.

For while Moses said 'Honor thy father and thy mother,' and 'Let him who reviles his father or mother suffer death,'

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

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:

Afterwards Jesus and his disciples went into the villages round Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples this question-- "Who do people say that I am?"

"But you," he asked, "who do you say that I am?" To this Peter replied: "You are the Christ."

"I tell you," he added, "that some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come in power."

Why say 'possibly'?" Jesus replied. "Everything is possible for one who has faith."

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."

"Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even a little child like this is welcoming me, and any one who welcomes me is welcoming not me, but him who sent me as his Messenger."

He who is not against us is for us.

And, if any one puts a snare in the way of one of these lowly ones who believe in me, it would be far better for him if he had been thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck.

And he said: "Any one who divorces his wife and marries another woman is guilty of adultery against his wife;

Some of the people were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them; but the disciples found fault with those who had brought them.

"Then who can be saved?" they exclaimed in the greatest astonishment.

"I tell you," said Jesus, "there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or land, on my account and on account of the Good News,

Who will not receive a hundred times as much, even now in the present--houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and land--though not without persecutions, and, in the age that is coming, Immortal Life.

But many who are first now will then be last, and the last will be first."

One day, when they were on their way, going up to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in front of the Apostles, who were filled with misgivings; while those who were following behind were alarmed. Gathering the Twelve round him once more, Jesus began to tell them what was about to happen to him.

Who will mock him, spit upon him, and scourge him, and put him to death; and after three days he will rise again."

But as to a seat at my right or at my left--that is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

But Jesus called the ten to him, and said: "Those who are regarded as ruling among the Gentiles lord it over them, as you know, and their great men oppress them.

And those who led the way, as well as those who followed, kept shouting: "'God save him! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'

They came to Jerusalem. Jesus went into the Temple Courts, and began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of the pigeon-dealers,

And, whenever you stand up to pray, forgive any grievance that you have against any one, that your Father who is in Heaven also may forgive you your offenses."

"What authority have you to do these things?" they said. "Who gave you the authority to do them?"

He had still one son, who was very dear to him; and him he sent to them last of all. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

Next came some Sadducees--the men who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this--

There were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest took a wife, but died and left no family;

Then came up one of the Teachers of the Law who had heard their discussions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question: "What is the first of all the commandments?"

In the course of his teaching, Jesus said: "See that you are on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and to be greeted in the streets with respect,

On this, calling his disciples to him, Jesus said: "I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests;

Whenever they betray you and hand you over for trial, do not be anxious beforehand as to what you shall say, but say whatever is given you at the moment; for it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

As soon, however, as you see 'the Foul Desecration' standing where he ought not" (the reader must consider what this means) "then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains;

Nor must one who is on his farm turn back to get his cloak.

It is like a man going on a journey, who leaves his home, puts his servants in charge--each having his special duty--and orders the porter to watch.

Some of those who were present said to one another indignantly: "Why has the perfume been wasted like this?

And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said: "I tell you that one of you is going to betray me--one who is eating with me."

"It is one of you Twelve," said Jesus, "the one who is dipping his bread beside me into the dish.

True, the Son of Man must go, as Scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man 'it would be better never to have been born!'"

And just then, while he was still speaking, Judas, who was one of the Twelve, came up; and with him a crowd of people, with swords and clubs, sent by the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them. "The man whom I kiss," he had said, "will be the one; arrest him and take him away safely."

One of those who were standing by drew his sword, and struck at the High Priest's servant, and cut off his ear.

Peter, who had followed Jesus at a distance into the court- yard of the High Priest, was sitting there among the police- officers, warming himself at the blaze of the fire.

For, though there were many who gave false evidence against him, yet their evidence did not agree.

Now, at the Feast, Pilate used to grant the people the release of any one prisoner whom they might ask for.

A man called Barabbas was in prison, with the rioters who had committed murder during a riot.

Pilate, however, spoke to them again: "What shall I do then with the man whom you call the 'King of the Jews'?"

And they led Jesus out to crucify him; and they compelled a passer-by, Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them to carry his cross.

The passers-by railed at him, shaking their heads, as they said: "Ah! you who 'destroy the Temple and build one in three days,

"He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let the Christ, the 'King of Israel,' come down from the cross now, that we may see it and believe." Even the men who had been crucified with Jesus reviled him.

The Roman Officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he expired, exclaimed: "This man must indeed have been 'God's Son'!"

All of whom used to accompany Jesus when he was in Galilee, and attend on him--besides many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

Joseph from Ramah, a Councillor of good position, who was himself living in expectation of the Kingdom of God, came and ventured to go in to see Pilate, and to ask for the body of Jesus.

They were saying to one another: "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"

"Do not be dismayed; you are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified; he has risen, he is not here! Look! Here is the place where they laid him.

After his rising again, early on the first day of the week, Jesus appeared first of all to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had driven out seven demons.

She went and told the news to those who had been with him and who were now in sorrow and tears;

Later on, he made himself known to the Eleven themselves as they were at a meal, and reproached them with their want of faith and their stubbornness, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen from the dead.