John was clad in clothing of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey;

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

And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him,

And he was there in the Wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts, while the angels ministered to him.

As Jesus was going along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the Sea, for they were fishermen.

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

Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying ill with fever, and they at once told Jesus about her.

And the whole city was gathered round the door.

But Jesus said to them: "Let us go somewhere else, into the country towns near, that I may make my proclamation in them also; for that was why I came."

Some days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, the news spread that he was in a house there;

And so many people collected together, that after a while there was no room for them even round the door; and he began to tell them his Message.

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

Being, however, unable to get him near to Jesus, owing to the crowd, they removed the roofing below which Jesus was; and, when they had made an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.

And later on he was in his house at table, and a number of tax-gatherers and outcasts took their places at table with Jesus and his disciples; for many of them were following him.

When the Teachers of the Law belonging to the party of the Pharisees saw that he was eating in the company of such people, they said to his disciples: "He is eating in the company of tax- gatherers and outcasts!"

One Sabbath, as Jesus was walking through the cornfields, his disciples began to pick the ears of wheat as they went along.

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions--

Then Jesus added: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath;

On another occasion Jesus went in to a Synagogue, where they was a man whose hand was withered.

And a great number, hearing of all that he was doing, came to him from Judea, from Jerusalem, from Edom, from beyond the Jordan, and from the country round Tyre and Sidon.

So he appointed the Twelve--Peter (which was the name that Jesus gave to Simon),

When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.

There was a crowd sitting round Jesus, and some of them said to him: "Look, your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you."

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

Jesus again began to teach by the Sea; and, as an immense crowd was gathering round him, he got into a boat, and sat in it on the Sea, while all the people were on the shore at the water's edge.

And presently, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path; and the birds came, and ate it up.

But, when the sun rose, it was scorched, and, having no root, withered away.

Afterwards, when he was alone, his followers and the Twelve asked him about his parables;

Nothing is hidden unless it is some day to come to light, nor was anything ever kept hidden but that it should some day come into the light of day.

So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him.

A violent squall came on, and the waves kept dashing into the boat, so that the boat was actually filling.

Jesus was in the stern asleep upon the cushion; and the disciples roused him and cried: "Teacher! is it nothing to you that we are lost?"

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,

Night and day alike, he was continually shrieking in the tombs and among the hills, and cutting himself with stones.

There was a large drove of pigs close by, feeding on the hill- side.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the possessed man begged him to let him stay with him.

So the man went, and began to proclaim in the district of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and every one was amazed.

And one of the Presidents of the Synagogue, whose name was Jaeirus, came and, as soon as he saw Jesus, threw himself at his feet with repeated entreaties.

At once the mischief was stopped, and she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint.

They began to laugh at him; but he sent them all out, and then, with the child's father and mother and his companions, went into the room where she was lying.

The little girl stood up at once, and began to walk about; for she was twelve years old. And, as soon as they saw it, they were overwhelmed with amazement;

So Herodias was incensed against John, and wanted to put him to death, but was unable to do so,

The King was much distressed; yet, on account of his oath and of the guests at his table, he did not like to refuse her.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were 'like sheep without a shepherd'; and he began to teach them many things.

Immediately afterwards Jesus made his disciples get into the boat, and cross over in advance, in the direction of Bethsaida, while he himself was dismissing the crowd.

When evening fell, the boat was out in the middle of the Sea, and Jesus on the shore alone.

Seeing them laboring at the oars--for the wind was against them--about three hours after midnight Jesus came towards them, walking on the water, intending to join them.

But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;

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

His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me;

The woman was a foreigner, a native of Syrian Phoenicia--and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

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

The man's ears were opened, the string of his tongue was freed, and he began to talk plainly.

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:

Then Jesus again placed his hands on the man's eyes; and the man saw clearly, his sight was restored, and he saw everything with perfect distinctness.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes,

And suddenly, on looking round, they saw that there was now no one with them but Jesus alone.

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."

With a loud cry the spirit threw the boy into repeated convulsions, and then came out from him. The boy looked like a corpse, so that most of them said that he was dead.

for he was instructing his disciples, and telling them-- "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of his fellow men, and they will put him to death, but, when he has been put to death, he will rise again after three days."

But they were silent; for on the way they had been arguing with one another which was the greatest.

"It was owing to the hardness of your hearts," said Jesus, "that Moses gave you this direction;

When, however, Jesus saw this, he was indignant. "Let the little children come to me," he said, "do not hinder them; for it is to the childlike that the Kingdom of God belongs.

And, as Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to gain Immortal Life?"

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.

They came to Jericho. When Jesus was going out of the town with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road-side.

Hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to call out: "Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me."

Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the Temple Courts; and, after looking round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

And, noticing a fig-tree at a distance in leaf, he went to it to see if by any chance he could find something on it; but, on coming up to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.

As they passed by early in the morning, they noticed that the fig-tree was withered up from the very roots.

They came to Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors came up to him.

It is about John's baptism. Was it of divine or human origin? Answer me that."

So their answer to Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," replied Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."

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.

After this his enemies were eager to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed the parable. So they let him alone, and went away.

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

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple Courts, he asked: "How is it that the Teachers of the Law say that the Christ is to be David's son?

As Jesus was walking out of the Temple Courts, one of his disciples said to him: "Teacher, look what fine stones and buildings these are!"

It was now two days before the Festival of the Passover and the Unleavened bread. The Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus by stealth, and to put him to death;

When Jesus was still at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, while he was at table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of choice spikenard perfume of great value. She broke the jar, and poured the perfume on his head.

On the first day of the Festival of the Unleavened bread, when it was customary to kill the Passover lambs, his disciples said to Jesus: "Where do you wish us to go and make preparations for your eating the Passover?"

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.

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.

While Peter was in the court-yard down below, one of the High Priest's maidservants came up;

As soon as it was daylight, the Chief Priests, after holding a consultation with the Councillors and Teachers of the Law--that is to say, the whole High Council--put Jesus in chains, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate.

But Jesus still made no reply whatever; at which Pilate was astonished.

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

For he was aware that it was out of jealousy that the Chief Priests had given Jesus up to him.

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.

They brought Jesus to the place which was known as Golgotha- -a name which means 'Place of a Skull.'

It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

The Temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.

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.

The evening had already fallen, when, as it was the Preparation Day--the day before the Sabbath--

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.

But Pilate was surprised to hear that he had already died. So he sent for the Officer, and asked if he were already dead;

And, on learning from the Officer that it was so, he gave the corpse to Joseph.