[To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,

It fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;

And cried aloud: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is your unborn child!

Among others Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, the town of David, in Judea--because he belonged to the family and house of David--

"Glory to God on high, And on earth peace among men in whom he finds pleasure."

Thinking that he was with their fellow-travelers, they went one day's journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;

It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.

Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they expel you from among them, and taunt you, and reject your Name as an evil thing--on account of the Son of Man.

Every one was awe-struck and began praising God. "A great Prophet has arisen among us," they said; "and God has visited his people."

By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world's cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.

(For the men among them were about five thousand.) "Get them seated in companies," was his reply, "about fifty in each."

A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest;

And then said to them: "Any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even this little child is welcoming me; and any one who welcomes me is welcoming him who sent me as his Messenger. For whoever is lowliest among you all--that man is great."

Now, go. Remember, I am sending you out as my Messengers like lambs among wolves.

What father among you, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead,

That servant's master will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour of which he is unaware, and will flog him severely and assign him his place among the untrustworthy.

"What man among you who has a hundred sheep, and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine out in the open country, and go after the lost sheep till he finds it?

"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

There will be signs, too, in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth despair among the nations, in their dismay at the roar of the sea and the surge.

"Take this and share it among you. For I tell you that I shall not, after to-day, drink of the juice of the grape, till the Kingdom of God has come."

And a dispute arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves.

Which is the greater--the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves.

For, I tell you, that passage of Scripture must be fulfilled in me, which says--'He was counted among the godless'; indeed all that refers to me is finding its fulfillment."

[Then Jesus said: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing."] His clothes they divided among them by casting lots.

But, when in their fear the women bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them: "Why are you looking among the dead for him who is living?

And what is more, some of the women among us have greatly astonished us. They went to the tomb at daybreak

While they were still talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, [and said "Peace be with you."]