have handed them down to us, I too, most excellent Theophilus, because I have carefully investigated them all from the start, have felt impressed to write them out in order for you

And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were far advanced in years.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must name him John.

Now you will keep silent and be unable to talk until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I told you, for it will be fulfilled at the proper time."

Because the heart of our God is merciful. And so the day will dawn upon us from on high,

And Joseph too went up from Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to the town of David in Judea called Bethlehem, because he was a descendant of the house and family of David,

But Herod the governor, because he was repeatedly reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the wicked deeds that Herod had done,

and they were completely astounded, because His message was spoken with authority.

Even demons came out of many people, shrieking and saying, "You are the Son of God!" But He reproved them and would not let them speak, because they knew that He was the Christ.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' feet and said, "Leave me, Lord, because I am a sinful man."

And as they could not find a way because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his pallet through the tiles, among the people right in front of Jesus.

So all the people were trying to touch Him, because power continued to go forth from Him and to cure them all.

But you must practice loving your enemies, doing good to them, and lending to them, despairing of nothing; so that your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

He is like a man who was building a house, who dug deep, and laid its foundation upon the rock; and when a flood came, the torrent burst upon that house but it could not shake it, because it was well built.

Another portion of them fell upon the rock, and as soon as they sprang up, they withered, because they had no moisture.

Then all the inhabitants of the country around Gerasa asked Him to go away from them, because they were terribly frightened. So He got into a boat and went back.

because his only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying. While He was going, the crowds of people continued to press upon Him.

Then a man in the crowd at once shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, because he is my only child;

Then John answered, "Master, we saw a man driving out demons by the use of your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not belong to our followers."

But they would not receive Him, because He was facing in the direction of Jerusalem.

I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs.

But a curse on you Pharisees, because you pay tithes on mint, rue, and every tiny garden herb, but neglect justice and the love of God! These latter especially you ought to have done, but ought not to have neglected the former.

A curse on you Pharisees, because you like to have the front seats in synagogues, and to be greeted with honor in public places!

A curse on you, because you are like unmarked graves which men walk over without knowing it!"

He said, "Yes, a curse on you experts in the law, too, because you load people down with loads too heavy to carry, and yet you do not touch the loads yourselves with one of your fingers!

A curse on you, because you build monuments for the prophets, whom your forefathers killed!

So you testify to what your forefathers did and approve it, because they killed them and you build monuments for them.

A curse on you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to the door of knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you kept out those who tried to get in."

because what you have spoken in darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in people's ears, behind closed doors, will be proclaimed from the housetops.

And then He said to them, "Be ever on the alert and always on your guard against every form of greed, because a man's life does not consist in his possessions, even though they are abundant."

So he began to argue with himself, 'What am I to do, because I have nowhere to store my crops?'

Then He answered them, "Do you think, because these Galileans suffered like this, that they were worse sinners than all the rest of the Galileans?

But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured her on the Sabbath, answered the crowd, "There are six days on which people must work; so come on these and be cured, but not on the Sabbath."

Then you will be happy, because they cannot repay you; you will be repaid at the resurrection of the upright."

and when he reaches home he calls in his friends and neighbors, and says to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!'

And when she finds it, she calls in her friends and neighbors, and says, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I lost!'

because this son of mine was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found!' So they began to celebrate.

He said to him, 'Your brother has come back, and your father has killed the fattening calf, because he has gotten him back safe and sound.'

But we just had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, was lost and has been found.'"

Then the manager said to himself, What shall I do, because my master is going to take my position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig; I am ashamed to beg.

And his master praised the dishonest manager, because he acted with shrewd business sense, for the men of the world act with more business sense toward their fellows than the men who enjoy spiritual light.

So he called and said, 'Father Abraham, take pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue, because I am ceaselessly tortured in this flame.'

yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming."

Now he was trying to see Jesus to find out who He was, but he could not because of the crowd, as he was so small in stature.

As they were listening to these things, He told them another story, because He was near Jerusalem and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

So he said to him, 'Well done, my good slave! Because you have proven dependable in a very small business, be governor of ten cities!'

For I lived in constant dread of you, because you are a stern man, you pick up what you did not put down, you reap what you did not sow.'

and they will throw you and your children within you to the ground, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know when God visited you."

and you will be continuously hated by everyone, because you bear my name.

Because the women were so frightened and were turning their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why are you looking among the dead for Him who is alive?