it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.

And now you will be dumb and unable to speak until the day when this has taken place; because you did not believe my words--words which will be fulfilled at their appointed time."

"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."

And see, your relative Elizabeth--she also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

And blessed is she who has believed, for the word spoken to her from the Lord shall be fulfilled."

Because He has not turned from His maidservant in her lowly position; For from this time forward all generations will account me happy,

Because the mighty One has done great things for me--Holy is His name!--

He has manifested His supreme strength. He has scattered those who were haughty in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has cast monarchs down from their thrones, And exalted men of low estate.

The hungry He has satisfied with choice gifts, But the rich He has sent empty-handed away.

His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--

"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel," he said, "Because He has not forgotten His people but has effected redemption for them,

And has raised up a mighty Deliverer for us In the house of David His servant--

As He has spoken from all time by the lips of His holy Prophets--

Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

Which Thou hast made ready in the sight of all nations--

Accordingly John used to say to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, "O vipers' brood, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

"Let the man who has two coats," he answered, "give one to the man who has none; and let the man who has food share it with others."

And the Devil said to Him, "To you will I give all this authority and this splendour; for it has been handed over to me, and on whomsoever I will I bestow it.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor; He has sent me to announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed,

But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home."

But a time for this will come, when the Bridegroom has been taken away from them: then, at that time, they will fast."

But he who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately it collapses, and terrible is the wreck and ruin of that house."

All were awe-struck, and they gave glory to God--some saying, "A Prophet, a great Prophet, has risen up among us." Others said, "God has not forgotten His People."

The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the Coming One, or is there another that we are to expect?'"

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, there is a man who is overfond of eating and drinking--he is a friend of tax-gatherers and notorious sinners!'

Then turning towards the woman He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you gave me no water for my feet; but she has made my feet wet with her tears, and then wiped the tears away with her hair.

No kiss did you give me; but she from the moment I came in has not left off tenderly kissing my feet.

No oil did you pour even on my head; but she has poured perfume upon my feet.

This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

But He said to the woman, "Your faith has cured you: go, and be at peace."

But some of the seed falls into good ground, and grows up and yields a return of a hundred for one." While thus speaking, He cried aloud and said, "Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"

Be careful, therefore, how you hear; for whoever has anything, to him more shall be given, and whoever has nothing, even that which he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

"Return home," He said, "and tell there all that God has done for you." So he went and published through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.

"Some one has touched me," Jesus replied, "for I feel that power has gone out from me."

"Daughter," said He, "your faith has cured you; go, and be at peace."

"John the Baptist," they replied; "but others say Elijah; and others that some one of the ancient Prophets has come back to life."

At times a spirit seizes him and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him, and makes him foam at the mouth, and does not leave him till it has well-nigh covered him with bruises.

"The foxes have holes," said Jesus, "and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Jesus answered him, "No one who has put his hand to the plough, and then looks behind him, is fit for the Kingdom of God.

On that same occasion Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with rapturous joy. "I give Thee fervent thanks," He exclaimed, "O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of understanding, and hast revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

and yet only one thing is really necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion and she shall not be deprived of it."

for a friend of mine has just come to my house from a distance, and I have nothing for him to eat'?

And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.

But if it is by the power of God that I drive out the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

"When a foul spirit has left a man, it roams about in the Desert, seeking a resting-place; but, unable to find any, it says, 'I will return to the house I have left;"

If, however, your whole body is penetrated with light, and has no part dark, it will be so lighted, all of it, as when the lamp with its bright shining gives you light."

"For this reason also the Wisdom of God has said, 'I will send Prophets and Apostles to them, of whom they will kill some and persecute others,'

I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who after killing has power to throw into Gehenna: yes, I say to you, fear him.

"Man," He replied, "who has constituted me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

"So is it with him who amasses treasure for himself, but has no riches in God."

And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.

But he who had not been told it and yet did what deserved the scourge, will receive but few lashes. To whomsoever much has been given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been entrusted, of him a larger amount will be demanded.

"Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not sit down first and calculate the cost, asking if he has the means to finish it? --

lest perhaps, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to finish, all who see it shall begin to jeer at him,

"Salt is good: but if even the salt has become tasteless, what will you use to season it?

Neither for land nor dunghill is it of any use; they throw it away. Listen, every one who has ears to listen with!"

"Which of you men, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in their pasture and go in search of the lost one till he finds it?

And when he has found it, he lifts it on his shoulder, glad at heart.

"Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?

And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbours, and says, "'Congratulate me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.'

for my son here was dead and has come to life again: he was lost and has been found.' "And they began to be merry.

"'Your brother has come,' he replied; 'and your father has had the fat calf killed, because he has got him home safe and sound.'

but now that this son of yours is come who has eaten up your property among his bad women, you have killed the fat calf for him.'

We are bound to make merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has come back to life, he was lost and has been found.'"

The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.

But which of you who has a servant ploughing, or tending sheep, will say to him when he comes in from the farm, 'Come at once and take your place at table,'

And He said to him, "Rise and go: your faith has cured you."

"I solemnly tell you," replied Jesus, "that there is no one who has left house or wife, or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of God's Kingdom,

"Recover your sight," said Jesus: "your faith has cured you."

When they all saw this, they began to complain with indignation. "He has gone in to be the guest of a notorious sinner!" they said.

Turning towards him, Jesus replied, "To-day salvation has come to this house, seeing that he too is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

"So the first came and said, "'Sir, your pound has produced ten pounds more.'

"The second came, and said, "'Your pound, Sir, has produced five pounds.'

"And he said to those who stood by, "'Take the pound from him and give it to him who has the ten pounds.'

("They said to him, "`Sir, he already has ten pounds.')

"'I tell you that to every one who has anything, more shall be given; and from him who has not anything, even what he has shall be taken away.

saying to them, "Go into the village facing you. On entering it you will find an ass's foal tied up which no one has ever yet ridden: untie it, and bring it here.

And they will dash thee to the ground and thy children within thee, and will not leave one stone upon another within thee; because thou hast not recognized the time of thy visitation."

He looked at them and said, "What then does that mean which is written, "'The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone'?

and He said, "In truth I tell you that this widow, so poor, has thrown in more than any of them.

For from what they could well spare they have all of them contributed to the offerings, but she in her need has thrown in all she had to live on."

for I tell you that I certainly shall not eat one again till its full meaning has been brought out in the Kingdom of God."

for I tell you that from this time I will never drink the produce of the vine till the Kingdom of God has come."

and I covenant to give you, as my Father has covenanted to give me, a Kingdom--

"Simon, Simon, I tell you that Satan has obtained permission to have all of you to sift as wheat is sifted.

"But now," said He, "let the one who has a purse take it, and he who has a bag must do the same. And let him who has no sword sell his outer garment and buy one.

For I tell you that those words of Scripture must yet find their fulfilment in me: 'And He was reckoned among the lawless'; for indeed that saying about me has its accomplishment."

No, nor does Herod; for he has sent him back to us; and, you see, there is nothing he has done that deserves death.

A third time he appealed to them: "Why, what crime has the man committed? I have discovered in him nothing that deserves death. I will therefore give him a light punishment and release him."

And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving due requital for what we have done. But He has done nothing amiss."

He is not here. He has come back to life. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,

"Yes, it is true: the Master has come back to life. He has been seen by Simon."

See my hands and my feet--it is my very self. Feel me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see I have."