During the reign of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

The angel came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!"

Then the angel told her, "Stop being afraid, Mary, because you have found favor with God.

The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will surround you. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called the Son of God.

And listen! Elizabeth, your relative, has herself conceived a son in her old age, this woman who was rumored to be barren is in her sixth month.

Then Mary said, "Truly I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you have said happen to me." Then the angel left her.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby jumped in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

How blessed is this woman for believing that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled!"

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son.

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

Their friends told her, "None of your relatives has that name."

While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby,

and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no place for them in the guest quarters.

However, Mary continued to treasure all these things in her heart and to ponder them.

Now Anna, a prophetess, was also there. She was a descendant of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,

Then he went back with them, returning to Nazareth and remaining in submission to them. His mother continued to treasure all these things in her heart.

The Devil also took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the Temple. He told Jesus, "Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,

So he told them, "You will probably quote this proverb to me, "Doctor, heal yourself! Do everything here in your hometown that we hear you did in Capernaum.'"

Then Jesus got up to leave the synagogue and went into Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, so they asked Jesus about her.

He bent over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began serving them.

As he approached the entrance to the city, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.

When the Lord saw her, he felt compassion for her. He told her, "You can stop crying."

Wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

and knelt at his feet behind him. She was crying and began to wash his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet over and over again, anointing them constantly with the perfume.

Then, turning to the woman, he told Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You didn't give me any water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

So I'm telling you that her sins, as many as they are, have been forgiven, and that's why she has shown such great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little."

Then Jesus told her, "Your sins are forgiven!"

Now a large herd of pigs was grazing there on the hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into those pigs, and he consented to that.

Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down a steep slope into the lake and drowned.

A woman was there who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had spent all she had on doctors, no one could heal her.

She came up behind Jesus and touched the tassel of his garment, and her bleeding stopped at once.

Then he told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

Now everyone was crying and wailing for her. But Jesus said, "Stop crying! She's not dead. She's sleeping."

But he took her hand and called out, "Young lady, get up!"

So her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then Jesus directed that she be given something to eat.

Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away to the neighboring villages and farms so they can rest and get some food, because we are here in a deserted place."

I tell you with certainty, some people who are standing here won't experience death until they see the kingdom of God."

Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter told Jesus, "Master, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter didn't know what he was saying.)

Jesus answered, "You unbelieving and perverted generation! How much longer must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here!"

Now as they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to him and asked, "Lord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, don't you? Then tell her to help me."

The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things.

But there's only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her."

Suppose he answers from inside, "Stop bothering me! The door is already locked, and my children are here with us in the bedroom. I can't get up and give you anything!'

As Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and told him, "How blessed is the womb that gave birth to you and the breasts that nursed you!"

The queen of the south will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look, something greater than Solomon is here!

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look, something greater than Jonah is here!"

"How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.

So he told the gardener, "Look here! For three years I've been coming to look for fruit on this tree but I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it waste the soil?'

A woman was there who had a spirit that had disabled her for eighteen years. She was hunched over and completely unable to stand up straight.

When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are free from your illness."

Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, "Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!"

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling!

When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin that I lost!'

"Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's hired men have more food than they can eat, and here I am starving to death!

Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery."

"But Abraham said, "My child, remember that during your lifetime you received blessings, while Lazarus received hardships. But now he is being comforted here, while you suffer.

People won't be saying, "Look! Here it is!' or "There it is!' because now the kingdom of God is among you."

People will say to you, "Look! There he is!' or "Look! Here he is!' But don't go and chase after him.

yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice. Otherwise, she will keep coming and wear me out.'"

"Then the other servant came and said, "Sir, look! Here's your coin. I've kept it in a cloth for safekeeping

But as for these enemies of mine who didn't want me to be their king bring them here and slaughter them in my presence!'"

and the third married her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children.

Now in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be, since the seven had married her?"

because all the others contributed to the offering out of their surplus, but she, in her poverty, dropped in everything she had to live on."

So they said, "Lord, look! Here are two swords." He answered them, "Enough of that!"

and told them, "You brought this man to me as one who turns the people against the government. And here in your presence I have examined him and have found him "Not Guilty' of the charges you make against him.

He is not here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee:

Even though they were still skeptical due to their joy and astonishment, Jesus asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

I am sending to you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."