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.

But the angel told him, "Stop being afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

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

He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.

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

Everyone who heard about it kept thinking what had happened and asked, "What will this child become?" because it was obvious that the hand of the Lord was with him.

All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

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

Then the shepherds returned to their flock, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

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.

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Now Herod the tetrarch had been rebuked by John because he had married his brother's wife Herodias and because of all of the other evil things Herod had done.

Added to all this, Herod locked John up in prison.

he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled, as you've heard it read aloud."

All the people in the synagogue became furious when they heard this.

Simon answered, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I'll lower the nets."

A good person produces good from the good treasure of his heart, and an evil person produces evil from an evil treasure, because the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart."

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and save his servant's life.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!"

So he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have observed and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear again, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news.

Joanna, the wife of Herod's household manager Chuza; Susanna; and many others. These women continued to support them out of their personal resources.

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.

But when Jesus heard this, he told the synagogue leader, "Stop being afraid! Just believe, and she will get well."

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

Herod said, "I beheaded John. But who is this man I'm hearing so much about?" So Herod kept trying to see Jesus.

Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy all the enemy's power, and nothing will ever hurt you.

He answered, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor as yourself."

Jesus said, "How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law, too! You load people with burdens that are hard to carry, yet you don't even lift a finger to ease those burdens.

Therefore, what you have said in darkness will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be shouted from the housetops."

Because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

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

Now one of those eating with him heard this and told him, "How blessed is the person who will eat in the kingdom of God!"

"Now the father's older son was in the field. As he was coming back to the house, he heard music and dancing.

When Jesus heard this, he told him, "You still need to do one thing. Sell everything you have and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me."

But when the official heard this he became sad, because he was very rich.

So when Jesus saw how sad he was, he said, "How hard it is for rich people to get into the kingdom of God!

When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

because I was afraid of you. You are a hard man. You withdraw what you didn't deposit and harvest what you didn't plant.'

The king told him, "I will judge you by your own words, you evil servant! You knew, did you, that I was a hard man, and that I withdraw what I didn't deposit and harvest what I didn't plant?

He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "That must never happen!"

"Why do we need any more testimony?" they asked. "We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth!"

When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.

When he learned with certainty that Jesus came from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.

Now Herod was very glad to see Jesus, because he had been wanting to see him for a long time on account of what he had heard about him. He was also hoping to see some sign done by him.

Even Herod and his soldiers treated him with contempt and made fun of him. He put a magnificent robe on Jesus and sent him back to Pilate.

So Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day. Before this they had been enemies.

Neither does Herod, because he sent him back to us! Indeed, this man has done nothing to deserve death.