But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was.

“He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

To show mercy [as He promised] to our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant [the promised blessing],

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,

This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying one to another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this [wonderful] thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

And when they had seen this, they made known what had been told them about this Child,

‘Every ravine shall be filled up,
And every mountain and hill shall be leveled;
And the crooked [places] shall be made straight,
And the rough roads smooth;

Now the people were in a state of expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

John answered them all by saying, “As for me, I baptize you [only] with water; but One who is mightier [more powerful, more noble] than I is coming, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals [even as His slave]. He will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit and [you who remain unrepentant] with fire.

and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the crest of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to hurl Him down the cliff.

For he and all his companions were completely astounded at the catch of fish which they had taken;

Jesus ordered him to tell no one [that he might happen to meet], “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your purification, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony (witness) to them [that this is a work of Messiah].”

Levi (Matthew) gave a great banquet for Him at his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining at the table with them.

The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely [with malicious intent], to see if He would [actually] heal [someone] on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse Him.

But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with senseless rage [and lacked spiritual insight], and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Now when Jesus stepped out on land, He was met by a man from the city [of Gerasa] who was possessed with demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and was not living in a house, but among the tombs.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out kept begging Him, pleading to go with Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has made you well. Go in peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).”

But Jesus, hearing this, answered him, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe and trust [in Me and have faith in My ability to do this], and she will be made well.”

They did so, and had them all sit down.

But He strictly warned and admonished them not to tell this to anyone,

On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest [surpassing the others in esteem and authority].

You foolish ones [acting without reflection or intelligence]! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?

plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.

Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God.

And someone asked Him, “Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?” And He said to them,

Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand?

But he said to his father, ‘Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never neglected or disobeyed your command. Yet you have never given me [so much as] a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

“Now there was a certain rich man who was habitually dressed in expensive purple and fine linen, and celebrated and lived joyously in splendor every day.

As He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers who stood at a distance;

When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were [miraculously] healed and made clean.

He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves and were confident that they were righteous [posing outwardly as upright and in right standing with God], and who viewed others with contempt:

I tell you, this man went to his home justified [forgiven of the guilt of sin and placed in right standing with God] rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself [forsaking self-righteous pride] will be exalted.”

Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them.

He will be betrayed and handed over to the Gentiles (Roman authorities), and will be mocked and ridiculed and insulted and abused and spit on,

When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done.

The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’

The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’

Then why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’

saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer’; but you have made it a robbers’ den.”

At harvest time he sent a servant [as his representative] to the tenants, so that they would give him his share of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

So they watched [for a chance to trap] Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, in order that they might catch Him in some statement [that they could distort and use against Him], so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of [Pilate] the governor.

But [as for the fact] that the dead are raised [from death], even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him and hand Him over to them.

He replied, “When you have entered the city, a man carrying an earthen jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters.

They left and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

“Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain;

And he questioned Him at some length, but Jesus made no reply.

When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in [to the city] from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him and [cruelly] offering Him sour wine,

It was now about the sixth hour (noon), and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.),

Then they went back and prepared spices and ointments and sweet-smelling herbs.

And on the Sabbath they rested in accordance with the commandment [forbidding work].

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared [to finish anointing the body].