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.

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

All the neighbourhood were struck with reverence, and the rumour of these events ran thro' all the mountains of Judea,

Then Simeon [asked God to] bless them and said to Jesus' mother Mary, "Look, many Israelites will be caused to fall [i.e., into spiritual ruin] or rise [i.e., to spiritual renewal] because of Him. And [He will be] a 'sign' [for people] to speak against,

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

He said to the crowds of people that went out [to the desert] to be immersed by him, "You children of snakes, who warned you to run away from the coming wrath [of God]?

But I tell you in truth that there was many a widow in Israel in the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three years and six months and there came a severe famine over all the land;

and he said unto them -- 'Also to the other cities it behoveth me to proclaim good news of the reign of God, because for this I have been sent;'

And having run the ships on shore, leaving all they followed him.

And no one putteth new wine into old skins; for the new wine would burst the skins, and would itself run out, and the skins would be spoilt.

And he, having lifted up his eyes to his disciples, said: 'Happy the poor -- because yours is the reign of God.

He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock; but a great rain coming, the stream broke upon that house, and could not shake it, for it had been founded on the rock.

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

for I say to you, a greater prophet, among those born of women, than John the Baptist there is not; but the least in the reign of God is greater than he.'

And it came to pass thereafter, that he was going through every city and village, preaching and proclaiming good news of the reign of God, and the twelve are with him,

And he said, 'To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of God, and to the rest in similes; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage.

Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and told it in the city and out in the country.

and he sent them to proclaim the reign of God, and to heal the ailing.

and the multitudes having known did follow him, and having received them, he was speaking to them concerning the reign of God, and those having need of service he cured.

For what is a person benefited if he gains the whole world [i.e., of material things] and [yet] loses [his spiritual life] or gives himself up [to spiritual ruin]?

and I say to you, truly, there are certain of those here standing, who shall not taste of death till they may see the reign of God.'

and Jesus said to him, 'Suffer the dead to bury their own dead, and thou, having gone away, publish the reign of God.'

and Jesus said unto him, 'No one having put his hand on a plough, and looking back, is fit for the reign of God.'

and heal the ailing in it, and say to them, The reign of God hath come nigh to you.

And the dust that hath cleaved to us, from your city, we do wipe off against you, but this know ye, that the reign of God hath come nigh to you;

to whom he answered, how does the law run in that case? what do you find?

And he said to them, 'When ye may pray, say ye: Our Father who art in the heavens; hallowed be Thy name: Thy reign come; Thy will come to pass, as in heaven also on earth;

And, knowing their thoughts, He said to them, "Every kingdom in which civil war rages goes to ruin: family attacks family and is overthrown.

but if by the finger of God I cast forth the demons, then come unawares upon you did the reign of God.

but, seek ye the reign of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

'Fear not, little flock, because your Father did delight to give you the reign;

Sell what belongs to you, and give in charity. Make yourselves purses that will not wear out--an inexhaustible treasure in Heaven, where no thief comes near, or moth works ruin.

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and that is how it turns out.

And he said, 'To what is the reign of God like? and to what shall I liken it?

And again he said, 'To what shall I liken the reign of God?

'There shall be there the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth, when ye may see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the reign of God, and yourselves being cast out without;

and they shall come from east and west, and from north and south, and shall recline in the reign of God,

And one of those reclining with him, having heard these things, said to him, 'Happy is he who shall eat bread in the reign of God;'

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Therefore, I tell you, make friends for yourselves by using worldly wealth, so that when it fails [i.e., when you run out of money] they [i.e., the friends you made with its wise and benevolent use] may welcome you into the eternal [i.e., heavenly] dwelling places. [Note: The idea here seems to be that by your shrewd use of material possessions for the benefit of others, you are actually storing up treasures for yourself in heaven].

the law and the prophets are till John; since then the reign of God is proclaimed good news, and every one doth press into it;

And having been questioned by the Pharisees, when the reign of God doth come, he answered them, and said, 'The reign of God doth not come with observation;

nor shall they say, Lo, here; or lo, there; for lo, the reign of God is within you.'

And they will say to you, 'Behold, there!' 'Behold, here!' Do not go out or run after [them]!

and Jesus having called them near, said, 'Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the reign of God;

verily I say to you, Whoever may not receive the reign of God as a little child, may not enter into it.'

And Jesus having seen him become very sorrowful, said, 'How hardly shall those having riches enter into the reign of God!

for it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to enter, than for a rich man into the reign of God to enter.'

and he said to them, 'Verily I say to you, that there is not one who left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the sake of the reign of God,

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

And while they are hearing these things, having added he spake a simile, because of his being nigh to Jerusalem, and of their thinking that the reign of God is about presently to be made manifest.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Then those [of you] in Judea are to run away into the [nearby] mountains. And those who are inside of the city are to leave it [immediately]. And those who are in the countryside should not enter the city.

so also ye, when ye may see these things happening, ye know that near is the reign of God;

for I say to you, that no more may I eat of it till it may be fulfilled in the reign of God.'

for I say to you that I may not drink of the produce of the vine till the reign of God may come.'

And he said unto them, "The kings of the gentiles reign over them; And they that bear rule over them, are called gracious Lords.

and he said to Jesus, 'Remember me, lord, when thou mayest come in thy reign;'

-- he was not consenting to their counsel and deed -- from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who also himself was expecting the reign of God,

Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

and their conversation ran upon all that had lately happened.