And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,

And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense.

Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words--'His name is John.' Every one was surprised;

Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

Coming to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, Jesus, as was his custom, went on the Sabbath into the Synagogue, and stood up to read the Scriptures.

Jesus' answer was: "Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions--

On another Sabbath Jesus went into the Synagogue and taught; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.

"What did you go out into the Wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in rich clothing? Why, those who are accustomed to fine clothes and luxury live in royal palaces.

"I suppose," answered Simon, "it will be the man to whom he forgave the greater debt." "You are right," said Jesus,

By the seed which fell upon the rock are meant those who, as soon as they hear the Message, welcome it joyfully; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back.

The people went out to see what had happened, and, when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at Jesus' feet; and they were awe-struck.

"What is said in the Law?" answered Jesus. "What do you read there?"

"You have answered right," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

As it chanced, a priest was going down by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side.

Why do not you yourselves decide what is right?

"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road-side, begging.

As he went along, the people kept spreading their cloaks in the road.

When he had almost reached the place where the road led down the Mount of Olives, every one of the many disciples began in their joy to praise God loudly for all the miracles that they had seen:

These men asked Jesus a question. They said: "Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and that you do not take any account of a man's position, but teach the Way of God honestly;

Are we right in paying tribute to the Emperor or not?"

For David, in the Book of Psalms, says himself--'The Lord said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand,

And one of them struck the High Priest's servant and cut off his right ear;

But from this hour 'the Son of Man will be seated on the right hand of God Almighty.'"

(Barabbas was a man who had been put in prison for a riot that had broken out in the city and for murder.)

He released the man who had been put in prison for riot and murder, as they demanded, and gave Jesus up to be dealt with as they pleased.

When they had reached the place called 'The Skull,' there they crucified Jesus and the criminals, one on the right, and one on the left.

"How our hearts glowed," the disciples said to each other, "while he was talking to us on the road, and when he explained the Scriptures to us!"