Since many people have attempted to write an orderly account of the events that have transpired among us,

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

But when he did come out, he was unable to speak to them. Then they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them but remained unable to speak.

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

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."

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.

that he would save us from our enemies and from the grip of all who hate us.

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham.

He granted us deliverance from our enemies' grip so that we could serve him without fear

Now in those days an order was published by Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be registered.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night.

When the angels had left them and gone back to heaven, the shepherds told one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see what has taken place that the Lord has told us about."

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah.

a light that will reveal salvation to unbelievers and bring glory to your people Israel."

Then Simeon blessed them and told Mary, his mother, "This infant is destined to cause many in Israel to fall and rise. Also, he will be a sign that will be opposed.

Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too, so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed."

They thought that he was in their group of travelers. After traveling for a day, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

Everyone will see the salvation that God has provided.'"

John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit that is consistent with repentance! Don't begin to say to yourselves, "We have father Abraham!' because I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!

where he was being tempted by the Devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry.

With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.'"

All the people began to speak well of him and to wonder at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth. They said, "This is Joseph's son, isn't it?"

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.'"

But he told them, "I have to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God in other cities, because I was sent to do that also."

So Jesus got into one of the boats (the one that belonged to Simon) and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and began to teach the crowds from the boat.

After the men had done this, they caught so many fish that the nets began to tear.

Because Jesus knew that they were arguing, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about this among yourselves?

But so you'll know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"." he told the paralyzed man, "I say to you: Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home!"

After that, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector's desk. He told him, "Follow me!"

But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and at that time they will fast."

How was it that he went into the house of God, took the Bread of the Presence and ate it, which was not lawful for anyone but the priests to eat, and then gave some of it to his companions?"

Now it was in those days that Jesus went to a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because your reward in heaven is great! That's the way their ancestors used to treat the prophets.

"How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!"

If you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks do you deserve? Even sinners do that.

They are like a person building a house, who dug a deep hole to lay the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house but couldn't shake it, because it had been founded on the rock.

But the person who hears what I say but doesn't act on it is like someone who built a house on the ground without any foundation. When the floodwaters pushed against it, that house quickly collapsed, and the resulting destruction of that house was extensive."

That's why I didn't presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed,

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!"

At that time Jesus had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind.

There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume

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."

So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that "they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.'"

The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature.

"No one lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in will see the light.

There is nothing hidden that won't be revealed, and there is nothing secret that won't become known and come to light.

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.

Still Jesus said, "Somebody touched me, because I know that power has gone out of me."

When the woman saw that she couldn't hide, she came forward trembling. Bowing down in front of him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched Jesus and how she had been instantly healed.

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

if people don't welcome you, when you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

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,

by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life.

They had a glorified appearance, and were discussing Jesus' departure that he would shortly bring about in Jerusalem.

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.)

After the voice had spoken, Jesus was alone. The disciples kept silent and at that time told no one about what they had seen.

But they didn't know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

After this, the Lord appointed 70 other disciples and was about to send them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place that he intended to go.

If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting of peace will remain with him. But if that's not the case, your greeting will come back to you.

heal the sick that are there, and tell them, "The kingdom of God is near you!'

"We're wiping off your town's dust that clings to our feet in protest against you! But realize this: the kingdom of God is near!'

I tell you, on the last day it will be easier for Sodom than for that town!"

"How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

At that moment, the Holy Spirit made Jesus extremely joyful, so Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you.

Then turning to his disciples in private, he told them, "How blessed are the eyes that see what you see!

By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went by on the other side.

Similarly, a descendant of Levi came to that place. When he saw the man, he also went by on the other side.

The next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, "Take good care of him. If you spend more than that, I'll repay you when I come back.'

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."

I tell you, even though that man doesn't want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges!

But when a stronger man than he attacks and defeats him, the stronger man strips off that man's armor in which he trusted and then divides his plunder.

"Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest but doesn't find any. So it says, "I will go back to my home that I left.'

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person is worse than the first."

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!"

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a hiding place or under a basket, but on a lamp stand, so that those who enter may see its light.

Therefore, be careful that the light in you isn't darkness.

The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didn't first wash before the meal.

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.

That is why the Wisdom of God said, "I will send them prophets and apostles. They will kill some of them and persecute others,'

so those living today will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that was shed since the foundation of the world,

Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast that is, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees!

There is nothing covered up that won't be exposed and nothing secret that won't be made known.

"But I tell you, my friends, never be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can't do anything more.

because at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you are to say."

That's how it is with the person who stores up treasures for himself rather than with God."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life what you will eat or about your body what you will wear,

So if you can't do a small thing like that, why worry about other things?

Consider how the lilies grow. They don't work or spin yarn, but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.

Now if that's the way God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and thrown into an oven tomorrow, how much more will he clothe you you who have little faith?

because it is the unbelievers who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them!

"Sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don't wear out a dependable treasure in heaven, where no thief can get close and no moth can destroy anything.

How blessed is that servant whom his master finds doing this when he comes!

But if that servant says to himself, "My master is taking a long time to come back,' and begins to beat the other servants and to eat, drink, and get drunk,

the master of that servant will come on a day when he doesn't expect him and at an hour that he doesn't know. Then his master will punish him severely and assign him a place with unfaithful people.