Seeing that many have taken it in hand to draw up an account of those matters which have been fully established among us,

so that you may know the certainty of the story which you have been taught by the word of mouth.

And when he came out he could not speak to them, and then they knew that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept making signs to them and remained dumb.

"And behold your kinswoman, Elizabeth, she also has conceived a son in her old age, and this was the sixth month with her that was called barren.

"But why is this honor done me, that the mother of my Lord should come me?

"And blessed is she who believed that the Lord's words spoken to her would be fulfilled."

"He has helped Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

and her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy toward her; and they rejoiced with her,

Said they, "You have no relatives of that name!"

"That he we should be delivered out of the Hand of our enemies, And should serve him without fear,

And the shepherds returned, glorifying God and praising him for all those things that they had seen and heard, even as it was told to them.

Now it has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

And while his father and mother were marveling at the words that were spoken concerning him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother.

Yea, and a sword shall pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

She came up at that very hour, and gave thanks to God, and spoke of the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

As soon as all that the law required had been done, they returned to Galilee to their own town, Nazareth.

but supposed that he was in the company, and went a days journey. Then they hunted for him among his kinsfolk and acquaintance;

All that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

He answered, "Why is it that you have been looking for me, did you not realize that I had to be in my Father's house?"

But they did not understand the words that he spoke to them.

Then bring forth fruit befitting your penitence, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that God is able to raise up sons to Abraham out of these stones.

but Herod, the Tetrarch, when reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the wicked deeds that he had done,

added yet this above them all that he shut up John in prison.

And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that not by bread alone shall man live."

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the prisoners, And recovery of sight to the blind; To set at liberty those that are bruised,

And they all spoke well of him, and marveled at the words of charm that fell from his lips. "Is not this the son of Joseph?" they asked.

Jesus answered. "Doubtless you will quote the proverb to me, 'Physician, heal thyself!' Do also here in your own country all that we hear that you have done in Capernaum."

"I tell you in solemn truth," he added, "that no prophet is acceptable in his own country.

Demons also came out of many, screaming and saying, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them, and did not permit them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

And when it was daybreak he left the town, and went away to a solitary place; and the crowd kept seeking him. Coming at length upon him, they attempted to detain him so that he should not leave them.

But he said to them. "I must preach the gospel of the kingdom of God to the other towns also; for that is what I was sent to do."

So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins (he said to the paralytic), "I bid you rise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

"But there is coming a day when the Bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then at that time they will fast."

It happened that on a Sabbath he was going through the wheat-fields. His disciples were picking the ears and eating the wheat, rubbing it out with their hands.

Now the Scribes and Pharisees kept watching to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to bring on accusations to him.

It happened about that time that he went out into the mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God.

"Rejoice in that day and exult, For your reward is great in heaven; For even so did their fathers to the prophets.

"And if you lend to those from whom you are hoping to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so as to get as much back.

"And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but never consider the beam that is in your own eye?

"Or how can you say to your brother. "Brother, allow me to pull that splinter out of your eye," when you do not see the beam in your own eye? Hypocrite! Take out first the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter from your brother's eye.

"I will show whom the man that comes to me, and listens to my works, and does them, is like.

"He is like a man who is building a house who digged and went deep and laid a foundation upon rock. And, when a flood came, the torrent dashed against that house, but could not move, because it had been founded upon rock.

"But he who listens but does not do, is like a man who built a house upon the soil, without foundations, against which the torrent burst, and at once it fell in, and the ruin of that house was great."

And they, when they reached Jesus, asked him earnestly to do this. "He deserves that you should do this," they said,

So Jesus started to go with them, but while he was not far from the house, the captain sent friends to him with a message. "Lord do not trouble yourself, for I am not fit that you should come under my roof,

"For I also am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me. And I say to one 'come,' and he comes, and to my slave 'do this or that,' and he does it."

But when Jesus heard this he was astonished and he turned and said to the crowd that was following him, "I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that."

At that moment Jesus was healing many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and to many that were blind he was freely giving their sight.

"I tell you that among all that are born of women not one is greater than John; yet he that is little in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume,

When he noticed this the Pharisee, who had invited him, said to himself, "If this man were really a prophet he would have perceived who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, and would know that she is a sinner."

"This is why I tell you that her sins, many as they are, are forgiven, for her love is great; but he who is forgiven little, loves but little.

It happened shortly afterwards that he began to go from town to town and village to village, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God.

He answered. "To you it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God; But all others are taught in parables so that seeing they shall not see, and hearing they shall not hear.

"Those by the wayside are people who hear, but then comes the devil and carries off the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and not be saved.

"And that which fell upon thorns is those who have heard, but as they go on their way of word is choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of life; so they bring no fruit of perfection.

"And that in the good soil is those who have listened to the message and, in an honest and good heart, hold fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.

"For is nothing hidden that shall not be disclosed; there is nothing secret which shall not be made known and come to the light.

Now it happened that one of these days he got into a boat, And him his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake."

So they set sail. While they were sailing he fell asleep. And there fell on the lake a squall of wind, so that the boat began to fill, and they to be in deadly peril.

But the man out of whom the demons had gone kept begging him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away saying,

"Return to your home, and tell them all that God has done for you." So he went away and throughout the whole city he published how much Jesus had done for him.

And a woman who for twelve years had had a hemorrhage, and had spent on doctors all that she had, but none had cured her,

"Who is that touched me?" said Jesus and when everybody denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are hemming you in and pressing upon you."

But Jesus said: "Some one did touch me; for I perceived that the power was proceeding out of me."

Then the woman, who saw that she had not escaped notice, came trembling, and falling down before him, stated before the people for what reason she had touched him, and how she had been instantly healed.

They began to laugh him to scorn, because they knew well that she was dead.

Now Herod, the Tetrarch, heard of all that was happening; and he was perplexed because of its being said by someone that John was risen from the dead;

and by some that Elijah had appeared; and by others that one of the ancient prophets was risen again.

But now the day began to decline, and the twelve came to him and said: "Send away the crowd so that they may go into the villages and surrounding the country to lodge and buy provisions; for here we are on a solitary place."

So they ate and were filled, all of them. And there was picked up that which remained over to them, of broken pieces, twelve basketfuls.

Now it happened that while he was praying by himself, the disciples were with him, and he asked them a question. "Who do the crowd think I am?"

"John the Baptist," they answered, "But others say Elijah, and others that one of the ancient prophets is risen again."

"For whoever is ashamed of me and of my teachings, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his own and in his Father's glory, and in that of the holy angels.

About eight days after this it happened that Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and went up on the mountain to pray.

When the voice ceased Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no one at that time about what they had seen.

It happened the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, that a large crowd came to meet him;

But they did not understand this saying; it was hidden from them so that they perceived it not, and they were sore afraid to ask him about his saying.

And Jesus who knew the dispute that was in their hearts, took a young child, and placed him by his side;

then he said to them. "Whoever shall receive this little child in my name receives me; and whoever shall receive me receives him that sent me. For it is the lowliest among you all who is great."

"Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give. for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Do not go from house to house.

"Heal the sick in that town and tell them, The kingdom of God draws near to you.

"'The very dust of your town which clings to your feet we wipe off as protest; but know this, that the kingdom of God is drawing near to you.'

"For I tell you that it will be mare tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that town.

"Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven."

And turning to his disciples he said privately. "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!

"For I tell you that many prophets and kings have longed to see what you see, and have seen it; and to hear what you hear, and have heard it not.'

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

"Now a certain priest chanced to be going down that way, but on seeing him he passed on the other side.

It happened as they went on their way that he entered into a certain village were a woman named Martha received him into her house.

But Martha meanwhile was growing distracted about much serving. She came up to him and said: "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me alone to do the serving? Come tell her to take hold of her end of the work along with me."

"only one thing is really necessary. Mary, moreover, has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her."

"I tell you that, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunate persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

"For he that asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door shall be opened.

"If you give good gifts to your children, how much more shall the Father who is in heaven give the Holy spirit to those that ask him!"

But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons."

"Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges.

"But if it is by the finger of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you.

"Then it goes off and fetches seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first."