Seeing that many have attempted to draw up a narrative of the facts which are received with full assurance among us

that you may fully know the truth of the things which you have been taught by word of mouth.

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were surprised that he stayed so long in the Sanctuary.

When, however, he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they knew that he must have seen a vision in the Sanctuary; but he kept making signs to them and continued dumb.

"Thus has the Lord dealt with me," she said, "now that He has graciously taken away my reproach among men."

"How can this be," Mary replied, "seeing that I have no husband?"

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

"There is not one of your family," they said, "who has that name."

Then, as soon as the angels had left them and returned to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go over as far as Bethlehem and see this that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen in accordance with the announcement made to them.

To him it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Anointed One.

and a sword will pierce through your own soul also; that the reasonings in many hearts may be revealed."

And coming up just at that moment, she gave thanks to God, and spoke about the child to all who were expecting the deliverance of Jerusalem.

Then, as soon as they had accomplished all that the Law required, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

"Why is it that you have been searching for me?" He replied; "did you not know that it is my duty to be engaged upon my Father's business?"

Live lives which shall prove your change of heart; and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our forefather,' for I tell you that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.

And even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees, so that every tree which fails to yield good fruit will quickly be hewn down and thrown into the fire."

But Herod the Tetrarch, being repeatedly rebuked by him about Herodias his brother's wife, and about all the wicked deeds that he had done,

now added this to crown all the rest, that he threw John into prison.

"It is written," replied Jesus, "'It is not on bread alone that a man shall live.'"

"Doubtless," said He, "you will quote to me the proverb, 'Physician, cure yourself: all that we hear that you have done at Capernaum, do here also in your native place.'"

"I tell you in solemn truth," He added, "that no Prophet is welcomed among his own people.

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;

Next morning, at daybreak, He left the town and went away to a solitary place; but the people flocked out to find Him, and, coming to the place where He was, they endeavoured to detain Him that He might not leave them.

So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came, and they filled both the boats so that they almost sank.

Well aware of their reasonings, Jesus answered their questions by asking in turn, "What is this that you are debating in your hearts?

But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --Turning to the paralytic He said, "I bid you, Rise, take up your bed, and go home."

But a time for this will come, when the Bridegroom has been taken away from them: then, at that time, they will fast."

The Scribes and the Pharisees were on the watch to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath that they might be able to bring an accusation against Him.

About that time He went out on one occasion into the hill country to pray; and He remained all night in prayer to God.

"Be glad at such a time, and dance for joy; for your reward is great in Heaven; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the Prophets!

"Alas for you when men shall all have spoken well of you; for that is just the way their forefathers behaved to the false Prophets!

give, and gifts shall be bestowed on you. Full measure, pressed, shaken down, and running over, shall they pour into your laps; for with the same measure that you use they shall measure to you in return."

How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take that splinter out of your eye,' when all the while you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? Vain pretender! take the beam out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother's eye.

"There is no good tree that yields unsound fruit, nor again any unsound tree that yields good fruit.

Every tree is known by its own fruit. It is not from thorns that men gather figs, nor from the bramble that they can get a bunch of grapes.

He is like a man building a house, who digs and goes deep, and lays the foundation on the rock; and when a flood comes, the torrent bursts upon that house, but is unable to shake it, because it is securely built.

But he who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built a house upon the soft soil without a foundation, against which the torrent bursts, and immediately it collapses, and terrible is the wreck and ruin of that house."

For I too am a man obedient to authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this or that,' and he does it."

Jesus listened to the Captain's message and was astonished at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I tell you that not even in Israel have I found faith like that."

so John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord. "Are you the Coming One?" he asked, "or is there another that we are to expect?"

The men came to Jesus and said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the Coming One, or is there another that we are to expect?'"

"I tell you that among all of women born there is not one greater than John. Yet one who is of lower rank in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.

And there was a woman in the town who was a notorious sinner. Having learnt that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house she brought a flask of perfume,

Noticing this, the Pharisee, His host, said to himself, "This man, if he were really a Prophet, would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching him--and would know that she is an immoral woman."

This is the reason why I tell you that her sins, her many sins, are forgiven--because she has loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

"To you," He replied, "it is granted to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but all others are taught by parables, in order that they may see and yet not see, and may hear and yet not understand.

That which fell among the thorns means those who have heard, but as they go on their way, the Message is stifled by the anxieties, wealth and gaieties of time, and they yield nothing in perfection.

But as for that in the good ground, it means those who, having listened to the Message with open minds and in a right spirit, hold it fast, and patiently yield a return.

"When any one lights a lamp, he does not cover it with a vessel or hide it under a couch; he puts it on a lampstand, that people who enter the room may see the light.

Be careful, therefore, how you hear; for whoever has anything, to him more shall be given, and whoever has nothing, even that which he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

During the passage He fell asleep, and there came down a squall of wind on the Lake, so that the boat began to fill and they were in deadly peril.

"Return home," He said, "and tell there all that God has done for you." So he went and published through the whole town all that Jesus had done for him.

"Some one has touched me," Jesus replied, "for I feel that power has gone out from me."

Then the woman, perceiving that she had not escaped notice, came trembling, and throwing herself down at His feet she stated before all the people the reason why she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.

And they jeered at Him, knowing that she was dead.

Whatever house you enter, make that your home, and from it start afresh.

Wherever they refuse to receive you, as you leave that town shake off the very dust from your feet as a protest against them."

Now Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was going on; and he was bewildered because of its being said by some that John had come back to life,

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

Now when the day began to decline, the Twelve came to Him and said, "Send the people away, that they may go to the villages and farms round about and find lodging and a supply of food; because here we are in an uninhabited district."

One day when He was praying by Himself the disciples were present; and He asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," they replied; "but others say Elijah; and others that some one of the ancient Prophets has come back to life."

"But you," He asked, "who do you say that I am?" "God's Anointed One," replied Peter.

For whoever shall have been ashamed of me and my teachings, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own and the Father's glory and in that of the holy angels.

I tell you truly that there are some of those who stand here who will certainly not taste death till they have seen the Kingdom of God."

It was about eight days after this that Jesus, taking with Him Peter, John, and James, went up the mountain to pray.

And when they were preparing to depart from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying.

After this voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept it to themselves, and said not a word to any one at that time about what they had seen.

And all were awe-struck at the mighty power of God. And while every one was expressing wonder at all that He was doing, He said to his disciples,

But they did not understand His meaning: it was veiled from them that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

And Jesus, knowing the reasoning that was in their hearts, took a young child and made him stand by His side

Remember that I am sending you out as lambs into the midst of wolves.

And in that same house stay, eating and drinking at their table; for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not move from one house to another.

Cure the sick in that town, and tell them, "'The Kingdom of God is now at your door.'

"'The very dust of your town that hangs about us we wipe off as a protest. Only be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.'

"I tell you that it will be more endurable for Sodom on the great day than for that town.

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

On that same occasion Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with rapturous joy. "I give Thee fervent thanks," He exclaimed, "O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that Thou hast hidden these things from sages and men of understanding, and hast revealed them to babes. Yes, Father, for such has been Thy gracious will.

For I tell you that many Prophets and kings have desired to see the things you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

"A right answer," said Jesus; "do that, and you shall live."

Now a priest happened to be going down that way, and on seeing him passed by on the other side.

Martha meanwhile was busy and distracted in waiting at table, and she came and said, "Master, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do all the waiting? Tell her to assist me."

"I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.

If you then, with all your human frailty, know how to give your children gifts that are good for them, how much more certainly will your Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

But some among them said, "It is by the power of Baal-zebul, the Prince of the demons, that he expels the demons."

And if Satan really has engaged in fierce conflict with himself, how shall his kingdom stand?--because you say that I expel demons by the power of Baal-zebul.

And if it is by the power of Baal-zebul that I expel the demons, by whom do your disciples expel them? They therefore shall be your judges.

But if it is by the power of God that I drive out the demons, it is evident that the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

but as soon as another stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away that complete armour of his in which he trusted, and distributes the plunder he has collected.

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more malignant than itself, and they enter and dwell there; and in the end that man's condition becomes worse than it was at first.

As He thus spoke a woman in the crowd called out in a loud voice, "Blessed is the mother who carried you, and the breasts that you have sucked."

Now when the crowds came thronging upon Him, He proceeded to say, "The present generation is a wicked generation: it requires some sign, but no sign shall be given to it except that of Jonah.

"When any one lights a lamp, he never puts it in the cellar or under the bushel, but on the lampstand, that people who come in may see the light.

Consider therefore whether the light that is in you is anything but mere darkness.

Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

It follows that you bear testimony to the actions of your forefathers and that you fully approve thereof. They slew, you build.

so that the blood of all the Prophets, that is being shed from the creation of the world onwards, may be required from the present generation.

Yes, I tell you that, from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the House, it shall all be required from the present generation.

Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.