In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the Division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

To a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.

And he shall reign over the descendants of Jacob for ever; And to his kingdom there shall be no end."

And there she went into Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.

While they were there her time came,

And she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.

This day there has been born to you, in the town of David, a Savior, who is Christ and Lord.

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing--

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage,

John, addressing them all, said: "I, indeed, baptize you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

There were, doubtless, many widows in Israel in Elijah's days, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, and a severe famine prevailed throughout the country;

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the Prophet Elisha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian."

In the Synagogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly:

And there some men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus;

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

There is no such thing as a good tree bearing worthless fruit, or, on the other hand, a worthless tree bearing good fruit.

Just as he approached the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out for burial--an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large number of the people of the town were with her.

There is, I tell you, no one born of a woman who is greater than John; and yet the lowliest in the Kingdom of God is greater than he."

"There were two people who were in debt to a money-lender; one owed fifty pounds, and the other five.

There was a drove of many pigs close by feeding upon the hill- side; and the demons begged Jesus to give them leave to enter into them. Jesus gave them leave.

Whatever house you go to stay in, remain there, and leave from that place.

But the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem.

Then, if any one there is deserving of a blessing, your blessing will rest upon him; but if not, it will come back upon yourselves.

Cure the sick there, and tell people 'The Kingdom of God is close at hand.

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

No sooner does a foul spirit leave a man, than it passes through places where there is no water, in search of rest; and finding none, it says 'I will go back to the home which I left';

But, on coming there, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.

Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in, and make their home there; and the last state of that man proves to be worse than the first."

There is nothing, however covered up, which will not be uncovered, nor anything kept secret which will not become known.

Every one who shall say anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but for him who slanders the Holy Spirit there will be no forgiveness.

Then Jesus told them this parable-- "There was once a rich man whose land was very fertile;

For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

There is a baptism that I must undergo, and how great is my distress until it is over!

For from this time, if there are five people in a house, they will be divided, three against two, and two against three.

And to the people Jesus said: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once 'There is a storm coming,' and come it does.

But the President of the Synagogue, indignant that Jesus had worked the cure on the Sabbath, interposed and said to the people: "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come to be cured on one of those, and not on the Sabbath."

"Master," some one asked, "are there but few in the path of Salvation?" And Jesus answered:

There, there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets, in the Kingdom of God, while you yourselves are being driven outside.

there are some who are last now who will then be first, and some who are first now who will then be last!"

There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy.

Presently the servant said 'Sir, your order has been carried out, and still there is room.'

So, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one outcast that repents, than over ninety-nine religious men, who have no need to repent.

So, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of God's angels over one outcast that repents."

A few days later the younger son got together all that he had, and went away into a distant land; and there he squandered his inheritance by leading a dissolute life.

After he has spent all that he had, there was a severe famine through all that country, and he began to be in actual want.

Jesus said to his disciples: "There was a rich man who had a steward; and this steward was maliciously accused to him of wasting his estate.

And I say to you 'Win friends for yourselves with your dishonest money,' so that, when it comes to an end, there may be a welcome for you into the Eternal Home.

There was once a rich man, who dressed in purple robes and fine linen, and feasted every day in great splendor.

Near his gateway there had been laid a beggar named Lazarus, who was covered with sores,

And not only that, but between you and us there lies a great chasm, so that those who wish to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they cross from there to us.'

Jesus said to his disciples: "It is inevitable that there should be snares; yet alas for him who is answerable for them!

Were there none to come back and praise God except this foreigner?

Nor will people say 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!'; for the Kingdom of God is within you!

People will say to you 'There he is! or 'Here he is!' Do not go and follow them.

"Where will it be, Master?" interposed the disciples. "Where there is a body," said Jesus, "'there will the vultures flock.'"

"There was," he said, "in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for man.

In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said 'Grant me justice against my opponent.'

Hearing this, Jesus said to him: "There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you shall have wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me."

"I tell you," he answered, "that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, on account of the Kingdom of God,

Gathering the Twelve round him, Jesus said to them: "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the Prophets will be done to the Son of Man.

There was a man there, known by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a commissioner of taxes and a rich man.

"Go to the village facing us," he said, " and, when you get there, you will find a foal tethered, which no one has yet ridden; untie it and lead it here.

"Would that you had known, while yet there was time--even you--the things that make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your sight.

After this the Teachers of the Law and the Chief Priest were eager to lay hands on Jesus then and there, but they were afraid of the people; for they saw that it was at them that he had aimed this parable.

Presently there came up some Sadducees, who maintain that there is no resurrection. Their question was this--

Well, there were once seven brothers; of whom the eldest, after taking a wife, died childless.

But, for those who are thought worthy to attain to that other world and the resurrection from the dead, there is no marrying or being married,

So the disciples questioned Jesus: "But, Teacher, when will this be? and what sign will there be when this is near?"

And there will be great earthquakes, and plagues and famines in various places, and there will be terrible appearances and signs in the heavens.

Alas for the women that are with child, and for those that are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great suffering in the land, and anger against this people.

There will be signs, too, in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth despair among the nations, in their dismay at the roar of the sea and the surge.

The man will show you a large upstairs room, set out; there make preparations."

[Presently there appeared to him an angel from Heaven, who strengthened him.

But, when they had lit a fire in the center of the court-yard and had all sat down there, Peter seated himself in the middle of them.

And Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, for before that there had been ill-will between them.

There was a great crowd of people following him, many being women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.

There were two others also, criminals, led out to be executed with Jesus.

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.

Now there was a man of the name of Joseph, who was a member of the Council, and who bore a good and upright character.

There were Mary of Magdala, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James. The other women, too, spoke about this to the Apostles.

And then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Jesus: "Are you staying by yourself at Jerusalem, that you have not heard of the things that have happened there within the last few days?"

And, not finding the body of Jesus there, came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he was alive.

After this, Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and there raised his hands and blessed them.