And they were both righteous in the sight of God, living blamelessly in all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

And {they did not have} a child, because Elizabeth was barren. And they were both advanced {in years}.

And [when he] came out he was not able to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them, and remained unable to speak.

And her neighbors and relatives heard that {the Lord had shown his great mercy to her}, and they rejoiced with her.

And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were wanting to name him {after} his father Zechariah.

And they said to her, "There is no one of your relatives who is called by this name."

So they made signs to his father [asking] what he wanted him to be named,

and he asked for a writing tablet [and] wrote, saying, "John is his name." And they were all astonished.

And it happened that while they were there, {the time came} for her to give birth.

And an angel of the Lord stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and {they were terribly frightened}.

And they went hurrying and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger.

And [when they] saw [it], they made known the statement that had been told to them about this child.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present [him] to the Lord

And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus so that they could do for him according to what was customary under the law,

And when they had completed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

And when he was twelve years [old], they went up according to the custom of the feast.

And [after] the days were completed, while they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And his parents did not know [it],

but believing him to be in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. And they began searching for him among [their] relatives and [their] acquaintances,

and [when they] did not find [him], they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

And it happened that after three days they found him in the temple [courts], sitting in the midst of the teachers and listening to them and asking them [questions].

And [when they] saw him, they were astounded and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have been searching for you anxiously!"

And they did not understand the statement that he spoke to them.

And tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?"

forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days, and [when] they were completed, he was hungry.

and 'on [their] hands they will lift you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

And they were all speaking well of him, and were astonished at the gracious words that were coming out of his mouth. And they were saying, "Is this man not the son of Joseph?"

And all [those] in the synagogue were filled with anger [when they] heard these [things].

And they stood up [and] forced him out of the town and brought him up to the edge of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

And they were astounded at his teaching, because {he spoke} with authority.

And amazement came upon [them] all, and they began to talk with one another, saying, "What word [is] this? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!"

And [after he] set out from the synagogue, he went into Simon's house. And Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a high fever, and they asked him on behalf of her.

And demons also were coming out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Son of God!" And he rebuked [them] [and] did not permit them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

And [when they] did this, they caught a very large number of fish, and their nets began to tear.

And they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come [and] help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink.

For amazement had seized him and all those [who were] with him at the catch of fish that they had caught,

And [after they] brought [their] boats to the land, they left everything [and] followed him.

And behold, men [came] carrying on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and place [him] before him.

And [when they] did not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof [and] let him down through the roof tiles with the stretcher into the midst [of them], in front of Jesus.

And amazement seized [them] all, and they began to glorify God. And they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen wonderful things today!"

And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and make prayers--likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees--but yours are eating and drinking!"

But days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days."

So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely [to see] if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find [a reason] to accuse him.

But they were filled with fury, and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile [you] and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.

And if you lend [to those] from whom you expect to receive [back], what kind of credit is [that] to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may get back an equal [amount]!

Give, and it will be given to you, a good measure--pressed down, shaken, overflowing--they will pour out into your lap. For with the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you in return."

And he also told them a parable: "Surely a blind person cannot lead the blind, [can he]? Will they not both fall into a pit?

And [when they] came to Jesus, they began imploring him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy [that] you grant this for him,

And [when they] returned to the house, those who had been sent found the slave healthy.

And fear seized [them] all, and they began to glorify God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us!" and "God has visited to help his people!"

And [when] the men came to him, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'"

(And all the people, [when they] heard [this]--even the tax collectors--affirmed the righteousness of God, [because they] had been baptized [with] the baptism of John,

but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.)

"To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?

They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say, 'We played the flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a lament and you did not weep.'

[When] they were not able to repay [him], he forgave [the debts] of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

And [while] a large crowd was gathering and [they] were going to him from town [after town], he spoke by means of a parable:

And he said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [they are] in parables, so that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

and those beside the path are the ones who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe [and] be saved.

And those on the rock [are those] who receive the word with joy when they hear [it], and these do not have [enough] root, who believe for a time and in a time of testing fall away.

And the [seed] that fell into the thorn plants--these are the ones who hear and [as they] go along are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear fruit to maturity.

Now his mother and brothers came to him, and they were not able to meet with him because of the crowd.

Now it happened that on one of the days both he and his disciples got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they set sail,

and [as] they were sailing, he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were being swamped and were in danger.

And they came [and] woke him up, saying, "Master, master! We are perishing!" So he got up [and] rebuked the wind and the billowing waves of water and they ceased, and it became calm.

And he said to them, "Where [is] your faith?" But they were afraid [and] were astonished, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?"

And they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

And they began imploring him that he would not order them to depart into the abyss.

Now there was a large herd of pigs feeding there on the hill, and they implored him that he would permit them to enter into those [pigs]. And he permitted them.

And [when] the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside.

So they went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting [there] clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid.

And all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they had been seized with great fear. So he got into the boat [and] returned.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him.

And Jesus said, "Who [is] the one who touched me?" And [when they] all denied [it], Peter said, "Master, the crowds are pressing you hard and crowding [you]!"

And they were all weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep! For she is not dead, but is sleeping."

And they began laughing at him, [because they] knew that she was dead.

So they departed [and] went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

And [when they] returned, the apostles described to him all that they had done. And he took them along [and] withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

But [when] the crowds found out, they followed him, and welcoming them, he began to speak to them about the kingdom of God, and he cured those who had need of healing.

Now the day began to be far spent, and the twelve came up [and] said to him, "Send away the crowd so that they can go into the surrounding villages and farms to obtain lodging and find provisions, because we are here in a desolate place.

But he said to them, "You give them [something] to eat!" And they said, "{We have no} more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go [and] purchase food for all these people."

And they did so, and had [them] all sit down.

And [they] all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up by them--twelve baskets of broken pieces.

And they answered [and] said, "John the Baptist, but others, Elijah, and others, that one of the ancient prophets has risen."

But I tell you truly, there are some of those standing here who will never experience death until they see the kingdom of God."

Now Peter and those with him were {very sleepy}, but [when they] became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him.

And it happened that as they were going away from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good [for] us to be here. And let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah," not knowing what he was saying.

And [while] he was saying these [things], a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

And after the voice had occurred, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Now it happened that on the next day, [when] they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

And I begged your disciples that they would expel it, and they were not able [to do so]."

And they were all astounded at the impressiveness of God.

But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they could not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

And he sent messengers before {him}, and they went [and] entered into a village of the Samaritans in order to prepare for him.

And they did not welcome him because {he was determined to go} to Jerusalem.

Now [when] the disciples James and John saw [it], they said, "Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

and they proceeded to another village.

And [as] they were traveling on the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go!"

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking {whatever they provide}, for the worker [is] worthy of his pay. Do not move from house to house.