[To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,

Just as they were reported to us by those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and afterwards became bearers of the Message.

From age to age his mercy rests On those who reverence him.

To give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace."

On one of those days, when Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and Doctors of the Law were sitting near by. (They had come from all the villages in Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was upon Jesus, so that he could work cures.)

In answer Jesus said: "It is not those who are well that need a doctor, but those who are ill.

But the days will come--a time when the bridegroom will be parted from them; and they will fast then, when those days come."

Who had come to hear him and to be restored to health. Those, too, who were troubled with foul spirits were cured;

But to you who hear I say--Love your enemies, show kindness to those who hate you,

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who insult you.

If you love only those who love you, what thanks will be due to you? Why, even the outcast love those who love them!

For, if you show kindness only to those who show kindness to you, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast do that!

If you lend only to those from whom you expect to get something, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast lend to the outcast in the hope of getting as much in return!

But those who have listened and not acted upon what they have heard may be compared to a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation. The river swept down upon it, and the house immediately collapsed; and great was the crash that followed."

"What did you go out into the Wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in rich clothing? Why, those who are accustomed to fine clothes and luxury live in royal palaces.

On this, those at table began to say to one another: "Who is this man who even pardons sins?"

By the seed which fell along the path are meant those who hear the Message; but then comes the Devil and carries away the Message from their minds, to prevent their believing it and being saved.

By the seed which fell upon the rock are meant those who, as soon as they hear the Message, welcome it joyfully; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back.

By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world's cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.

But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.

Take care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away."

His reply, spoken to them all, was: "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and do what it bids."

Those who had seen it told them how the possessed man had been delivered;

But the people recognized him and followed him in crowds; and Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, while he cured those who were in need of help.

Everything has been committed to me by my Father; nor does any one know who the Son is, except the Father, or who the Father is, except the Son and those to whom the Son may choose to reveal him."

If you, then, naturally wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him!"

But Jesus replied: "Rather, happy are those who listen to God's Message and keep it."

Alas for you Students of the Law! You have taken away the key of the door of Knowledge. You have not gone in yourselves and you have hindered those who try to go in."

To you who are my friends I say, Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but after that can do no more.

So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God."

Happy are those servants whom, on his return, the Master will find watching. I tell you that he will make himself ready, and bid them take their places at table, and will come and wait upon them.

Or those eighteen men at Siloam on whom the tower fell, killing them all, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than any other inhabitants of Jerusalem?

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."

And sent his servant, when it was time for the dinner, to say to those who had been invited 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

For I tell you all that not one of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

His master complimented this dishonest steward on the shrewdness of his action. And indeed men of the world are shrewder in dealing with their fellow-men than those who have the Light.

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.'

Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.

"Then who can be saved?" asked those who heard this.

Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder: "Son of David, take pity on me!"

The Son of Man has come to 'search for those who are lost' and to save them."

Take away from him the ten pounds,' he said to those standing by, 'and give them to the one who has the hundred.'

Jesus went into the Temple Courts and began to drive out those who were selling,

He will come and put those tenants to death, and will let the vineyard to others." "Heaven forbid!" they exclaimed when they heard it.

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,

Then those of you who are in Judea must take refuge in the mountains, those who are in Jerusalem must leave at once, and those who are in the country places must not go into it.

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.

But when those who were round Jesus saw what was going to happen, they exclaimed: "Master, shall we use our swords?"

Those who had taken Jesus prisoner took him away into the house of the High Priest. Peter followed at a distance.

A time, I tell you, is coming, when it will be said--'Happy are the women who are barren, and those who have never borne children or nursed them!'